If you call 1-888-4-Follea our sales representatives will be happy to give you the number of your nearest certified Follea Atelier.

We doubt that other hair addition manufacturers can claim all of the following:

• Follea reserves the highest grades of European hair our suppliers can provide.
• All of our hair is cut from single bound ponytails. We use no hair from the floor. We use no hair from the brush.
• After cutting all of our hair is shipped directly to us, sorted only by us, and processed only by us. We do not outsource.
• When hair is pulled for processing we begin with careful consideration of both the base color and the denier so that processing time can be kept to an absolute minimum.
• Our highly skilled craftsmen use gentle proprietary processing techniques to avoid undue damage during processing. We do not process aggressively.
• Only Follea can offer great hair in its natural formations by keeping a tremendously large stock of Premium European grades.

Here’s a common question and the simple answer is that they are not more expensive—or more precisely, monofilament tops are only a mid-range top at Follea. Here is a rough guide, from most expensive to the least expensive.

Invisible Knot Tops:
Follea’s multidirectional tops are significantly more expensive than monofilament, taking twice the time and demanding a much more experienced ventilator to knot the hair. This top is incomparably easy to style, amazingly natural in its movement, and its two layer construction creates the uncanny illusion of hair growing naturally from the skin.

With somewhat simpler knotting and slightly shorter production time, Follea’s semi-multidirectional top is also more expensive than monofilament tops. As with the multidirectional top the effect of a natural skin at the part is amazing, but proper styling of this top requires it to be wetted.

Visible Knot Tops:
Monofilament tops require more time for knotting because of the density of the monofilament fabrics. Their greatest appeal is durability, but they are not quite as lifelike as fine laces and multidirectional tops.

Lace Tops:
Lace tops can potentially run the entire range of cost because different thicknesses of lace require different types of production. Basically, the finer the lace is, the more invisible the knots and fabric, and the more expensive the top is. With the finest and most invisible laces the risk of damage is always a concern, so with our standard Swiss made lace we try to create a balance between invisibility and strength.

All human hair wigs need to be styled after purchase — after all, you want it to be styled to suit your face and bone structure. Nevertheless, we do consider our collection wigs to be semi “pre-styled” in that we’ve chosen hair lengths so that very little cutting is required—this saves on the material cost of producing your wig. And very importantly, we know that we do a much better job of this than most other wig manufacturers

We suggest that you custom order your wig and make it quite clear to your hair replacement specialist that your scalp is sensitive. Follea offers several caps that are silk smooth and gentle, designed specifically for people with sensitive skin, and tailor perfect sizing of these should solve your problem. Also, our experience is that when our customers can articulate the exact source of their discomfort it almost always allows us to further alter their cap in some way that will eliminate their complaint.

If you are experiencing undue or visible skin irritation, extreme discomfort, or rashes as a result of wearing a hair addition you should definitely consult your dermatologist about the problem before placing any more orders.

Falls are like partial wigs that are made to blend in with the hair, covering the top and back of the head but leaving the natural hairline exposed.

They are used to create the same effect as hair extensions except that they can be removed when you sleep and are totally non damaging to your own hair because they put no strain on individual hair strands. We should add that you can keep a good fall for years and save a lot of money on hair extensions.

Follea Topettes™ are most used to give a full head of hair to anyone who feels they don’t have enough hair density, for whatever reason. Added to this, we also have customers who use them to protect their own hair from frequent stressful styling related to their work or lifestyle, and others who use them to achieve gorgeous and elaborate hairstyles that would be impossible to achieve without added hair.

Essentially, the Topette™ is a hairpiece positioned on the top of the head—and it is similar to what are variously referred to as hair pieces, top pieces, toppers, postiches, and TopHair, except that we make them better.

The choice is up to you and probably depends on your budget, but we can give you a few reasons that it may be a good idea.

Many of our customers will buy 2 of the same wig or hair piece so that one can be left at the salon to be cleaned or repaired while the other is worn. It’s good to always have a backup.

If you buy several wigs or hairpieces at once you can ask for a volume discount. When ordering custom wigs and hairpieces some custom charges, such as color or formation matching, may be spread out over several pieces, reducing the price of the single pieces.

A handmade back wig is entirely hand knotted. While this does increase the production cost it also ensures much more natural looking density and movement, and it is far less likely to be detected. If you want a lightweight wig with natural density, a handmade back can really show its beauty. Also, for permanent attachment, that is if you want to sleep or swim in your wig, buying handmade is a must.

Machine back/handmade top wigs work very well for a woman who wants a very full hair style with a little more density. They cannot be used for full bonding or any kind of permanent attachment.

In technical terms, machine-made back wigs have hand knotted tops and edges while the back portion of the wig, where roots can’t be seen, is made with machine wefts (hair sewn into long strips) that are layered down the back of the wig from behind the crown down to the nape. While we do make every effort to keep these wefts invisible, it is impossible to produce the verisimilitude of a handmade wig.

There are two answers to this question depending on whether you are in the hair replacement business or whether you are the final customer.

For our final customers we suggest that you find your nearest Follea Atelier by calling 1-888-4-Follea.

For those hair replacement specialists that are interested in custom ordering from us, we offer unmatched custom ordering support. Please contact our regional offices and a Follea sales representative will walk you through the process of becoming a certified Follea atelier. In North America call +1 (310) 858 0100, and in Europe call + 49 (0) 7221 971 0789.

As they say with cars, mileage may vary. We can make no promises because we don’t know what our customers will do with our products after they take them home.

It’s important to know, first of all, that several factors can roughly determine the maximum life of your wig: hair type, base construction, and how often you wear it. Premium hair, and solid construction (no lace fronts) will obviously last longer. Wearing it every other week should double it’s lifetime.

Also, lifestyle and wig maintenance can shorten a wigs life: wearing wigs at night, jogging or swimming in bonded wigs, and poor or incorrect maintenance can all significantly shorten the life of a wig. Certain wigs prohibit very active lifestyles: jogging in a lace front wig, for example, can quickly wear out the lace.

The one thing we most strongly recommend for keeping your wig healthy is allowing your hair replacement specialist to check, clean and maintain your wig regularly. Not only are they best equipped to keep the hair and base healthy, but they may be able to notice and repair problems before they become serious. Please consult with your Follea Atelier on the best schedule for doing so.

But you asked how long… so here is an answer: one of our standard wigs in premium hair, alternated with another wig, professionally maintained, and washed and stored carefully according to a Follea Atelier’s proscribed methods, could last as long as five years.

The gentle daily wear of a clip-on or tape-on wig should give you at least a year’s wear, although some minor repairs or coloring may be needed during regular atelier check-ups.

If you are bonding your wig, rolling it up in a sock, letting a dog play with it, mishandling it while washing, or in any way abusing it, it may not last very long at all. In fact, here at the factory we’ve seen a dog destroy a wig in under five minutes.

We will look at problems and on a case by case basis solely at our own discretion to do anything. While we make every effort to provide only the highest quality in our products we can’t assume the costs of damage done to our products after they are received. We therefore retain the right to inspect any claims of deficiency that are made, inspecting solely by ourselves, and determining a reasonable course of action after our inspection is complete.

Yes, you sure can, but if you have a wig cut by a stylist please make sure it is done very carefully because it won’t grow back and replacing locks that have been overcut can be quite costly.

Although Follea can’t bill insurance companies directly this does not mean your insurance can’t cover a Follea product. We suggest you consult with your doctor and insurance company on how this is done.

From our experience the following is probably what you’ll learn, in short: You’ll need a “hair prosthesis” to be physician prescribed and when you purchase your hair replacement, you must ask your Follea Atelier to list the hair replacement as a “hair prosthesis” according to the accompanying prescription. These, then, would be submitted with your insurance claim to recover any expenses that are covered in your plan.

No, wigs typically do not damage your hair unless you improperly bond. Simple wear of a clip on or tape on wig should not damage your hair as long as tapes or clips are attached to areas with healthy, strong hair growth.

However, a concern for some clip users is that by using a very localized bond they may in time create traction alopecia in the clip’s position. We understand that vigorous activity, a heavy hairpiece or wig, or weakened hair can all increase the chances of such damage: jogging in a heavy clip on wig with only a few clips is not advisable, for example. This risk is reduced by using more clips, by moving clips around (we offer tape on clips), or by switching to tape or glue bonding. Many of our more experienced added hair wearers use a combination of tape and clips to keep

Some people have reported hair loss even from wearing hats. So if you have very weak or sensitive hair we strongly advise you to see a hair replacement specialist before wearing a wig, they will be best able to estimate whether or not a wig may damage your hair after doing a hair strength analysis.

Hand Selected Premium European

• Cuticle intact and ‘double drawn’ so that hair lengths are within 1 inch.
• Hand-picked out of our Premium European hair by our veteran sorters after initial bulk sorting.
• The most responsive to light color and light ash dying.
• Always picked from the most closely matching base colors and tones to guarantee absolute minimal processing.
• Rich, radiant color and brilliant shine.
• Unmatched, responsive natural body and movement.

Premium European

• Cuticle intact and ‘double drawn’ so that hair lengths are within 1 inch.
• The top grade of hair separated during our initial bulk sorting.
• Perfect for subtle European colors.
• Moderate, gentle processing.
• Natural European hair color and shine.
• Responsive, natural movement.

European Cuticle Removed

• Cuticle removed and ‘double drawn’ so that hair lengths are within 1 inch.
• Medium to high denier hair selected for durability but still with a mind to lightness.
• Tolerates processing stress very well.
• Ideal for full-time wear — especially for bonding applications.
• Well above industry standards of color for cuticle removed hair.
• An effective balance between lightness, color, natural movement, and long term wearability.

World Select Cuticle Removed

• Cuticle removed and ‘single drawn’ leaving hair lengths within 4 inches giving a more layered look.
• Higher denier, selected for durability.
• Long lasting.
• Well suited to bonding and ‘program hair’.
• Excellent color but sacrifices some shine in direct daylight conditions.
• Moves naturally.

If you call 1-888-4-Follea our sales representatives will be happy to give you the number of your nearest certified Follea Atelier.

We suggest that you custom order your wig and make it quite clear to your hair replacement specialist that your scalp is sensitive. Follea offers several caps that are silk smooth and gentle, designed specifically for people with sensitive skin, and tailor perfect sizing of these should solve your problem. Also, our experience is that when our customers can articulate the exact source of their discomfort it almost always allows us to further alter their cap in some way that will eliminate their complaint.

If you are experiencing undue or visible skin irritation, extreme discomfort, or rashes as a result of wearing a hair addition you should definitely consult your dermatologist about the problem before placing any more orders.

The choice is up to you and probably depends on your budget, but we can give you a few reasons that it may be a good idea.

Many of our customers will buy 2 of the same wig or hair piece so that one can be left at the salon to be cleaned or repaired while the other is worn. It’s good to always have a backup.

If you buy several wigs or hairpieces at once you can ask for a volume discount. When ordering custom wigs and hairpieces some custom charges, such as color or formation matching, may be spread out over several pieces, reducing the price of the single pieces.

There are two answers to this question depending on whether you are in the hair replacement business or whether you are the final customer.

For our final customers we suggest that you find your nearest Follea Atelier by calling 1-888-4-Follea.

For those hair replacement specialists that are interested in custom ordering from us, we offer unmatched custom ordering support. Please contact our regional offices and a Follea sales representative will walk you through the process of becoming a certified Follea atelier. In North America call +1 (310) 858 0100, and in Europe call + 49 (0) 7221 971 0789.

Yes, you sure can, but if you have a wig cut by a stylist please make sure it is done very carefully because it won’t grow back and replacing locks that have been overcut can be quite costly.

Although Follea can’t bill insurance companies directly this does not mean your insurance can’t cover a Follea product. We suggest you consult with your doctor and insurance company on how this is done.

From our experience the following is probably what you’ll learn, in short: You’ll need a “hair prosthesis” to be physician prescribed and when you purchase your hair replacement, you must ask your Follea Atelier to list the hair replacement as a “hair prosthesis” according to the accompanying prescription. These, then, would be submitted with your insurance claim to recover any expenses that are covered in your plan.

Follea offers wigs specialized both for those who lose hair from alopecia, and for those who are being treated with radiation or chemotherapy.

A specialized wig for alopecia must not only be comfortable against sensitive skin but it must also be bondable and durable enough to withstand the active lifestyles of many of our alopecia wig wearers. Several Follea designs meet these needs, depending on your preferences.

A specialized wig for someone losing hair due to radiation or chemotherapy must be both comfortable against sensitive skin and easy to maintain. While in some cases our alopecia wigs meet this need, we recommend shorter hairstyles and discourage bonding—this keeps maintenance at an absolute minimum. Our silicone grip caps fill this need perfectly, can be worn and removed easily, and keep their position very well.

Expanded information on these needs are available in the hair loss section.

Yes, Follea repairs wigs, and can do so promptly with considerable skill and experience, provided they are manufactured by us. Among the craftsmen who lead our design, repair, and service departments we have hundreds of years of practical experience repairing wigs.

We do not repair wigs manufactured by other companies.

Yes, wigs can be altered and refitted according to most size specifications, within reason, be they smaller or larger. This should be done through your local certified Follea Atelier.

If you have just bought a Follea wig and you find it’s the wrong size but it is not your fault, you should send it back.

Yes, but if you want it done properly this should be done by a professional colorist with years of exp working with wigs and hair pieces. We strongly discourage any radical changes, especially lightening, because the chemical stress will shorten the lifespan of the hair. Adding highlights and lowlights is not usually a problem.

If you want to swim in your wig you’ll want to order custom: virgin human hair will ensure it does not fade, and a lace fit bonding cap with prevent sagging and pull as water flows around the wig. Bonding is a must if you plan on swimming.

Yes, you can order 100% virgin human hair.

We suggest that you custom order your wig and make it quite clear to your hair replacement specialist that your scalp is sensitive. Follea offers several caps that are silk smooth and gentle, designed specifically for people with sensitive skin, and tailor perfect sizing of these should solve your problem. Also, our experience is that when our customers can articulate the exact source of their discomfort it almost always allows us to further alter their cap in some way that will eliminate their complaint.

If you are experiencing undue or visible skin irritation, extreme discomfort, or rashes as a result of wearing a hair addition you should definitely consult your dermatologist about the problem before placing any more orders.

In terms of what is offered and how long customization takes, there are 3 levels of custom ordering:

Your most basic custom order is a Follea collection wig custom fitted from your measurements. This guarantees you the comfort of having a piece in your exact size, and production is generally quite fast, sometimes as short as three weeks.

The second level of custom ordering allows for choices in density, hair type, style, and custom coloring. In this category of ordering, wigs can be made from a custom mold. The appeal of this type of customization is that it allows for perfectly precise size, color and hair type matching. In some cases these orders may be produced in as little as 4 weeks although this time can be extended by delays caused in client approval of caps or color.

The third level allows customization of everything from hair formation through color, hair type, and design from custom mold. Everything can be customized, and here we think the appeal is obvious. The cost of full customization is obviously higher, however, and production times may stretch out over 6 weeks even if approvals go well.

This important information should have been provided to you by the Follea Atelier from whom you purchased you piece. If you feel you were not properly informed please call 1-888-4-Follea for our North American sales and service assistance.

Follea recommends you go to your authorized outlet for all washing and maintenance, and if you choose to wash your piece yourself it’s essential that you begin to do so under the Guidance of your Follea Atelier because wigs can be easily damaged by incorrect cleaning products or washing technique and different kinds of wigs should be washed using different methods.

If you have no choice but to wash your wig by yourself, we advise that you wash & condition only with natural hair-care products. Stay away from sulphates, parabens, and other harmful chemicals.

The following suggestions and warnings are intended only as a rough idea of how washing is done. Again, we expect all of our customers to learn how to wash their wigs under the guidance of a certified Follea Atelier.

• Always block your hair on a small mannequin head. We suggest T-pins to hold the wig in place while washing. Washing by hand without a block can be very harmful to your wig. In French part tops such as Follea’s multidirectional (Luxury part) and semi-multidirectional (Lifestyle part) tops washing in the hand causes pillowing in the part. In machine back wigs it causes pull-through hair in open back wefting. Even when using a block, lace fronts can be easily torn if they are blocked incorrectly before washing.

  And remember: when handling French part wigs always hold the part with the inside (the underside) of the part sitting on your palm and fingers—never pinch or grab the French part from the outside. This is especially harmful to your wig while it is wet.

• Shampoo once, then rinse well. Stroke the shampoo downwards and always away from the roots so they don’t become slick and loosen.

  Rinse in a basin and under a tap twice. In the basin by pulling the mannequin head and wig through so that the hair is pulled naturally downward and away from the roots. Under the tap follow the same guidline, letting the water pull the hair down and away from the roots in the direction the hair naturally falls. Make sure all the shampoo is rinsed off.

• Condition once, then rinse well. Stroke the conditioner downwards and always away from the roots. Never condition the roots, or it will loosen the knotting.

  Rinse the conditioner by following the same instructions given in the shampoo steps above.

• Towel dry gently by squeezing, not by rubbing vigorously. Allow your wig to dry in a very well ventilated area attached to the mannequin head.

The Follea Atelier from whom you bought you Follea piece can give you all the necessary details for storing a wig over the short or long term. Doing so is very important because different products with different materials require unique precautions when being stored.

The following, therefore, are not to be taken as precise instructions, they are just guidelines and cautions. Please call 1-888-4-Follea if you think you think you have had inadequate instruction on storage from you atelier.

First of all, overnight or very short term storage differs from long term storage. For overnight, or a few days placing you wig on a block, a stand, or a mannequin should sufficiently protect it from damage.

For long term storage it’s very important to wash and condition your wig before storing. Conditioner will keep the hair healthy longer, but remember to use gentle shampoos as conditioners as proscribed in the FAQ question “How do I wash a wig?” After washing, comb and style your wig as you normally wear it because it will set while in storage.

Keep your wig in a cool, dry place. A wig box is preferable, with no light, and mounted on a mannequin head of the appropriate size so that it keeps its shape properly. Lace wigs should be pinned on a block—and where you pin your lace front is very important so we urge you again please contact the Follea atelier where you bought it for more information on your particular design.

Remember, after very long term storage your wig won’t look the same. Room temperature, ventilation, and age may change the shape and color. When you remove your wig from storage it may need deep conditioning, color fixing, or a perm.

No. Salon products could damage the hair or harm the workmanship or materials of the wig. You might see tangling, dye coming out, fading, or knots loosening if you use the wrong products and greatly reduce the lifespan of your wig. In particular, the most harmful products contain sulphates and parabens.

Wash and condition only with Follea natural hair care products.

We doubt that other hair addition manufacturers can claim all of the following:

• Follea reserves the highest grades of European hair our suppliers can provide.
• All of our hair is cut from single bound ponytails. We use no hair from the floor. We use no hair from the brush.
• After cutting all of our hair is shipped directly to us, sorted only by us, and processed only by us. We do not outsource.
• When hair is pulled for processing we begin with careful consideration of both the base color and the denier so that processing time can be kept to an absolute minimum.
• Our highly skilled craftsmen use gentle proprietary processing techniques to avoid undue damage during processing. We do not process aggressively.
• Only Follea can offer great hair in its natural formations by keeping a tremendously large stock of Premium European grades.

Here’s a common question and the simple answer is that they are not more expensive—or more precisely, monofilament tops are only a mid-range top at Follea. Here is a rough guide, from most expensive to the least expensive.

Invisible Knot Tops:
Follea’s multidirectional tops are significantly more expensive than monofilament, taking twice the time and demanding a much more experienced ventilator to knot the hair. This top is incomparably easy to style, amazingly natural in its movement, and its two layer construction creates the uncanny illusion of hair growing naturally from the skin.

With somewhat simpler knotting and slightly shorter production time, Follea’s semi-multidirectional top is also more expensive than monofilament tops. As with the multidirectional top the effect of a natural skin at the part is amazing, but proper styling of this top requires it to be wetted.

Visible Knot Tops:
Monofilament tops require more time for knotting because of the density of the monofilament fabrics. Their greatest appeal is durability, but they are not quite as lifelike as fine laces and multidirectional tops.

Lace Tops:
Lace tops can potentially run the entire range of cost because different thicknesses of lace require different types of production. Basically, the finer the lace is, the more invisible the knots and fabric, and the more expensive the top is. With the finest and most invisible laces the risk of damage is always a concern, so with our standard Swiss made lace we try to create a balance between invisibility and strength.

Falls are like partial wigs that are made to blend in with the hair, covering the top and back of the head but leaving the natural hairline exposed.

They are used to create the same effect as hair extensions except that they can be removed when you sleep and are totally non damaging to your own hair because they put no strain on individual hair strands. We should add that you can keep a good fall for years and save a lot of money on hair extensions.

Follea Topettes™ are most used to give a full head of hair to anyone who feels they don’t have enough hair density, for whatever reason. Added to this, we also have customers who use them to protect their own hair from frequent stressful styling related to their work or lifestyle, and others who use them to achieve gorgeous and elaborate hairstyles that would be impossible to achieve without added hair.

Essentially, the Topette™ is a hairpiece positioned on the top of the head—and it is similar to what are variously referred to as hair pieces, top pieces, toppers, postiches, and TopHair, except that we make them better.

A handmade back wig is entirely hand knotted. While this does increase the production cost it also ensures much more natural looking density and movement, and it is far less likely to be detected. If you want a lightweight wig with natural density, a handmade back can really show its beauty. Also, for permanent attachment, that is if you want to sleep or swim in your wig, buying handmade is a must.

Machine back/handmade top wigs work very well for a woman who wants a very full hair style with a little more density. They cannot be used for full bonding or any kind of permanent attachment.

In technical terms, machine-made back wigs have hand knotted tops and edges while the back portion of the wig, where roots can’t be seen, is made with machine wefts (hair sewn into long strips) that are layered down the back of the wig from behind the crown down to the nape. While we do make every effort to keep these wefts invisible, it is impossible to produce the verisimilitude of a handmade wig.

We will look at problems and on a case by case basis solely at our own discretion to do anything. While we make every effort to provide only the highest quality in our products we can’t assume the costs of damage done to our products after they are received. We therefore retain the right to inspect any claims of deficiency that are made, inspecting solely by ourselves, and determining a reasonable course of action after our inspection is complete.

Hand Selected Premium European

• Cuticle intact and ‘double drawn’ so that hair lengths are within 1 inch.
• Hand-picked out of our Premium European hair by our veteran sorters after initial bulk sorting.
• The most responsive to light color and light ash dying.
• Always picked from the most closely matching base colors and tones to guarantee absolute minimal processing.
• Rich, radiant color and brilliant shine.
• Unmatched, responsive natural body and movement.

Premium European

• Cuticle intact and ‘double drawn’ so that hair lengths are within 1 inch.
• The top grade of hair separated during our initial bulk sorting.
• Perfect for subtle European colors.
• Moderate, gentle processing.
• Natural European hair color and shine.
• Responsive, natural movement.

European Cuticle Removed

• Cuticle removed and ‘double drawn’ so that hair lengths are within 1 inch.
• Medium to high denier hair selected for durability but still with a mind to lightness.
• Tolerates processing stress very well.
• Ideal for full-time wear — especially for bonding applications.
• Well above industry standards of color for cuticle removed hair.
• An effective balance between lightness, color, natural movement, and long term wearability.

World Select Cuticle Removed

• Cuticle removed and ‘single drawn’ leaving hair lengths within 4 inches giving a more layered look.
• Higher denier, selected for durability.
• Long lasting.
• Well suited to bonding and ‘program hair’.
• Excellent color but sacrifices some shine in direct daylight conditions.
• Moves naturally.

In terms of what is offered and how long customization takes, there are 3 levels of custom ordering:

Your most basic custom order is a Follea collection wig custom fitted from your measurements. This guarantees you the comfort of having a piece in your exact size, and production is generally quite fast, sometimes as short as three weeks.

The second level of custom ordering allows for choices in density, hair type, style, and custom coloring. In this category of ordering, wigs can be made from a custom mold. The appeal of this type of customization is that it allows for perfectly precise size, color and hair type matching. In some cases these orders may be produced in as little as 4 weeks although this time can be extended by delays caused in client approval of caps or color.

The third level allows customization of everything from hair formation through color, hair type, and design from custom mold. Everything can be customized, and here we think the appeal is obvious. The cost of full customization is obviously higher, however, and production times may stretch out over 6 weeks even if approvals go well.

As we offer over a dozen different caps this is a complex question which may be better posed to you Follea Atelier.

As a general catch-all answer, the following materials may be present in a Follea cap: nylon tape, rubber elastics in polyester sleeves, polyester and monofilament threads, polyester lace, spandex, silk, small PVC or stainless steel stays, stainless steel clips, acrylic, thin polyurethane panels, and soft polyurethane or silicone coatings.

The outermost layer of a hair shaft is not a smooth or uniform surface but rather a coating of overlapping, transparent protective layers that form a grain, or a direction, toward the ends of the hair. Cuticle is not unlike the shingles on a roof, although they not only protect your hair from excess moisture, they also protect your hair from excessive dryness.

The condition of hair cuticle is the main determiner of the health of your hair. In healthy, well conditioned hair the cuticle lays down smoothly against the shaft, closed. In dry, damaged hair you would see cuticle lifted up and even bent back if badly damaged were you to examine it under a microscope.

Cuticle condition also determines shine, and this becomes very apparent when you go into direct sunlight and compare cuticle intact hair to hair that has cuticle removed. Cuticle intact hair is noticeably more radiant. Under interior lighting the difference is much more difficult to discern because silicone treatment of cuticle removed hair tends to reflect interior lighting as well as healthy cuticle does. So if you really want to see the difference, take your hair outside.

Although you can’t see the actual cuticles without a microscope you can feel it when you run hair up a hair shaft or a bundle of hair shafts. There is always more resistance running your hand up cuticle hair that when you run your hand down cuticle hair. With cuticle removed hair there is no such difference.

Cuticle intact hair is much longer lasting than cuticle removed hair, but hair additions made with cuticle intact hair may tangle if they are not carefully constructed. Added to this, finding cuticle intact hair that has been cut in a single ponytail and contains no “inverted” or “reversed” hair is not always easy today. Thus, in most mass production of hair additions today manufacturers remove cuticle from their hair, eliminating the meticulous checking needed to ensure all hair has cuticle in the same direction.

Sleeping in cuticle intact hair additions is not generally recommended, so most bonding applications are made with cuticle removed hair. Cuticle intact hair extensions from reputable hair vendors can be worn but must be carefully and frequently groomed.

When hair is tied or sewn onto a wig or hair piece two ends of the hair remain: the long strand of hair that fills the volume of the wig and a short hidden strand of hair on the other side of the knot. This short end is called “return hair”. Essentially, each hair and knot is like a V with a long end and a short “return” end.

When discussing return hair it is important to understand hair cuticle because the cuticle of the short return strand runs in the opposite direction of the long volume strand. If the hair is cuticle intact, and if the return hair is too long, it can cause tangling in a wig. If the return hair is too short it may stand up in and around part areas and give an unattractive bristly look to the hairpiece. Thus, all return hairs must be cut within a strict limit of length, neither too long nor too short.

Remy denotes that the cuticle of hair all runs in the same direction. True remy hair must be cut in single bound pony tails when it is collected to ensure that all hair runs in the same direction just as it does growing from the head.

Remy does not mean that hair is virgin, and may be bleached or colored.

If you call 1-888-4-Follea our sales representatives will be happy to give you the number of your nearest certified Follea Atelier.

We doubt that other hair addition manufacturers can claim all of the following:

• Follea reserves the highest grades of European hair our suppliers can provide.
• All of our hair is cut from single bound ponytails. We use no hair from the floor. We use no hair from the brush.
• After cutting all of our hair is shipped directly to us, sorted only by us, and processed only by us. We do not outsource.
• When hair is pulled for processing we begin with careful consideration of both the base color and the denier so that processing time can be kept to an absolute minimum.
• Our highly skilled craftsmen use gentle proprietary processing techniques to avoid undue damage during processing. We do not process aggressively.
• Only Follea can offer great hair in its natural formations by keeping a tremendously large stock of Premium European grades.

Here’s a common question and the simple answer is that they are not more expensive—or more precisely, monofilament tops are only a mid-range top at Follea. Here is a rough guide, from most expensive to the least expensive.

Invisible Knot Tops:
Follea’s multidirectional tops are significantly more expensive than monofilament, taking twice the time and demanding a much more experienced ventilator to knot the hair. This top is incomparably easy to style, amazingly natural in its movement, and its two layer construction creates the uncanny illusion of hair growing naturally from the skin.

With somewhat simpler knotting and slightly shorter production time, Follea’s semi-multidirectional top is also more expensive than monofilament tops. As with the multidirectional top the effect of a natural skin at the part is amazing, but proper styling of this top requires it to be wetted.

Visible Knot Tops:
Monofilament tops require more time for knotting because of the density of the monofilament fabrics. Their greatest appeal is durability, but they are not quite as lifelike as fine laces and multidirectional tops.

Lace Tops:
Lace tops can potentially run the entire range of cost because different thicknesses of lace require different types of production. Basically, the finer the lace is, the more invisible the knots and fabric, and the more expensive the top is. With the finest and most invisible laces the risk of damage is always a concern, so with our standard Swiss made lace we try to create a balance between invisibility and strength.

The choice is up to you and probably depends on your budget, but we can give you a few reasons that it may be a good idea.

Many of our customers will buy 2 of the same wig or hair piece so that one can be left at the salon to be cleaned or repaired while the other is worn. It’s good to always have a backup.

If you buy several wigs or hairpieces at once you can ask for a volume discount. When ordering custom wigs and hairpieces some custom charges, such as color or formation matching, may be spread out over several pieces, reducing the price of the single pieces.

There are two answers to this question depending on whether you are in the hair replacement business or whether you are the final customer.

For our final customers we suggest that you find your nearest Follea Atelier by calling 1-888-4-Follea.

For those hair replacement specialists that are interested in custom ordering from us, we offer unmatched custom ordering support. Please contact our regional offices and a Follea sales representative will walk you through the process of becoming a certified Follea atelier. In North America call +1 (310) 858 0100, and in Europe call + 49 (0) 7221 971 0789.

We will look at problems and on a case by case basis solely at our own discretion to do anything. While we make every effort to provide only the highest quality in our products we can’t assume the costs of damage done to our products after they are received. We therefore retain the right to inspect any claims of deficiency that are made, inspecting solely by ourselves, and determining a reasonable course of action after our inspection is complete.

Although Follea can’t bill insurance companies directly this does not mean your insurance can’t cover a Follea product. We suggest you consult with your doctor and insurance company on how this is done.

From our experience the following is probably what you’ll learn, in short: You’ll need a “hair prosthesis” to be physician prescribed and when you purchase your hair replacement, you must ask your Follea Atelier to list the hair replacement as a “hair prosthesis” according to the accompanying prescription. These, then, would be submitted with your insurance claim to recover any expenses that are covered in your plan.

In terms of what is offered and how long customization takes, there are 3 levels of custom ordering:

Your most basic custom order is a Follea collection wig custom fitted from your measurements. This guarantees you the comfort of having a piece in your exact size, and production is generally quite fast, sometimes as short as three weeks.

The second level of custom ordering allows for choices in density, hair type, style, and custom coloring. In this category of ordering, wigs can be made from a custom mold. The appeal of this type of customization is that it allows for perfectly precise size, color and hair type matching. In some cases these orders may be produced in as little as 4 weeks although this time can be extended by delays caused in client approval of caps or color.

The third level allows customization of everything from hair formation through color, hair type, and design from custom mold. Everything can be customized, and here we think the appeal is obvious. The cost of full customization is obviously higher, however, and production times may stretch out over 6 weeks even if approvals go well.

We doubt that other hair addition manufacturers can claim all of the following:

• Follea reserves the highest grades of European hair our suppliers can provide.
• All of our hair is cut from single bound ponytails. We use no hair from the floor. We use no hair from the brush.
• After cutting all of our hair is shipped directly to us, sorted only by us, and processed only by us. We do not outsource.
• When hair is pulled for processing we begin with careful consideration of both the base color and the denier so that processing time can be kept to an absolute minimum.
• Our highly skilled craftsmen use gentle proprietary processing techniques to avoid undue damage during processing. We do not process aggressively.
• Only Follea can offer great hair in its natural formations by keeping a tremendously large stock of Premium European grades.

Here’s a common question and the simple answer is that they are not more expensive—or more precisely, monofilament tops are only a mid-range top at Follea. Here is a rough guide, from most expensive to the least expensive.

Invisible Knot Tops:
Follea’s multidirectional tops are significantly more expensive than monofilament, taking twice the time and demanding a much more experienced ventilator to knot the hair. This top is incomparably easy to style, amazingly natural in its movement, and its two layer construction creates the uncanny illusion of hair growing naturally from the skin.

With somewhat simpler knotting and slightly shorter production time, Follea’s semi-multidirectional top is also more expensive than monofilament tops. As with the multidirectional top the effect of a natural skin at the part is amazing, but proper styling of this top requires it to be wetted.

Visible Knot Tops:
Monofilament tops require more time for knotting because of the density of the monofilament fabrics. Their greatest appeal is durability, but they are not quite as lifelike as fine laces and multidirectional tops.

Lace Tops:
Lace tops can potentially run the entire range of cost because different thicknesses of lace require different types of production. Basically, the finer the lace is, the more invisible the knots and fabric, and the more expensive the top is. With the finest and most invisible laces the risk of damage is always a concern, so with our standard Swiss made lace we try to create a balance between invisibility and strength.

All human hair wigs need to be styled after purchase — after all, you want it to be styled to suit your face and bone structure. Nevertheless, we do consider our collection wigs to be semi “pre-styled” in that we’ve chosen hair lengths so that very little cutting is required—this saves on the material cost of producing your wig. And very importantly, we know that we do a much better job of this than most other wig manufacturers

A handmade back wig is entirely hand knotted. While this does increase the production cost it also ensures much more natural looking density and movement, and it is far less likely to be detected. If you want a lightweight wig with natural density, a handmade back can really show its beauty. Also, for permanent attachment, that is if you want to sleep or swim in your wig, buying handmade is a must.

Machine back/handmade top wigs work very well for a woman who wants a very full hair style with a little more density. They cannot be used for full bonding or any kind of permanent attachment.

In technical terms, machine-made back wigs have hand knotted tops and edges while the back portion of the wig, where roots can’t be seen, is made with machine wefts (hair sewn into long strips) that are layered down the back of the wig from behind the crown down to the nape. While we do make every effort to keep these wefts invisible, it is impossible to produce the verisimilitude of a handmade wig.

As they say with cars, mileage may vary. We can make no promises because we don’t know what our customers will do with our products after they take them home.

It’s important to know, first of all, that several factors can roughly determine the maximum life of your wig: hair type, base construction, and how often you wear it. Premium hair, and solid construction (no lace fronts) will obviously last longer. Wearing it every other week should double it’s lifetime.

Also, lifestyle and wig maintenance can shorten a wigs life: wearing wigs at night, jogging or swimming in bonded wigs, and poor or incorrect maintenance can all significantly shorten the life of a wig. Certain wigs prohibit very active lifestyles: jogging in a lace front wig, for example, can quickly wear out the lace.

The one thing we most strongly recommend for keeping your wig healthy is allowing your hair replacement specialist to check, clean and maintain your wig regularly. Not only are they best equipped to keep the hair and base healthy, but they may be able to notice and repair problems before they become serious. Please consult with your Follea Atelier on the best schedule for doing so.

But you asked how long… so here is an answer: one of our standard wigs in premium hair, alternated with another wig, professionally maintained, and washed and stored carefully according to a Follea Atelier’s proscribed methods, could last as long as five years.

The gentle daily wear of a clip-on or tape-on wig should give you at least a year’s wear, although some minor repairs or coloring may be needed during regular atelier check-ups.

If you are bonding your wig, rolling it up in a sock, letting a dog play with it, mishandling it while washing, or in any way abusing it, it may not last very long at all. In fact, here at the factory we’ve seen a dog destroy a wig in under five minutes.

Hand Selected Premium European

• Cuticle intact and ‘double drawn’ so that hair lengths are within 1 inch.
• Hand-picked out of our Premium European hair by our veteran sorters after initial bulk sorting.
• The most responsive to light color and light ash dying.
• Always picked from the most closely matching base colors and tones to guarantee absolute minimal processing.
• Rich, radiant color and brilliant shine.
• Unmatched, responsive natural body and movement.

Premium European

• Cuticle intact and ‘double drawn’ so that hair lengths are within 1 inch.
• The top grade of hair separated during our initial bulk sorting.
• Perfect for subtle European colors.
• Moderate, gentle processing.
• Natural European hair color and shine.
• Responsive, natural movement.

European Cuticle Removed

• Cuticle removed and ‘double drawn’ so that hair lengths are within 1 inch.
• Medium to high denier hair selected for durability but still with a mind to lightness.
• Tolerates processing stress very well.
• Ideal for full-time wear — especially for bonding applications.
• Well above industry standards of color for cuticle removed hair.
• An effective balance between lightness, color, natural movement, and long term wearability.

World Select Cuticle Removed

• Cuticle removed and ‘single drawn’ leaving hair lengths within 4 inches giving a more layered look.
• Higher denier, selected for durability.
• Long lasting.
• Well suited to bonding and ‘program hair’.
• Excellent color but sacrifices some shine in direct daylight conditions.
• Moves naturally.

Follea offers wigs specialized both for those who lose hair from alopecia, and for those who are being treated with radiation or chemotherapy.

A specialized wig for alopecia must not only be comfortable against sensitive skin but it must also be bondable and durable enough to withstand the active lifestyles of many of our alopecia wig wearers. Several Follea designs meet these needs, depending on your preferences.

A specialized wig for someone losing hair due to radiation or chemotherapy must be both comfortable against sensitive skin and easy to maintain. While in some cases our alopecia wigs meet this need, we recommend shorter hairstyles and discourage bonding—this keeps maintenance at an absolute minimum. Our silicone grip caps fill this need perfectly, can be worn and removed easily, and keep their position very well.

Expanded information on these needs are available in the hair loss section.

If you want to swim in your wig you’ll want to order custom: virgin human hair will ensure it does not fade, and a lace fit bonding cap with prevent sagging and pull as water flows around the wig. Bonding is a must if you plan on swimming.

Yes, you can order 100% virgin human hair.

This is 100% normal. Just as your own hair color fades, so do wigs. Also, Follea uses mild, non-harmful dyes that may fade slightly faster than unprocessed hair and slight fading can be expected after four to six months of continuous wear and washing. Also, saltwater and chlorine from swimming increases the rate at which fading occurs. Professional salon coloring can easily remedy this, but we do suggest that you choose a colorist who has experience with wigs and hairpieces.

Also keep in mind that cuticle removed hair fades more quickly than cuticle intact hair and slight fading may occur in half the time.

As we offer over a dozen different caps this is a complex question which may be better posed to you Follea Atelier.

As a general catch-all answer, the following materials may be present in a Follea cap: nylon tape, rubber elastics in polyester sleeves, polyester and monofilament threads, polyester lace, spandex, silk, small PVC or stainless steel stays, stainless steel clips, acrylic, thin polyurethane panels, and soft polyurethane or silicone coatings.

Yes, wigs can be altered and refitted according to most size specifications, within reason, be they smaller or larger. This should be done through your local certified Follea Atelier.

If you have just bought a Follea wig and you find it’s the wrong size but it is not your fault, you should send it back.

In terms of what is offered and how long customization takes, there are 3 levels of custom ordering:

Your most basic custom order is a Follea collection wig custom fitted from your measurements. This guarantees you the comfort of having a piece in your exact size, and production is generally quite fast, sometimes as short as three weeks.

The second level of custom ordering allows for choices in density, hair type, style, and custom coloring. In this category of ordering, wigs can be made from a custom mold. The appeal of this type of customization is that it allows for perfectly precise size, color and hair type matching. In some cases these orders may be produced in as little as 4 weeks although this time can be extended by delays caused in client approval of caps or color.

The third level allows customization of everything from hair formation through color, hair type, and design from custom mold. Everything can be customized, and here we think the appeal is obvious. The cost of full customization is obviously higher, however, and production times may stretch out over 6 weeks even if approvals go well.

Interestingly, most people have measurements that are roughly the same as or reasonably close to our medium fitting size and our medium sized wigs fit them quite comfortably.

For us though, an important consideration in what we do and don’t stock is that we have a whole spectrum of radiant colors and dozens of styles available, and were we to stock every wig we have in every size our inventory costs would surely be the end of us.

Thus, Follea only stocks medium sizes of your favorite styles and only in the most popular colors.

We suggest that you custom order your wig and make it quite clear to your hair replacement specialist that your scalp is sensitive. Follea offers several caps that are silk smooth and gentle, designed specifically for people with sensitive skin, and tailor perfect sizing of these should solve your problem. Also, our experience is that when our customers can articulate the exact source of their discomfort it almost always allows us to further alter their cap in some way that will eliminate their complaint.

If you are experiencing undue or visible skin irritation, extreme discomfort, or rashes as a result of wearing a hair addition you should definitely consult your dermatologist about the problem before placing any more orders.

No, wigs typically do not damage your hair unless you improperly bond. Simple wear of a clip on or tape on wig should not damage your hair as long as tapes or clips are attached to areas with healthy, strong hair growth.

However, a concern for some clip users is that by using a very localized bond they may in time create traction alopecia in the clip’s position. We understand that vigorous activity, a heavy hairpiece or wig, or weakened hair can all increase the chances of such damage: jogging in a heavy clip on wig with only a few clips is not advisable, for example. This risk is reduced by using more clips, by moving clips around (we offer tape on clips), or by switching to tape or glue bonding. Many of our more experienced added hair wearers use a combination of tape and clips to keep

Some people have reported hair loss even from wearing hats. So if you have very weak or sensitive hair we strongly advise you to see a hair replacement specialist before wearing a wig, they will be best able to estimate whether or not a wig may damage your hair after doing a hair strength analysis.

Follea offers wigs specialized both for those who lose hair from alopecia, and for those who are being treated with radiation or chemotherapy.

A specialized wig for alopecia must not only be comfortable against sensitive skin but it must also be bondable and durable enough to withstand the active lifestyles of many of our alopecia wig wearers. Several Follea designs meet these needs, depending on your preferences.

A specialized wig for someone losing hair due to radiation or chemotherapy must be both comfortable against sensitive skin and easy to maintain. While in some cases our alopecia wigs meet this need, we recommend shorter hairstyles and discourage bonding—this keeps maintenance at an absolute minimum. Our silicone grip caps fill this need perfectly, can be worn and removed easily, and keep their position very well.

Expanded information on these needs are available in the hair loss section.

As we offer over a dozen different caps this is a complex question which may be better posed to you Follea Atelier.

As a general catch-all answer, the following materials may be present in a Follea cap: nylon tape, rubber elastics in polyester sleeves, polyester and monofilament threads, polyester lace, spandex, silk, small PVC or stainless steel stays, stainless steel clips, acrylic, thin polyurethane panels, and soft polyurethane or silicone coatings.

Yes, Follea repairs wigs, and can do so promptly with considerable skill and experience, provided they are manufactured by us. Among the craftsmen who lead our design, repair, and service departments we have hundreds of years of practical experience repairing wigs.

We do not repair wigs manufactured by other companies.

Yes, wigs can be altered and refitted according to most size specifications, within reason, be they smaller or larger. This should be done through your local certified Follea Atelier.

If you have just bought a Follea wig and you find it’s the wrong size but it is not your fault, you should send it back.

Yes, but if you want it done properly this should be done by a professional colorist with years of exp working with wigs and hair pieces. We strongly discourage any radical changes, especially lightening, because the chemical stress will shorten the lifespan of the hair. Adding highlights and lowlights is not usually a problem.

Yes, you can order 100% virgin human hair.

This is 100% normal. Just as your own hair color fades, so do wigs. Also, Follea uses mild, non-harmful dyes that may fade slightly faster than unprocessed hair and slight fading can be expected after four to six months of continuous wear and washing. Also, saltwater and chlorine from swimming increases the rate at which fading occurs. Professional salon coloring can easily remedy this, but we do suggest that you choose a colorist who has experience with wigs and hairpieces.

Also keep in mind that cuticle removed hair fades more quickly than cuticle intact hair and slight fading may occur in half the time.

In terms of what is offered and how long customization takes, there are 3 levels of custom ordering:

Your most basic custom order is a Follea collection wig custom fitted from your measurements. This guarantees you the comfort of having a piece in your exact size, and production is generally quite fast, sometimes as short as three weeks.

The second level of custom ordering allows for choices in density, hair type, style, and custom coloring. In this category of ordering, wigs can be made from a custom mold. The appeal of this type of customization is that it allows for perfectly precise size, color and hair type matching. In some cases these orders may be produced in as little as 4 weeks although this time can be extended by delays caused in client approval of caps or color.

The third level allows customization of everything from hair formation through color, hair type, and design from custom mold. Everything can be customized, and here we think the appeal is obvious. The cost of full customization is obviously higher, however, and production times may stretch out over 6 weeks even if approvals go well.