Excess Lace - How Much Should I Cut?

[cottonReville]

With the exception of my all-poly unit, I've had every piece I've worn cut to dimensions specific to my baldness.

I switched suppliers for my latest french lace piece & and now have a unit in the default 8x10", with excess lace hanging off. (Every other lace piece I have has been cut into, leaving no excess anywhere.)

I prefer having the extra lace, as its essentially translucent, and now I'm sure I'll be able to much more easily apply tape exactly at the hairline, which I was not able to do before, as I was afraid to have the tape/adhesive run into my hair.

My question is, how many of you guys have excess lace or, in the lace of thin skin, poly hanging below your hairlines?

EDIT - If you watch this video, you'll note the excess lace ends w a white, non-translucent edge:

In my case, I'm thinking I'll only have my hair stylist cut that white edge off and leave the remaining lace, which, in the case of my piece, seems to shorter in length than that of the piece in the video.

I feel like this excess lace will allow me neatly apply tape to the perimeter of my piece, without worrying about getting so close to edge that it will run into the hair. It creates a barrier, in effect.

It also probably allows for a more natural, graduated hairline.

 

[Leduc]

With the exception of my all-poly unit, I've had every piece I've worn cut to dimensions specific to my baldness.

I switched suppliers for my latest french lace piece & and now have a unit in the default 8x10", with excess lace hanging off. (Every other lace piece I have has been cut into, leaving no excess anywhere.)

I prefer having the extra lace, as its essentially translucent, and now I'm sure I'll be able to much more easily apply tape exactly at the hairline, which I was not able to do before, as I was afraid to have the tape/adhesive run into my hair.

My question is, how many of you guys have excess lace or, in the lace of thin skin, poly hanging below your hairlines?

EDIT - If you watch this video, you'll note the excess lace ends w a white, non-translucent edge:

In my case, I'm thinking I'll only have my hair stylist cut that white edge off and leave the remaining lace, which, in the case of my piece, seems to shorter in length than that of the piece in the video.

I feel like this excess lace will allow me neatly apply tape to the perimeter of my piece, without worrying about getting so close to edge that it will run into the hair. It creates a barrier, in effect.

It also probably allows for a more natural, graduated hairline.

Would the excess lace or poly not be visible with an exposed hairline?

 

[cottonReville]

@Leduc: I've a full Poly/Skin piece w/ excess. It makes application so much easier.

I'm sure if I used glue it'd be entirely undetectable, but I use tape, which adds a little bulk.

My new, unworn, entirely stock french lace piece has the excess lace. I feel like I _NEED_ to retain it, save for the white-colored ends, as it'll allow me to tape exactly at my hairline, without being worried about tape getting in my hair.

The poly piece I have came w a stunning hairline - graduated & imperfect - so, yes, I can expose it.

Hopefully the French Lace Hangtime will work out nicely!

How are things going w you and your hairpieces?

 

[Leduc]

@Leduc: I've a full Poly/Skin piece w/ excess. It makes application so much easier.

I'm sure if I used glue it'd be entirely undetectable, but I use tape, which adds a little bulk.

My new, unworn, entirely stock french lace piece has the excess lace. I feel like I _NEED_ to retain it, save for the white-colored ends, as it'll allow me to tape exactly at my hairline, without being worried about tape getting in my hair.

The poly piece I have came w a stunning hairline - graduated & imperfect - so, yes, I can expose it.

Hopefully the French Lace Hangtime will work out nicely!

How are things going w you and your hairpieces?

I am still waiting for my replacement piece, the color match was not close enough with the first one. I'm probably looking at early January.
Can I ask why you prefer tapes to glues? And do you get a stronger bond with the LaceFX or with Supertape? Are you able to shower with the piece on when its bonded with tape or do you remove? (sorry, a lot of questions)
The salon gave me some Sensi-Tak to try out for allergies but I found the bond to be weak so I am looking for something stronger. I would also like the option of either removing each night, or leaving it on for several days before removing.
Then of course we got into discussions about toxicity of these products, so there's one more thing to consider.

 

[Leduc]

@Leduc: I've a full Poly/Skin piece w/ excess. It makes application so much easier.

I'm sure if I used glue it'd be entirely undetectable, but I use tape, which adds a little bulk.

My new, unworn, entirely stock french lace piece has the excess lace. I feel like I _NEED_ to retain it, save for the white-colored ends, as it'll allow me to tape exactly at my hairline, without being worried about tape getting in my hair.

The poly piece I have came w a stunning hairline - graduated & imperfect - so, yes, I can expose it.

Hopefully the French Lace Hangtime will work out nicely!

How are things going w you and your hairpieces?

@cottonReville I forgot to ask if you are wearing the Poly/Skin unit now. I recall you said you were waiting for cooler weather in an earlier thread. I had no idea that they could be bonded with tape. I might give that a try in the future, I think thin-skin pieces are the most undetectable.

 

[cottonReville]

Oh, wow, it pushed out further! Just get a stock piece in the interim at least to practice on.

I use tape because it's easy to apply, works well & doesn't necessitate a lot of cleanup when the unit is removed.

I haven't tried glue, nor do I have any interest to at this point.

Yes, while every tape I've tried provides a strong hold & is water-resistant, I've found LaceFX to be noticeably better than the rest.

I've owned 6 packs of SuperTape, purchased from two different distributors, and in each case, the tape strips in the packages are a little stuck together, which I don't like.

My brother and I spoke today and he wanted to know which tape I kept recommending (he's been doing this for at least a year now) & I mentioned LaceFX.

I told him it might be irritating my skin whereupon he said he didn't care and wanted it notwithstanding, as he hates the tape he presently has.

I asked what it is, and he said SuperTape, which has always been his "backup tape."

He was here last week using a tape the woman at his hairsalon gives him called Ad Matte. He's sick of using as he it comes in a big roll, making using it a burden.

Regarding SuperTape, he claims it used to be better & that he noticed a drop in quality when the brand changed packaging. (It's so ugly.) He also noted his tape pieces come slightly stuck together, but said it's of no consequence to him, that his real contention with the tape is it doesn't hold well for him.

 

[cottonReville]

To answer your question, yes, I can shower in my taped pieces without issue. Generally, though, I wait till the piece is off and the tape has been removed before I wash it in the sink. (It's just easier, gentler & more thorough I think).

No, I really can't wear that thing yet. It's far too hot. Mine isn't a UTS btw.

I like it in theory but the lack of breathability is a nuisance..

 

[Leduc]

To answer your question, yes, I can shower in my taped pieces without issue. Generally, though, I wait till the piece is off and the tape has been removed before I wash it in the sink. (It's just easier, gentler & more thorough I think).

No, I really can't wear that thing yet. It's far too hot. Mine isn't a UTS btw.

I like it in theory but the lack of breathability is a nuisance..

I tend to sweat so breathability would be an issue for me also.
Thanks for the input on the tapes. I will buy both Supertape and LaceFX and see which works best with my skin. Maybe Ad Matte also if I can find it online.
I just hope there is no issues with my next piece, one delay is one too many. I like your idea of buying a stock piece to practice on while I wait.

 

[cottonReville]

Bump. @Noah and @BaldBearded, I'm particularly interested on your thoughts on the matter.

Getting the hair cut tomorrow.

 

[cottonReville]

That excess, which doesn't show, is a game-changer for me, allowing me to finally do incredible tape jobs.