This week several forum members have contacted me. All are thinking of wearing and have similar questions.
One has urged me to start a thread for those thinking of wearing with some helpful hints on getting started.
The below isnt intended to be anything more than a brief introduction on some of the early choices you need to make; and in a way keeping it short will keep it simple and helpful. You need to find a good supplier who will take you through the steps in more detail.
I am unashamedly pro hair system. I can honestly say, that wearing a hair system has positively changed my daily life. I feel younger and more confident, but I know that it can seem daunting at first.
CHOICE 1 - CLINIC OR DIY?
CLINIC Pro
1. Clinics will measure you up, order, fit and cut in the hair system for you - very easy for those lacking effort.
2. They will then service it regularly.
CLINIC Cons
1. It will cost you. Up to 10 times more per year to go down this route. Prices from £700/$1120 to £2,500/$4000 per system are not uncommon
2. You will also need to regularly visit them, which to me is more of an inconvenience than DIY
3. Some will tailor stock pieces to present them as "custom" made giving you limited choice.
4. They will not educate you in hair systems as keeping you in the dark will keep you visiting.
5. You are often locked into a contract, which you cannot cancel.
Do It Yourself - DIY
Pros
1. Will work out much more affordable over the year and more sustainable over time. I do DIY and I spend a fraction a year.
2. You will have more options on base, density and other choices which can produce more natural looking results
3. You can do it at home in your own time
4. You will learn more doing it yourself including dealing with emergencies
Cons
1. You need to invest time, like reading forums and then convert that research to your needs
2. You need to find a reliable supplier - there are a wide range out there from bad to great and all those inbetweeners
By reading forums you have started to educate yourself, if you can find members to answer your questions and make suggestions as well as a good supplier then DIY isnt that difficult. I am a supporter of DIY as a way to avoid clinic rip offs.
CHOICE 2 CUSTOM Vs STOCK
Custom systems are individually designed based on the template and hair sample you submit. They will be sized and coloured closely to your requirements. However, delivery can take 6-10 weeks.
Stock hair pieces come in a standard size, density and contour. They are also limited on available colours. IF they are in stock then you should receive them inside a week, else you will be waiting. You need to cut them to size and sometimes colour them too.
My preference is for custom made. You will have to be confident in making a template, which itself isnt so hard and when you think of the savings its positively motivational to attempt it until you are happy.
CHOICE 3 - THE BASE
There are really three choices here; French Lace, Skins systems and Swiss Lace.
I find Swiss Lace is lighter (relatively less detectable) than French and more durable than Skin. Its my preferred choice as an experienced wearer, but also for beginners I recommend it. If you are active, then lace will let sweat escape and air ventilate. It can take a bit of roughness from clumsy hands.
Dont be dazzled by the terminology used by clinics as its either skin or lace they are offering. I also recommend new wearers to ask for a PU/poly perimeter - its just some plastic around the perimeter - makes taping and clean ups much easier.
In all the time I have been wearing my hair system I have never been found out by anyone that didnt already know and its never come off unexpectedly!
CHOICE 4 - THE DENSITY
The bases nowadays are so good, there is no need to bury it under a mountain of hair. A lighter density is more natural.
Ultimately, you need to consider your age and the density of any hair on the side and back of your head. As a guide a 45-year old man with thinning hair on the sides and back will need a significantly lower density than a 23 year old with thicker hair there.
Its quite individual and any good supplier will take time to advise on the right density.
The other tip I would make, is you want a natural looking hairline. That doesnt mean a wall of hair, so go for a reduced density at the front of your piece - a good supplier will let you vary the density so go 10% lower at the front. It will give a more graduated hairline.
PRODUCTS
I tend to side with supertape and glue for front touch ups. I like Argan Shampoo, a knot sealer, C22 and Moroccan oil. Its best to buy the minimum and add to it if there is a need.
SHAVING YOUR HEAD
Its not obligatory, but its wise to clipper shave the area where the hair system will cover. This will give the adhesive the best chance to cure strong and be stable. It doesnt affect hair growth (you will need to clipper shave #1 every time you reattach, which I do at home). If a hair system isnt for you then let you hair grow back and you will be back to where you are now.
If you have any feedback or questions PM me or add it below so we can keep the thread up to date for new readers and members.
One has urged me to start a thread for those thinking of wearing with some helpful hints on getting started.
The below isnt intended to be anything more than a brief introduction on some of the early choices you need to make; and in a way keeping it short will keep it simple and helpful. You need to find a good supplier who will take you through the steps in more detail.
I am unashamedly pro hair system. I can honestly say, that wearing a hair system has positively changed my daily life. I feel younger and more confident, but I know that it can seem daunting at first.
CHOICE 1 - CLINIC OR DIY?
CLINIC Pro
1. Clinics will measure you up, order, fit and cut in the hair system for you - very easy for those lacking effort.
2. They will then service it regularly.
CLINIC Cons
1. It will cost you. Up to 10 times more per year to go down this route. Prices from £700/$1120 to £2,500/$4000 per system are not uncommon
2. You will also need to regularly visit them, which to me is more of an inconvenience than DIY
3. Some will tailor stock pieces to present them as "custom" made giving you limited choice.
4. They will not educate you in hair systems as keeping you in the dark will keep you visiting.
5. You are often locked into a contract, which you cannot cancel.
Do It Yourself - DIY
Pros
1. Will work out much more affordable over the year and more sustainable over time. I do DIY and I spend a fraction a year.
2. You will have more options on base, density and other choices which can produce more natural looking results
3. You can do it at home in your own time
4. You will learn more doing it yourself including dealing with emergencies
Cons
1. You need to invest time, like reading forums and then convert that research to your needs
2. You need to find a reliable supplier - there are a wide range out there from bad to great and all those inbetweeners
By reading forums you have started to educate yourself, if you can find members to answer your questions and make suggestions as well as a good supplier then DIY isnt that difficult. I am a supporter of DIY as a way to avoid clinic rip offs.
CHOICE 2 CUSTOM Vs STOCK
Custom systems are individually designed based on the template and hair sample you submit. They will be sized and coloured closely to your requirements. However, delivery can take 6-10 weeks.
Stock hair pieces come in a standard size, density and contour. They are also limited on available colours. IF they are in stock then you should receive them inside a week, else you will be waiting. You need to cut them to size and sometimes colour them too.
My preference is for custom made. You will have to be confident in making a template, which itself isnt so hard and when you think of the savings its positively motivational to attempt it until you are happy.
CHOICE 3 - THE BASE
There are really three choices here; French Lace, Skins systems and Swiss Lace.
I find Swiss Lace is lighter (relatively less detectable) than French and more durable than Skin. Its my preferred choice as an experienced wearer, but also for beginners I recommend it. If you are active, then lace will let sweat escape and air ventilate. It can take a bit of roughness from clumsy hands.
Dont be dazzled by the terminology used by clinics as its either skin or lace they are offering. I also recommend new wearers to ask for a PU/poly perimeter - its just some plastic around the perimeter - makes taping and clean ups much easier.
In all the time I have been wearing my hair system I have never been found out by anyone that didnt already know and its never come off unexpectedly!
CHOICE 4 - THE DENSITY
The bases nowadays are so good, there is no need to bury it under a mountain of hair. A lighter density is more natural.
Ultimately, you need to consider your age and the density of any hair on the side and back of your head. As a guide a 45-year old man with thinning hair on the sides and back will need a significantly lower density than a 23 year old with thicker hair there.
Its quite individual and any good supplier will take time to advise on the right density.
The other tip I would make, is you want a natural looking hairline. That doesnt mean a wall of hair, so go for a reduced density at the front of your piece - a good supplier will let you vary the density so go 10% lower at the front. It will give a more graduated hairline.
PRODUCTS
I tend to side with supertape and glue for front touch ups. I like Argan Shampoo, a knot sealer, C22 and Moroccan oil. Its best to buy the minimum and add to it if there is a need.
SHAVING YOUR HEAD
Its not obligatory, but its wise to clipper shave the area where the hair system will cover. This will give the adhesive the best chance to cure strong and be stable. It doesnt affect hair growth (you will need to clipper shave #1 every time you reattach, which I do at home). If a hair system isnt for you then let you hair grow back and you will be back to where you are now.
If you have any feedback or questions PM me or add it below so we can keep the thread up to date for new readers and members.