A toupée (/tuːˈpeɪ/ too-PAY) is a hairpiece or partial wig of natural or synthetic hair worn to cover partial baldness or for theatrical purposes. While toupées and hairpieces are typically associated with male wearers, some women also use hairpieces to lengthen existing hair, or cover a partially exposed scalp. The desire to wear hairpieces is a response to a long-standing bias against balding that crosses cultures, dating to at least 3100 BC. Toupée manufacturers' financial results indicate that toupée use is in overall decline, due in part to alternative methods for dealing with baldness, and to greater cultural acceptance of the condition.
While most toupées are small and designed to cover bald spots at the top and back of the head, large toupées are not unknown.
Toupées are often referred to as "hairpieces", "units", or "hair systems" by those seeking to avoid the negative connotations that the word "toupée" conjures up. Many women now wear hairpieces rather than full wigs if their hair loss is confined to the top and crown of their heads.
'Toupee' is a song written by Colin Lane and Frank Woodley of the successful Australian comedy duo Lano and Woodley. The song is about a man who owns a toupee, and who is describing all the things he is able to use it for. Some of the uses include a pot scourer, a fake beard, as an oven mit and for storing pyjamas. The song was released on their live 2005 album, Lano & Woodley Sing Songs.
There's war in the heavens
Rebellion on high
the son of the morning
Descends from a black sky
Severed and broken
His wings burned to dust
His coverings of diamonds and gold
In a moment in time dissolve to rust
Thunder and lightning
Shatter the night
The dragon of darkness
Appears cursed by the keeper of the light
The dark is chosen
The scroll has been sealed
Hidden in verses of prophets
His face is revealed
Songs of glory
Shout across the land
I can take you there
Child of mine, take my hand
Down through the ages
The story's been told
The daughter of wisdom
Beguiled by the serpent of old
Born into sin in a valley of thorns
Torn from enchantment and
Tossed into the eye of the storm
Heaven's garden
Made by God for man
This is paradise
Child of mine, take my hand
Glory to glory
Sin after sin
The rider of death
Pushes on to the place where
The battle must begin
Songs of glory
Shout across the land
This is paradise
Won't you take my hand
Heaven's garden
Made by God for man
This is paradise
Child of mine, take my hand
Oh, take my hand