It probably gives the feeling closest to having your natural hair back, but as Chromey says, the clean-up is a pain if you wear lace. Most skin units are worn with a full glue bond, because any unglued parts of the base create a "plastic bag" noise if you (or anyone else) touches them.
Like Noah says, with skin systems it's always a full bond. And it feels awesome
A full bond means that the system hugs your scalp all the way round and there is no rustle or itching or movement or loose feeling. It really does feel like your own hair. The clean-up is also very easy with skin systems.
I've just made the switch to UTS and do a full head bond. It has genuinely changed everything. Prior to this change, I was struggling with lifting and bonding issues. I hated the denser skin base that comprised half of my old system - it felt so heavy and thick. Now, I genuinely think this feels just like it's my hair. I can even pull on it and it looks like I'm pulling the hair from my head. The full head bond is a massive psychological boost in that it provides a huge sense of realism. If you get the perimeter right, it's completely undetectable to the touch as well - anyone who wanted to find the lip of the base would have to know exactly where to look and be willing to pick at it with their fingernails! When I got home from the salon for the first time, the stylist hadn't glued the sides down properly so I had to fix it. Once I had, finding the edge of the base was genuinely like those moments where you can't find the end of the cellotape.
I couldn't imagine getting glue off a UTS system w/ the tools I have: rubbing alcohol, soap, shampoo, conditioner, oils. It was SO hard to remove from my thicker poly.
What's your cleanup technique?
I don't know how a poly is different to UTS but I imagine it's just thicker and less flexible to the feel. I can't understand why glue would be so hard to get off a poly base though.
My UTS clean-up technique is very straightforward. I don't use anything apart from dishwashing liquid.
It all starts from when I put the system on: I typically only apply a single layer of (white) glue on my scalp. This is of course after shaving it and then washing it with the dishwashing liquid. If it's going to be a hot week I will use a sweat blocker first. Else it's straight on with just the one layer of glue.
This gives me a good hold for 7 days on average. Sometimes less sometimes more. I like to do regular clean-ups and refits because it feels better for me. I touch up the hairline every 3rd day on average. I never keep a system on for longer than say 10 days in one go.
So getting to the clean-up part: using only a single layer of glue simplifies this task quite a lot. After 7 days or so the system comes off easily and nearly of the glue remains on my scalp. It's easy to scrape it off and wash the scalp (with dishwashing liquid) to remove the glue. Any bits of glue remaining on the UTS will simply roll off with my fingers, or stick to a tissue if I dab it on the base.
I sometimes wash the UTS base with the same dishwashing liquid, but not often because I don't want to dry out the v-loops, which might cause the hairs to break.
So all in all, I tend to keep things as simple as possible.
Thank you for the extraordinarily detailed response. I want to try UTS now - sounds really quite easy.
I was wondering if UTS is like thicker poly in that the piece clings to your head.
Also how are v-looped hairs integrated into UTS? The hairs don't completely penetrate through the system, do they? Does putting hair conditioner on the topside, the hairside, of the UTS loosen the hairs from the base?
I don't know how a poly is different to UTS but I imagine it's just thicker and less flexible to the feel. I can't understand why glue would be so hard to get off a poly base though.
My UTS clean-up technique is very straightforward. I don't use anything apart from dishwashing liquid.
It all starts from when I put the system on: I typically only apply a single layer of (white) glue on my scalp. This is of course after shaving it and then washing it with the dishwashing liquid. If it's going to be a hot week I will use a sweat blocker first. Else it's straight on with just the one layer of glue.
This gives me a good hold for 7 days on average. Sometimes less sometimes more. I like to do regular clean-ups and refits because it feels better for me. I touch up the hairline every 3rd day on average. I never keep a system on for longer than say 10 days in one go.
So getting to the clean-up part: using only a single layer of glue simplifies this task quite a lot. After 7 days or so the system comes off easily and nearly of the glue remains on my scalp. It's easy to scrape it off and wash the scalp (with dishwashing liquid) to remove the glue. Any bits of glue remaining on the UTS will simply roll off with my fingers, or stick to a tissue if I dab it on the base.
I sometimes wash the UTS base with the same dishwashing liquid, but not often because I don't want to dry out the v-loops, which might cause the hairs to break.
So all in all, I tend to keep things as simple as possible.
What tape are you using for the combo method?Because tapes do not have ingredients listed on them and liquid adhesives do. I care about what chemicals my whole scalp is in contact with 24/7 the next 50 years. Lately I've started using tape though on top of glue on some spots where I usually get lifting. Gives a very strong hold and thus reduces the time I have to spend on my hair system in general (by maybe 10-20 mins less per month) because of less touch-ups between reattachments.. That way the tape is not in contact with my skin -- 4 layers of liquid adhesives are in between.
Pro-Flex Blue Mini Tab Tape Strips. I think it was just an accident that I picked those. There probably are even stronger ones. Walker's similar product is probably stronger?What tape are you using for the combo method?