Gone are the days of shiny domes and secret shame. Today’s “hair systems” (yes, we’ve rebranded them, darling) are sleek, breathable, and borderline magical. On TikTok, YouTube, and every social platform that matters, dudes are pulling off hair reveals that rival makeover shows—complete with slow-mo spins and thirst-trap lighting.
Take Nashville’s Tyler Williams, for example. In a video viewed by the masses, he shows off his fresh fade and says, “Just got a haircut.” But here’s the twist: the hair isn’t really his. At least not biologically. Williams rocks a hair system so seamless, most followers think he’s just genetically blessed. Spoiler: he’s bald on top and proud of it—he’s just not about to accept it lying down. “It’s not my fault I went bald,” he says. “And I’m not required to just accept it.”
It’s a vibe echoed across the globe. Phil Ring in NYC shared a TikTok of him casually slapping on a micro-hairpiece, calling it a “small addition.” Over in London, barber-turned-hair-system-specialist Adam Fletcher ditched his regular cuts altogether. Why? Because he’s booked back-to-back with millennial men wanting instant hair gratification without the Turkish transplant tour.
Meanwhile, Tyler Stanton, another viral star, showed 2 million fans the full toupee install process—scalp, glue, transformation. “Drink it in, ladies,” he grinned. And they are. Turns out, women aren’t put off by a man in a unit. Quite the opposite. “This is true masculinity,” one admirer cooed. Another chimed in, “Girls don’t look down on this at all.”
Read our related article to get a full answer to the question: What is a toupee?
San Diego stylist Emily Cheney, now crowned “The Toupee Queen,” said her $3,800 custom units are flying out the door—and landing squarely on the heads of men who finally feel seen. Or at least stylish.
What’s behind this hairy renaissance? Part of it is economic. Hair transplants can set you back five figures, and that’s if they even work. Just ask Juha Seppänen in Helsinki, who flirted with the idea but decided he’d rather wear a hair system than gamble on a graft gone wrong. “I can literally adjust my hairline with tape,” he said. “Try doing that with a transplant.”
But it’s also about aesthetics. Modern toupees are nothing like the lopsided rugs of the ’80s. These babies are made with whisper-thin lace or poly bases, matched to your natural color, texture, and cowlicks. The result? Undetectable. Shower in it. Sleep in it. Get sweaty. It’s not going anywhere. “It feels like your own skin,” says Toronto stylist Aaron O’Bryan, who proudly wears one styled into a high-volume pompadour.
He’s not alone. Hairstylists like Dani Niven in Calgary are seeing five hair system clients a day, all thanks to the viral glow-up videos flooding social media. “Guys are stepping up and showing off their transformations,” she said. “And it’s changing everything.”
Let’s be real. We’ve spent decades telling women they can enhance, extend, contour, and lash their way to confidence. Why should men be any different? “Hair is just an accessory,” says O’Bryan. “Like jewelry or makeup. You want to feel good? Do it.”
Still, some men stay hush-hush. Others, like O’Bryan, spill the tea on morning television. And then there’s Isidro Almaraz in Idaho, who treats hair systems like wardrobe changes. “One day I’ve got short hair. Next day? Bowl cut. I can go bald if I feel like it. It’s like picking a new character skin in a video game.”
And in a world where everyone’s tweaking something—be it brows, Botox, or Brazilian blowouts—why not have a little fun with your follicles?
Because confidence isn’t about what’s real. It’s about what makes you feel real.
