I wasn't an HCB member and don't know how that scenario works. I used an independant guy in Dallas, he'd cut off a snip of my hair and send it off to be matched up. Took about a month for it to come back. Cost me a thousand bucks 25 years ago. Then a new one every few years. I was an old hold out, with the double stick tape. Some years ago he went to the more permanent method, where it stayed on the head and you went in every few weeks. But I never did that, thought it was expensive and already a pain in the ass as it was.
To tell you the truth, in my opinion, in the early years I fooled people that didn't know me. It was human hair and matched up perfectly to my own. I never would have done it in the first place if I would have had a more "normal" balding pattern. I had a big thick patch of hair at my forehead hairline. I used to use it as sort of a marker spot on how to place my peice.
I'd been thinking about shaving for years, but was too chicken. Found this site, got inspired, and did it.
My only regret is that I didn't shave when we went to the beach this summer, so my head would tan up.
I'm growing a beard, giving thought to a face hair scenario. Eventually I'll post a picture.