A few years ago, fear of being humiliated by a slightly askew toupee was enough to keep all but the boldest of America's estimated 17-20 million balding males in their natural state. Now, in a youth-oriented age of flowing locks, the artificial hair industry has finally developed "rugs" that not only look real but will stay in place in wind, water or bed. Consequently, more than 2.5 million men now wear toupees, and where hair does not flourish, rug makers do.
Max Factor produces rugs on a lightweight lace-lattice framework that allows the scalp to breathe. The framework is attached to the...