My Routine: I still use a salon, and I am on a 3 week maintenance schedule. We remove, clean, color, do any haircut needed, and reapply. (I color my hair almost every time just to keep the browns dark and the contrast from 40% gray visible and sharp. If we don't tone the brown down - it starts to look ashy. This is just my preference.
I live in Texas - Hot, dry summers.
Play Tennis several times per week, and in the summer swim in a chlorinated (not salt water) pool. I've never swam in the ocean with a system - no comment there).
I use a hybrid base - - lace on the front and top of my head, and around the perimeter of the base from temple to temple I use poly. About the width of a strip of tape. This is a very popular configuration.
Sweat in and of itself isn't an issue - but it is a combination of sweat, sun and heat that has an impact only bond. I use to wear a 100% base unit, using adhesive (not tape) bond. What I discovered was between the sweat, sun and heat of the day, the bond would break down and seep thru the lace base, and onto my hair. This is a mess to clean up. We moved from the 100% lace base to the hybrid. We began using tape on the poly portion of the system, and using adhesive only on the front of my system. This left the top of my head free from any tape or adhesive - giving me the ability to better breath up top. Overall the tape holds well, and the adhesive - I can maintain that myself so about every 4-5 day's I clean that up. This pretty much corrected my issues. I did discover that the bonds that go on white and dry clear do not work for me. I use Devlyn (green label).
My first system was a total poly base (my salon said the ordered it incorrectly - but I have determined that this is code for they gave me what they had onhand. I did not like it. My scalp could not breath - and it felt and sounded like a plastic bag was on my head. But most annoying, when I took a shower, I could not feel the water hit my scalp.
Just recently tried a UTS system. It is not my preference. the V-looping gave me a bit more rise in my hairstyle - and couldn't feel the water from the shower. This is surprisingly a big deal for me. One advantage of UTS - cleanup is simple. I mean SIMPLE.
Reactions from others! I really planned my 'reveal' out in detail. Prior to getting my system, I let what little hair I had grow out a bit, grew my beard out a bit and got new glasses. We cut my system short and really thinned it out. Came to work on Friday not knowing what to expect. I work in the Diesel engine industry - so its not hard to imagine some of my apprehension. Anyway - I received nothing but compliments. My direct reports recognized it instantly and they all loved it. Others who didn't work with me closely noticed I looked different and either chalked it up to a shortened beard or new glasses. The natural default for a change in a mans appearance is not the addition of hair. The guys with hair said they could see themselves doing this if it looked this real on them, and the ones who could wear a system couldn't stomach the effort it takes to wear one. Even my father likes it - and notices when I get a new system/hairstyle.
I have never hid this, I talk about it, and want people to ask questions. I have a process I go thru now that almost makes it look like my hair is actually growing. I'll get a new system and cut it in a bit longer, cut my bio hair shorter - and over the course of time, let my bio hair grow out a bit, and slowly cut my system hair. I can change my style up a bit - and keep a bit of variety. People are fascinated at the realism of it all - and want to know how it works.
Here is a before system and after system.
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