Toppik is a natural, safe way to conceal the appearance of thinning hair and baldness. It can be very useful if you have thinning hair and want to give the illusion of coverage. It can be effective for up to two days if you do not wash your hair. Toppik can also be used safely after a hair transplant, though it is recommended you wait two weeks following your procedure.
Toppik is not a spray-paint, cream, cover-up lotion, or a hairpiece. Rather, Toppik uses something known as “micro-fibers,” which, when applied, bind to your hair and create the illusion of thickness. The fibers used by Toppik are made of the same protein, Keratin, that real human hair is composed of. These fibers actually mesh with your hair so completely that it’s nearly impossible to tell that you have anything in your hair. With Toppik, you will instantly see a more natural and thicker looking head of hair.
What’s Actually In Toppik Hair Fibers
The “micro-fibers” claim sounds good. Let me explain what you’re actually putting on your scalp.
The primary ingredient is keratin derived from wool, which has the same protein structure as human hair. It’s processed into fine fibers measuring 0.3-0.5mm in length and 20-50 micrometers in diameter.
That’s smaller than the width of human hair (70-100 micrometers). Small enough to blend naturally.
Secondary ingredients include silica for texture and adhesion, ammonium chloride that creates a static charge to bond fibers to hair, and pigments that vary by color shade for proper color matching.
What it’s not: synthetic plastic, spray paint, or a chemical treatment. Toppik doesn’t affect hair growth positively or negatively.
Purely cosmetic camouflage. Nothing more, nothing less.
Toppik Color Matching: Available Shades
Toppik offers 9 shades. Getting the right match matters.’
Available Colors
Black, dark brown, medium brown, light brown, medium blonde, light blonde, auburn, gray, and white.
Matching Strategy
Match your existing hair color, not your scalp. Test under natural light, not store lighting. When between two shades, choose slightly lighter. Darker looks more obvious in bright conditions.
Mixing Colors
Can blend two bottles for a custom shade. Many users mix gray with their natural color for aging hair. Ratio depends on your specific graying pattern.
Color Limitations
Doesn’t work well on bleached or platinum blonde hair. Limited effectiveness on very light red or orange tones. Best results on brown, black, and natural blonde shades.
Toppik vs Other Hair Fiber Products
Toppik isn’t the only hair fiber product. Here’s how it stacks up.
Toppik vs Caboki
Caboki
Caboki is made from plant-based fibers (Gossypium herbaceum). Finer fibers than Toppik. Some users report a more natural appearance. Some report more fallout.
Price similar to Toppik. Available in fewer colors (5 vs 9).
Toppik vs Nanogen
Nanogen
Uses keratin like Toppik. British brand, less common in the US. Includes conditioning polymers for better hold. More expensive per ounce.
Price: 15-20% higher than Toppik.
Toppik vs Spray Concealers
Spray concealers (DermMatch, Infinity Hair) coat the scalp with pigment. Cover shiny scalp visible through thin hair. Don’t add texture or thickness appearance.
Work differently than fibers. Some users combine both (spray first, then fibers).
Toppik Cost Analysis: Daily, Monthly, Annual
Toppik isn’t cheap for daily use.
Product pricing ranges from $20-25 for small (12g) bottles to $60-70 for large (55g) containers. Medium bottles (27.5g) run $35-40.
Daily usage costs depend on coverage area. Light application for temples and crown uses 0.5-1g per day, costing $0.70-1.80 daily. Moderate use for larger areas requires 2-3g per day at $2.50-4.00 daily. Heavy use for extensive coverage needs 4-5g daily, running $5.00-7.00 per day.
Monthly costs break down to $20-55 for light users, $75-120 for moderate users, and $150-210 for heavy users.
Annual costs run $240-660 for light users, $900-1,440 for moderate users, and $1,800-2,520 for heavy users.
Compared to hair transplant costs, one-time. Toppik is cheaper in the short term. Transplant is cheaper long-term if using Toppik heavily.
Toppik Safety and Scalp Health Concerns
“Natural” doesn’t automatically mean problem-free.
Common Side Effects
Scalp irritation occurs in 5-10% of users with sensitive skin. Itching from static charge buildup. Clogged follicles with excessive use. Dryness from ammonium chloride.
Inhalation Concerns
Fibers are small. It can become airborne during application. Avoid breathing deeply while shaking the container. Apply in a ventilated area. Hold your breath or turn your head while shaking.
Not toxic if inhaled, but an unnecessary irritant to the lungs. Chronic inhalation has not been studied long-term.
Using Toppik with Minoxidil and Topical Treatments
Apply minoxidil first. Wait at least 4 hours for complete absorption. Then apply Toppik. Applying Toppik over wet minoxidil reduces minoxidil absorption. Fibers can mix with minoxidil, creating a clumpy mess.
The same applies to other topical treatments like finasteride, tretinoin, etc. Always apply medication first, wait for drying and absorption, then cosmetics.
Scalp Conditions to Avoid Toppik
Active seborrheic dermatitis worsens flaking. Open wounds or recent scalp procedures require waiting 2+ weeks. Severe psoriasis causes fibers to stick to scales. Folliculitis or scalp infection can worsen with use.
Post-Hair Transplant Use
Wait a minimum of 2 weeks after your FUE procedure. Ideally, 3-4 weeks for full healing. It can be used on non-transplanted areas sooner. Avoid directly over grafts until fully healed.
Toppik FiberHold Spray and Weather Resistance
Fibers alone have limits. Hold sprays help.
Toppik FiberHold Spray
Proprietary spray designed for Toppik creates a protective seal over fibers. It’s water-resistant but not waterproof. Adds 1-2 days wear time.
Cost: $15-20 per bottle (4oz). Lasts 1-2 months with daily use.
Regular hairspray works but is less effective. Professional-grade finishing sprays perform better. Avoid heavy gels that make fibers clump.
Application Method
Apply Toppik fibers first. Pat gently to settle. Spray FiberHold from 8-10 inches away. Light mist, don’t soak. Let dry 30-60 seconds.
Sweat Resistance
Fibers without spray show noticeable fallout with moderate sweating. With FiberHold spray, light sweating is okay, but heavy sweating still causes issues.
Not recommended for intense workouts or sports. Will survive office AC and normal activity.
Rain Resistance
Without spray, light drizzle is okay, but moderate rain causes problems. With spray, moderate rain is usually okay, but heavy rain still washes out.
Not waterproof. Umbrella still advisable.
Swimming
Don’t. Fibers wash out immediately in the pool or the ocean. Remove before swimming, reapply after.
Toppik Removal and Daily Maintenance
What goes on must come off.
Daily Removal
Regular shampooing removes Toppik completely. No special products needed. One wash is sufficient. May see fiber residue in the shower; that’s normal.
Sleeping with Toppik
Can sleep with it on if using FiberHold spray. Some transfer to pillowcase is expected. Dark pillowcases hide staining better. Wash pillowcases frequently.
Touching Throughout Day
Avoid running fingers through hair repeatedly. Light styling is okay. Heavy touching dislodges fibers. Advise romantic partners about fibers since they transfer to clothing and sheets.
Reapplication
Can touch up during the day. Keep a small container at work or in the car. Quick shake over thin spots. Pat gently. Don’t overdo it.
How to use Toppik?
You can apply Toppik by simply holding the custom container over your thinning area and shaking it gently. In seconds, thousands of tiny color-matched hair fibers will intertwine with your own hair. Charged with static electricity, they bond so securely that they will stay in place all day and night, even in the strongest wind or hardest rain.
- Towel or blow-dry your hair or allow it to air dry completely. Use only on dry hair.
- Hold the container in one hand 3-6 inches above the area to be thickened. For targeting small regions, you may bring the container right to the area.
- Shake Toppik liberally over the desired areas. Don’t worry about any fibers falling into the surrounding hair because they will simply disappear.
- If you cannot see your back-of-the-head area in the mirror during application, use your other hand to guide you to the areas to be enhanced. If necessary, apply Toppik with your head down, and look in the mirror afterward.
- Fill in further as needed. With practice, you will soon learn to apply Toppik effectively, with only an occasional glance at the mirror, if at all.
- In frontal areas, spread your thumb and forefinger and place your hand on top of the forehead below the hairline to keep stray fibers from falling to the forehead and eyes.
- Patting your hair will help disperse fibers throughout the area. Use an open, plastic, non-bristle brush to style your hair as you wish. You will notice that your hair is much easier to style with the added bulk of the Toppik fibers.
Troubleshooting Common Problems
35 years hearing patient complaints. Here’s what actually goes wrong.
Clumping
Clumping happens when applying too much too fast, using on wet hair, or concentrating too much product in small area.
Fix it by shaking from further distance (8-10 inches). Use light coats with multiple applications. Ensure hair is completely dry. Brush through gently with a wide-tooth comb.
Unnatural Hairline Appearance
Fibers on forehead skin look obvious. No existing hair at hairline for fibers to cling to. Wrong application angle makes it worse.
Use a hand barrier at the hairline during application. Apply fibers only where you have some existing hair. Skip the very front 2-3mm of hairline. Use hairline applicator tool for precision. Consider Toppik Hairline Optimizer (separate product).
Obvious Under Bright Light
Wrong color match (too dark). Too much applied (excessive buildup). Direct overhead lighting shows fiber texture clearly.
Test color match under bright bathroom lights before buying large bottle. Use lighter shade than you think you need. Apply thinner coat. Accept limitations—won’t look perfect under interrogation lighting.
Some artificiality is inevitable with fiber concealers. Aim for “natural at normal distance,” not “perfect under microscope.”
Falls Out Too Quickly
No hold spray used. Hair is too fine or slippery. Humid environment accelerates fallout.
Use Toppik FiberHold spray—essential, not optional. Slightly dirty hair holds better than freshly washed. Avoid silicone-heavy conditioners that make hair too slippery. Reapply as needed.
Doesn’t Cover Scalp Shine
Fibers cling to hair, not scalp. Extensive diffuse thinning reveals too much scalp. Visible white scalp between hairs remains visible.
Fibers don’t solve scalp visibility. Need spray concealer for the scalp itself (DermMatch, Infinity Hair). Can layer spray concealer first, then Toppik fibers on top. Or accept Toppik’s limitations for your specific thinning pattern.
Flaking or Buildup
Not washing out completely. Using too much product daily. Combining with too many other hair products creates residue.
Shampoo thoroughly every 1-2 days. Use clarifying shampoo weekly to remove buildup. Reduce amount of Toppik applied. Avoid heavy conditioners and styling products when using Toppik.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Toppik actually look natural in person?
At normal social distance (3+ feet), yes. Close examination reveals fibers. Under bright direct light, texture is more noticeable.
Works better for moderate thinning than extensive baldness. Better for adding density than creating hair where none exists.
Won’t fool hair restoration specialists or very observant people. It will fool most casual observers.
Can I use Toppik every day long-term?
Yes, daily use safe for most people. Some experience scalp irritation after months of daily use. Take breaks occasionally. Wash thoroughly every 1-2 days to prevent buildup.
No evidence that it affects hair growth or loss. Purely cosmetic, doesn’t interact with follicles.
Will Toppik damage my existing hair?
No. Fibers don’t penetrate hair shaft. Don’t affect hair growth. Don’t cause breakage unless excessively rough brushing to remove.
Some users report dryness from ammonium chloride. Use a good conditioner to counteract.
Can women use Toppik effectively?
Yes. Works as well for women as men. Female pattern thinning (diffuse over crown) good candidate. Particularly useful for widening parts.
Color matching is more critical for women (longer hair, more visible). Application technique is different for longer hair (section and apply to roots).
Does Toppik work on African American hair?
Yes, but technique differs. Coarse, curly texture hides fibers well. Apply to roots, not curls themselves. May need less product due to hair texture, providing coverage.
Black shade usually matches well. Test a small area first.
How does Toppik affect dating or intimacy?
Tell partners early. Fibers transfer to clothing, sheets, and partners during contact. Most people understand if you’re upfront. Removing before intimacy avoids awkwardness.
Some users apply lightly for dates, heavily for business. Personal choice based on comfort level.
When Toppik Makes Sense vs Hair Transplant
I perform hair transplants. I still recommend Toppik in specific situations.
Good Toppik Candidates
Mild to moderate thinning. Not ready financially for transplant ($6,000-36,000). Testing hair restoration options before committing. Special occasions needing temporary fix. Post-transplant filling in before full growth appears (months 4-12).
Better Transplant Candidates
Extensive baldness (Norwood 4+). Tired of the daily cosmetic routine and maintenance. Can afford a one-time investment. Want a permanent solution that lasts. Have adequate donor supply for grafts.
Combination Approach
Many transplant patients continue using Toppik. Use on non-transplanted areas for added density. Use while waiting for transplant results to grow in. Use for extra density at special events like weddings.
I’m honest with patients. Toppik masks the problem. Transplant solves it. But masking has its place.
