No, There Is No "service Light" On Your Hair System...

[BaldBearded]

Unlike your car, there is no "service" light on your hair system. I have a few clients who want to see how long they can go between services. Your hair system, like your car, does not benefit by stretching out the maintenance period to months and months.

This is an issue more with lace, than with skin. If you wear a skin system (UTS, STS, etc), and leave it on for too long, the results are often more detrimental to your own scalp, than to the system itself. I have had skin customers that when I removed unit, the odor from under the system almost caused me to faint. Serious biohazard situation. But at least, easy to clean (the system, not the scalp).

In the case of lace, especially Swiss lace, which is more delicate, the results of leaving this on your head for months has multiple potential issues. Most likely the system is attached with glue or a tape and glue combination. When edges start to pull up, the customer will add more glue to these areas. The more glue stuck to the lace, the harder it is to clean up. The glue also tends to stick to the growing hair, under the system. At this point, in some folks, the hair system is no longer bonded to the scalp, but to the growing hair.

The resulting clean up is really hard on the lace, as it takes more effort to remove the glue. In a salon environment there is not the luxury of an overnight soak in C-22. Even if you do home maintenance, it will take some effort to get the glue out of the lace, and also the hair.

If you are wearing a style that requires a blend, your blend won't be looking very good, either, so you will lose that seemless, consistent look that most of us are going for.

I am seeing that systems that should go 4-6 months, are being trashed after just three.

Then there is the scalp. If you are like me, then there is almost 0 hair growth under the system. My younger clients have quite a bit of hair growing under the system. Once the glue is stuck in 2-3 months of hair, it is a major hassle to get it out. You can come at it with a straight razor, because the hair is stuck to the scalp. You need to work in hair conditioner to loosen the glue from the scalp, and work it out of the hair. It also tends to ooze into the hair around the system, which also needs to be carefully removed.

What should be a maximum one hour service, becomes a two or three hour service, and add a haircut, which makes it even more expensive.

For the guys doing this at home, what should be an easy DIY service, becomes a long, laborious, and frustrating experience.

Now that summer is coming, and you all are (hopefully) going outside in the sun, do yourselves, and your system a favor, and try not to wait too long between services. My personal suggestion is 3-4 weeks, max. If you live in cold climates, and totally smooth under your system, maybe a week longer.

 

[Fanjeera]

I am seeing that systems that should go 4-6 months, are being trashed after just three.

So you think reattaching more often could prolong the lifetime of a hair system?

 

[Hair2019]

Any guy who has properly read up/watched videos/researched how to properly maintain a hair system should know that you do not leave a system attached for months on end. I always cringe when I hear stories of guys doing that.

I used to remove, clean and reattach once a week, but I recently switched to using all tape (with a very tiny amount of glue at the front of my parting as I can't use tape on that bit due to tape shine). I now do a reattach every 2 weeks and it's perfect. I haven't tried going any longer than this, but do you think 3 - 4 weeks could work? I think any longer than 2 weeks and you risk glue starting to seep through the lace. For an all lace system using tape, I reckon about once every 2 weeks is about right.

 

[ChromeyFirefox]

I aim for 2 weeks for a full cleanup. I begin in the morning and then use nizoral, use moisturiser and a facial oil on my scalp.

About 8 hours later I will re attach. I work from home anyways so this just fits around the start and end of work.


1 week after attachment I release the front and clean off the glue entirely. I then wash my system under the shower and then reglue the front down (I use French lace and I find 2 weeks turns the glue to mush and becomes too difficult and time consuming to clean. And I have to get tougher on it. I feel this is detrimental to the life of the system)

With lace once you do get seepage it's just difficult. You turn to more C22 and then washing up liquid which is really not good.

 

[Hair2019]

I aim for 2 weeks for a full cleanup. I begin in the morning and then use nizoral, use moisturiser and a facial oil on my scalp.

About 8 hours later I will re attach. I work from home anyways so this just fits around the start and end of work.


1 week after attachment I release the front and clean off the glue entirely. I then wash my system under the shower and then reglue the front down (I use French lace and I find 2 weeks turns the glue to mush and becomes too difficult and time consuming to clean. And I have to get tougher on it. I feel this is detrimental to the life of the system)

With lace once you do get seepage it's just difficult. You turn to more C22 and then washing up liquid which is really not good.

I can get away with 2 weeks no problem as I only use a very small amount of glue, however I agree that anyone who glues the whole frontal area or the whole base would be better off reattaching every week or so. That sounds like a good compromise to release the front and clean that every week btw.

I was also wondering, can the adhesive from tape seep through lace too if left on too long?

 

[Fanjeera]

I can get away with 2 weeks no problem as I only use a very small amount of glue, however I agree that anyone who glues the whole frontal area or the whole base would be better off reattaching every week or so. That sounds like a good compromise to release the front and clean that every week btw.

I was also wondering, can the adhesive from tape seep through lace too if left on too long?

Gluing the whole area is so much work you don't want to do it so often. I do it every 3,5--4,5 weeks. But I also get seep through at some spots.

 

[Manny007]

don't you guys feel itching on the scalp after 2-3 weeks?? I used Injected thin skin system and in the 3rd week I feel itchiness

I switched to lace with poly rim this is my 2nd week so far k just a little itchiness when sleeping

 

[Hair2019]

don't you guys feel itching on the scalp after 2-3 weeks?? I used Injected thin skin system and in the 3rd week I feel itchiness

I switched to lace with poly rim this is my 2nd week so far k just a little itchiness when sleeping

I haven't personally felt any itching after 2 weeks. Is that a common thing? I have an all Swiss lace system attached with tape and a tiny bit of glue.

 

[Hair2019]

Gluing the whole area is so much work you don't want to do it so often. I do it every 3,5--4,5 weeks. But I also get seep through at some spots.

For tape, I use Supertape which says that it is for 'multi week wear'. I have also tried Walker Tape Ultra Hold maximum wear, which says it is for 2 - 4 weeks of wear.

For glue, I use Walker Tape Safe Grip Extended Wear, which says it is for 1 - 3 weeks of wear. You can apparently also get a 'maximum wear' version of this glue, which is for 3 - 5 weeks wear. I wonder if these times are for lace systems, as won't the glue start to seep through after 2 weeks? Unless this adhesive is somehow specially designed to prevent that happening, hence why it says on the container that it can be worn for such long periods of time? That might be for systems with poly perimeters, thought.

I still personally think no more than 2 weeks wearing is best (especially with all lace systems), simply because the hair growing underneath needs to be shaved, scalp needs to be cleaned etc, but everyone will have their own preferences I guess.

 

[Manny007]

For tape, I use Supertape which says that it is for 'multi week wear'. I have also tried Walker Tape Ultra Hold maximum wear, which says it is for 2 - 4 weeks of wear.

For glue, I use Walker Tape Safe Grip Extended Wear, which says it is for 1 - 3 weeks of wear. You can apparently also get a 'maximum wear' version of this glue, which is for 3 - 5 weeks wear. I wonder if these times are for lace systems, as won't the glue start to seep through after 2 weeks? Unless this adhesive is somehow specially designed to prevent that happening, hence why it says on the container that it can be worn for such long periods of time? That might be for systems with poly perimeters, thought.

I still personally think no more than 2 weeks wearing is best (especially with all lace systems), simply because the hair growing underneath needs to be shaved, scalp needs to be cleaned etc, but everyone will have their own preferences I guess.

well said I used super tape for my thin skin system, I used to get 2 weeks hold n clean up used to be easy

but when I go to the salon for the clean up I usually wear it for 3 weeks and after 2 weeks starting 3rd week I feel itchy on the scalp

 

[ChromeyFirefox]

I use French lace with a poly back and side rim. That bit is taped and the front glued.

If left long enough the hair might get gunky from the tape.

My tape lasts 2 weeks just fine.

 

[Mystery411]

I could go two weeks, even two and a half. However, my scalp is super oily and the Walker no shine tape (I don’t use glue) starts to get goopy. I find changing it every 10/11 days is perfect (so basically twice every three weeks). It still has a strong hold, yet it’s pretty easy to clean. I’m lazy so I’m back at my salon, but it would take me less than an hour when I’d do it myself.

 

[BaldBearded]

So you think reattaching more often could prolong the lifetime of a hair system?

Absolutely, but not the only factor.

 

[BaldBearded]

Any guy who has properly read up/watched videos/researched how to properly maintain a hair system should know that you do not leave a system attached for months on end. I always cringe when I hear stories of guys doing that.

I used to remove, clean and reattach once a week, but I recently switched to using all tape (with a very tiny amount of glue at the front of my parting as I can't use tape on that bit due to tape shine). I now do a reattach every 2 weeks and it's perfect. I haven't tried going any longer than this, but do you think 3 - 4 weeks could work? I think any longer than 2 weeks and you risk glue starting to seep through the lace. For an all lace system using tape, I reckon about once every 2 weeks is about right.

Not everyone watches the videos, or wants to do their own maintenance. Most of the hair system providers in this country (Israel) have their clients scared to do anything by themselves (let alone go to another provider).

 

[BaldBearded]

I can get away with 2 weeks no problem as I only use a very small amount of glue, however I agree that anyone who glues the whole frontal area or the whole base would be better off reattaching every week or so. That sounds like a good compromise to release the front and clean that every week btw.

I was also wondering, can the adhesive from tape seep through lace too if left on too long?

I, personally only see glue coming off the tape, into the lace, when someone is pushing on the lace a lot.

 

[ChromeyFirefox]

I'd agree with this. I've never found much wear and tear from removing and such. It's the cleaning that does it. And cleaning becomes much harder and rougher with extended wearing.

 

[Fanjeera]

don't you guys feel itching on the scalp after 2-3 weeks?? I used Injected thin skin system and in the 3rd week I feel itchiness

I switched to lace with poly rim this is my 2nd week so far k just a little itchiness when sleeping

I do. I think this happens especially, if I've worn a hat for a long time. Washing and scratching will alleviate it.

 

[deg_dilemma]

Lace sounds like a real hassle! I've only ever worn UTS and it is very straightforward to maintain/clean/attach. I am now in the habit of re-attaching weekly, and I typically only use one layer of (white) glue which I apply to my scalp with my finger. The attachment begins to weaken after 3 days (in summer now) but it holds well enough for up to 10 days if needed, but I like a regular clean-up and a fresh attachment, so I do it at 7 or 8 days.

I'm a low maintenance kinda guy so this works out well for me.

The hairline is my weak point, and if I wanted to maintain a perfect hairline then I would re-do that small section every 2 or 3 days.

UTS is great for low-maintenance, but perhaps the hairline invisibility isn't as good as fine lace?

 

[BaldBearded]

Had another customer last night. UTS poly system, FOUR months without a re-bond. The unit was trashed, the hair, matted, dried out and faded on top, glue in the hair around the edges.

What should have taken max, an hour, took almost three. The system, after de-tangling (I should get a medal for that) looked OK, but you could see some thin patches, but careful styling took care of it.

Had he done at least the basic monthly maintenance his system would be in much better shape, at least it wasn't torn.

 

[ChromeyFirefox]

This is honestly less an issue if the consumer and more the industry.

Too many people are discouraged from DIY because of a fear of losing revenue for the salons. Too little information about what products are being used (I think this can be an issue for the consumer to even work out what works for them).

My argument here is that nothing would stop somebody wearing quicker than an emergency they can't rectify themselves.

I ended up having some customer service issues with my first salon ands moved away from them, but they included training as part of the initial fitting and they usually make good notes so you can find what works for you.