Toupee or not toupee

The Sacramento Bee has an article (registration required) about Neal Young, a toupee stylist. Neal's been in business for a long time, and he's good at his job, according to him and his customers. Because he's good, of course, it isn't cheap.

Young has been trying to look young since he was young. He went bald at 22 and got his first hairpiece that same year, shelling out $400. Wall-to-wall carpet was selling for less in those days.

[...]

An entire new hairpiece from Neal's is $588 installed. They last one to two years before they wear out, Young says.

I hardly need to point out that two years worth of razor cartridges and shaving lubricant are significantly cheaper, of course. Mr. Young has an opinion about headshaving as an alternative to getting a rug.

"Right now, there is this fad out there of shaving heads - and it is a fad," says Young. "It doesn't look good on everyone. You see odd-shaped heads - dimples, bumps, flat spots."

I'm sure Mr. Young desperately hopes it's a fad, lest it cut further into his business.

Personally, I'm amazed that people spend the time and effort that a hairpiece requires. Different strokes for different folks, though.