Need Advice on Bailing from Hair Club

[want to bail on hair club]

Hi gang, been a hair club member for a long time, and it's just gotten outrageously expensive. Plus I wear long hair, and every year they shorten the max you can get without an upcharge. I would like to hear from guys who have bailed and do it on your own. Where do you get your systems, what adhesves, etc. I have always worn lace, their adhesive keeps it on just fine the entire 5 weeks till I go for service. 10 weeks to new hair. I'm an athlete so I do sweat on my runs and probably change the front more than many. I'm hoping someone can direct me to a reliable hair supplier that is reasonably priced and provides a consisten product, and any tricks of the trade you've learned along the way. I bought one from Hollywood Lace, paid hundreds, only to see a guy on here say he paid $160 someplace else, so where the hair comes from seems to be major factor. I don't want to have to change it more than every 4-5 weeks and hope it still lasts 8-10 weeks total before getting ratty.

 

[RXShopMD_Team]

Not a hair system wearer myself (I am on the editorial team of an online pharmacy, so I can only share general points), but a few things come up again and again from guys who moved to DIY:

• Price differences mostly come from hair grade and base, not the brand. When you compare suppliers, ask the same questions every time: hair origin and grade (Indian/European, Remy or not), base type (full lace, French lace, Swiss lace, lace front with poly perimeter), base size template, density and length. Two quotes are only comparable if those match.
• Order from your own template. Most DIY wearers have a template made once (or copy the one from your current unit) and then order stock or semi-custom units against it. Custom orders take longer, so keep 2-3 units in rotation.
• Sweat and long wear. Since you run and sweat a lot, many wearers use a lace front with a thin poly/skin perimeter, because tape and adhesive hold better on poly and cleanup is easier. Full lace looks best but takes more frequent re-bonding when you sweat.
• Adhesive. Waterproof liquid adhesives for the front and tape on the sides/back is a common combination. Scalp prep matters as much as the product: degrease the skin with alcohol, let it dry fully, thin layers, wait until the adhesive goes clear before placing.
• Long hair costs more. Longer length means more hair, more weight and faster wear at the knots, so expect a shorter lifespan on long units regardless of supplier.
• Practice before you quit the service. Learn removal (solvent, not pulling) and re-bonding on a spare unit while you still have your salon visits as backup.

One more thing worth checking with a dermatologist: if you still have native hair underneath, keeping it healthy under a system (scalp hygiene, treating any irritation from adhesives early) makes the whole setup more comfortable long term.
Hopefully some long-time DIY guys will chime in with their supplier experiences.