Hair System Advice Please All New To Me

[munt]

Firstly high to all both new and old members. Are there any members for the East Anglia Area UK as that's the area i live in ? .

Sadly my hair is not what it used to be and i need to explore the hair system option , but before i do go down this road just wondering how other members coped as its all new to me . Cant moan as im 55 and had a full head of hair up until this year where it's now thinned out ( male pattern baldness , crown , top and temples ) and i find it hard to style my hair as i used to which is becoming an issue as im a entertainer within the rockabilly world and the look is very important in this line of business ( if you don't look the part then you don't get booked )
Below are some very basic questions which may be silly to those who are old school to hair systems but you have to start somewhere.

1. Do they itch or irritate and how long before you become accustom to the hairpiece so it feels normal and not like a hat ?
2. Don't want a system to make me look like a 20yr old as im not that age and the density would be wrong do they do one for the more mature men and what density would be recommended ?
3. Is the scalp hair line noticeably as if i have the system i will need to have the hair cut and styled into a pompadour/ DA 1950s so at all times the hair line would be visible.
4. Can i use hair grease and oil as i used to , to create the style required and are the newer systems more sweat friendly as it's hot under the stage lighting and performing ?
5. which is best real or synthetic hair and what's the difference between them both

hope you all have a good day and look forward to your advise

thanks
munt

 

[Noah]

Hi Munt

Sorry I can't help you with the East Anglia connection, but I will have a go with your questions:

Do they itch or irritate and how long before you become accustom to the hairpiece so it feels normal and not like a hat?

They shouldn't itch. If they do it's a sign that the adhesive you are using is wrong for you. A lace piece is not like a hat - it is very light and breathable - more like a hairnet than a hat. You get used to it in a few days.

Don't want a system to make me look like a 20yr old as im not that age and the density would be wrong do they do one for the more mature men and what density would be recommended ?

You customise your design to suit your age. An older guy will go for a lighter density (i.e. sparser hair) and a more receded hairline contour.

Is the scalp hair line noticeably as if i have the system i will need to have the hair cut and styled into a pompadour/ DA 1950s so at all times the hair line would be visible.

Getting an undetectable hairline is one of the key tests of a decent system. If you opt for a lace system and you apply it with glue or a thin tape like Walkers 3-mil, it should look like the hair is growing out of your scalp.

Can i use hair grease and oil as i used to , to create the style required and are the newer systems more sweat friendly as it's hot under the stage lighting and performing ?

Yes and yes. I would recommend a lace system for under hot lighting - it is a fine lightweight breathable mesh, like a woman's stocking but without the stretch. Very little heat retention.

which is best real or synthetic hair and what's the difference between them both

Real hair is real hair (duh!) usually sold by women in Asia, then processed to look more like Western hair and coloured. Synthetic hair is a special and pretty sophisticated man-made fibre which looks like real hair. The advantage of synthetic hair is that it doesn't fade. The disadvantages are that it's pretty expensive, and you can't bleach it, which is a problem, because bleaching the knots where the hairs are attached to the lace base is an important part of getting a natural undetectable look. Synthetic hair used to be very sensitive to heat (there are stories about guys opening the oven door and having their hair systems melt!), but I understand that they have fixed that problem, at least to some extent. I think most guys use real hair in their systems.

 

[grincher]

1. It doesn't itch any more or less than if bald scalp. Since I took up wearing I havent noticed any increase and when it does itch, I give it a gentle finger scratch and thats gone.
2. There is no universal scale so you would need to discuss with your supplier, but generally, I would go on the light side and build up if necessary
3. I sport a quiff and I wear Swiss Lace. No problem
4. You can use everyday styling products. I use pomade and paste
5. I have tried both and I much prefer real hair

 

[munt]

Hi Munt

Sorry I can't help you with the East Anglia connection, but I will have a go with your questions:

Do they itch or irritate and how long before you become accustom to the hairpiece so it feels normal and not like a hat?

They shouldn't itch. If they do it's a sign that the adhesive you are using is wrong for you. A lace piece is not like a hat - it is very light and breathable - more like a hairnet than a hat. You get used to it in a few days.

Don't want a system to make me look like a 20yr old as im not that age and the density would be wrong do they do one for the more mature men and what density would be recommended ?

You customise your design to suit your age. An older guy will go for a lighter density (i.e. sparser hair) and a more receded hairline contour.

Is the scalp hair line noticeably as if i have the system i will need to have the hair cut and styled into a pompadour/ DA 1950s so at all times the hair line would be visible.

Getting an undetectable hairline is one of the key tests of a decent system. If you opt for a lace system and you apply it with glue or a thin tape like Walkers 3-mil, it should look like the hair is growing out of your scalp.

Can i use hair grease and oil as i used to , to create the style required and are the newer systems more sweat friendly as it's hot under the stage lighting and performing ?

Yes and yes. I would recommend a lace system for under hot lighting - it is a fine lightweight breathable mesh, like a woman's stocking but without the stretch. Very little heat retention.

which is best real or synthetic hair and what's the difference between them both

Real hair is real hair (duh!) usually sold by women in Asia, then processed to look more like Western hair and coloured. Synthetic hair is a special and pretty sophisticated man-made fibre which looks like real hair. The advantage of synthetic hair is that it doesn't fade. The disadvantages are that it's pretty expensive, and you can't bleach it, which is a problem, because bleaching the knots where the hairs are attached to the lace base is an important part of getting a natural undetectable look. Synthetic hair used to be very sensitive to heat (there are stories about guys opening the oven door and having their hair systems melt!), but I understand that they have fixed that problem, at least to some extent. I think most guys use real hair in their systems.

Hi Noah

Thanks for your help and replies.

Please can you explain about the bleaching , are there any tutorials on this anywhere that you know of ?

Would you recommend the following ?

I don't really have a choice but to go to a salon to have the first system fitted cut and styled , and to listen and watch how they do there work on fitting etc. ( i know they will charge for the service but if you have not had experience in this like me you have to start somewhere )

Once i have the experience of fitting , aftercare i will go down the road of doing the work myself due to their costs.

Munt

 

[Noah]

A pleasure Munt.

Believe it or not, there are no less than 3 video tutorials out there about bleaching knots on a hairpiece - a mark of how much more mainstream men's hair systems have become in recent years, I think. Here is one: http://www.hairdirect.com/video/how-to/bleaching-knots.aspx. If you want to see others, Google "hair systems bleaching knots".

But let me explain. Some degree of knot-bleaching, at least of the hairline (and the crown and parting if you have them) should come as standard on a decently-made system. This is necessary to get an undetectable look unless you have blond hair. But there is a trade-off, because bleaching weakens the hair, so if the manufacturer bleaches the knots too hard, it can cause shedding. So the manufacturers bleach as much as they can without causing serious damage to the hairpiece. Some wearers want better bleaching than that, especially if they have dark hair, hence the videos on how to do it. But as a first time wearer, you can probably ignore bleaching for now, and just let your supplier worry about that. The only exception is if you have very dark hair and you want a very exposed hairline style on your system - in that case we need to talk some more.

I suspect you will have to go down to London for the salon. I will drop you a PM with a couple of suggestions there.

Noah

 

[grincher]

London will be the closest with choice. The prices for a one off salon/clinic fit - thats supply and fit will start from £500 ish