How Much Of The Hair System Maintenance Can You Reasonably Diy

[ManinBlack]

I am asking because I live in a rural area without any hair system companies/specialists nearby. Should I just ask a regular hairstylist if they can do it? Can you learn how to do it at home? I know you need to shave your head into that George Costanza look and then bond the piece to your head. Can you learn to cut the back and sides of your hair well enough that the piece will blend well?

 

[Noah]

I wouldn't recommend trying to cut the system in yourself. You need that done professionally, by someone who has experience working with hair replacements. However, if there is no one within reach of you, you can get the cut-in done remotely just from photographs. That works surprisingly well, although it is counterintuitive. I also wouldn't try dyeing the system, and if you are careful that shouldn't be necessary anyway.

All the rest you can do yourself - making a template, ordering the system, buzzing the area underneath the system, attaching, detaching, cleaning - and none of it is that hard, although there are a few tricks and techniques to pick up. I also trim my own growing hair with a vacuum electric hair trimmer machine, so you can do that too if you have a simple style like mine, or of course you an go to a regular barber for that.

 

[ManinBlack]

Thanks.

 

[grincher]

You can do almost everything, but the cut in as this is crucial. That said, I know some guys that have done it themselves and a few more that have a partner to do it. It all depends on your confidence and skill.

You should travel to get it done at a specialist - after all its just the once.

Otherwise, a higher risk route is visit anyone good with hair such as a local barber willing to do it or try a remote cut in service.

 

[lace]

Agree with Noah's and Grincher's comments.

A remote cut-in by someone with lots of experience is an excellent alternative. My first two pieces were cut in remotely. Could not have been better. Perfect cuts. You will often see on forums someone named "Debbie" from a salon called "Split Ends." If you have not seen the links to her salon do a search for "split ends Debbie." She has probably 20 years of experience. She did my first two cut-ins. Charges about $50 US including shipping. She will ask for explicit cutting instructions. Also, a jpeg of the style you want is helpful.

Dyeing requires some knowledge and care. I tried dyeing for the first time on an older hp that had badly oxidized. It does restore the hair nicely. Keeping the dye off the lace requires some care. Considerable care if you want to dye the hair at the hairline. Best to experiment on an older hair piece.


Per Noah....." All the rest you can do yourself." Exactly. Not difficult. When I first started wearing I planned to be a "daily wearer." I expected the hair piece to be an optional accessory not something to be worn 24 hours/day. The advantage I discovered is that I gained a lot of detach/attach experience in only 2 weeks. The learning curve was short. To new wearers I suggest this approach. You will learn the do's and don'ts very quickly. Do keep in mind that the detach/attach process does put extra strain on the piece. It is very important to make sure to use a liberal application of 99% alcohol when removing the piece to minimize the pressure on the lace during removal.

 

[ManinBlack]

Agree with Noah's and Grincher's comments.

A remote cut-in by someone with lots of experience is an excellent alternative. My first two pieces were cut in remotely. Could not have been better. Perfect cuts. You will often see on forums someone named "Debbie" from a salon called "Split Ends." If you have not seen the links to her salon do a search for "split ends Debbie." She has probably 20 years of experience. She did my first two cut-ins. Charges about $50 US including shipping. She will ask for explicit cutting instructions. Also, a jpeg of the style you want is helpful.

Dyeing requires some knowledge and care. I tried dyeing for the first time on an older hp that had badly oxidized. It does restore the hair nicely. Keeping the dye off the lace requires some care. Considerable care if you want to dye the hair at the hairline. Best to experiment on an older hair piece.


Per Noah....." All the rest you can do yourself." Exactly. Not difficult. When I first started wearing I planned to be a "daily wearer." I expected the hair piece to be an optional accessory not something to be worn 24 hours/day. The advantage I discovered is that I gained a lot of detach/attach experience in only 2 weeks. The learning curve was short. To new wearers I suggest this approach. You will learn the do's and don'ts very quickly. Do keep in mind that the detach/attach process does put extra strain on the piece. It is very important to make sure to use a liberal application of 99% alcohol when removing the piece to minimize the pressure on the lace during removal.

Okay just so I understand you tell her the way you want it cut in and she does it then she ships it to you and then it is ready to bond to your head when it gets to you, correct?

 

[lace]

Not quite.

I will assume that you are aware that when you order a custom piece that it arrives with extra lace (not ventilated) around the perimeter. The extra lace facilitates the cut-in allowing the stylists to tightly pin the piece to a canvas/styro foam head. Without the extra lace, pins (a lot of them) must be placed through the hair and lace......the area with hair that needs cutting. They get in the way. Nicer not to have to deal with the pins. I know this from experience because I do my own cut-ins. I am certain that Debbie likewise prefers the extra lace.

You can ask Debbie to cut off the extra lace after the cut-in. Be sure to tell her if you want a slight border of lace at the hairline, or, if you want the lace trimmed to the start of the hair. If you do not mention trimming the lace I suspect that she will return the piece to you with the extra lace intact. You will then do the trimming. I do not know if she charges extra for the trimming. Ask her.

I suspect that you have read that hair pieces arrive with some form of silicon on the hair and lace. The silicon on the hair is not a problem. It can be a problem if not removed from the lace. Silicon is a lubricant. Tape/adhesive does not adhere well to a lubricant. It is best to wipe down the underside of the lace with 99% alcohol before attaching. You can ask Debbie if she will do this for you. Even if she says yes I would still do the wipe down one more time. Easy and quick to do, and, it only needs to be done on the parts of the lace where you apply the tape/adhesive.

I just checked her website for "services." Cut-in for toppers is $45. $4.75 for mailing insurance. Apparently that DOES NOT cover shipping. USA shipping should be nominal. Overseas shipping will be more.

What I wrote above applies to custom pieces. Stock pieces require a different procedure because the size of the ventilated area of a stock piece is often 8" X 10" (sometimes 7" X 9"). Most likely you will need a piece that is about 6" X 8" +/- about a 1/2 inch. Before sending a stock piece to be cut one must cut it to size. The stylist must know where to start the taper on the sides and back.

 

[BaldBearded]

I do everything, including haircuts, but I keep my head shaved, and have a severe undercut. You can do everything else, as Noah and Grincher have said.