A toupee is a small wig that covers just part of someone's head, usually worn by men to hide baldness or thinning hair. Unlike a full wig that covers your entire head, a toupee sits on top and blends with the hair around it.

People have worn toupees for centuries, though modern ones are much more realistic than older versions. Today's toupees can be made from real human hair or high-quality synthetic materials, and they're attached with special tape, clips, or adhesive.

You might hear someone joke about a toupee “flying off” in the wind, though that's more of a cartoon image than reality. Well-made toupees stay firmly in place. The word is sometimes used humorously: if something looks fake or like it's trying too hard to appear natural, someone might compare it to an obvious toupee.

Some people wear toupees because they feel more confident with a fuller-looking head of hair. Others embrace baldness completely.