Questions: Tape V Glue, Swimming & Suppliers

[Slapster]

Hi all - long time lurker, first time poster. After a disappointing meeting with a hair transplant surgeon where I was promised a "Jack Nicholson hairline", I've been exploring the option of getting a system. This forum has been a trove of helpful info, but I still have a few questions:

1) It's my understanding that lace is best for an active person (I regularly play sports and go to the gym), and that glue under the front hairline is virtually undetectable. I also understand that tape is easier to manage. I plan on having the hair covering the hairline, but would a taped hairline be obvious if, for example, the wind blew the front hair back? Being detectable to the touch wouldn't be a problem, as I don't like people touching me.

2) I usually swim after working out, but understand that the chlorine in the pool can have a bleaching effect on the system. Would this bleaching effect drastically reduce the useful life of the system to the point that wearing a swimming cap would be advisable?

3) I plan on starting out with a salon / professional fitter to handle the template and first fitting, then to migrate to purely DIY. I see that some of you have lists of reliable fitters and suppliers - I would be grateful if any of you could please PM me some suggestions. With regard to salons, I'm in the East Anglia region of England (I'll be happy to be more specific over PM).

Thanks very much in advance, and apologies for the massive post!

 

[Noah]

Hi Slapster

I'm loving the description "Jack Nicholson hairline" - that's got to be the best euphemism for "bald" since "follically challenged". Like the Marlon Brando diet.

Addressing your questions:

1) I think "obvious" is too strong a word - it's not like you have duct tape on your head. But the human eye is very sharp. People won't spot that you have tape under your hairline, but some people will register that there is something a little bit off about your hairline - that it doesn't look quite natural. And obviously you don't want that attention if you are trying to keep your system confidential. However there is one tape - Walkers 3-mil tape - which is good enough for an exposed hairline. It is not tape in the true sense, but rather semi-solid glue sold in a tape format. Once you remove the backing paper there is only glue left, and no plastic film. It is not quite as undetectable as glue, but pretty close.

2) Chlorine will bleach the hair a bit, so you should try to wash it out as soon as you can after you get out. I treat my systems as disposable, so I don't allow factors like that to influence how I live. I just do the swimming, and if the system needs to be replaced more frequently then I replace it. If you are working, and you are getting your systems for a couple of hundred dollars, you can take that view. Obviously if you are on a very tight budget that attitude may not work.

3) I will PM you some thoughts on suppliers.

Noah

 

[deg_dilemma]

Just out of interest, why not just use glue on the front then?

I use glue with my skin base system and it is very easy to maintain. I understand glue will be more difficult for lace maintenance but isn't it still better for undetectability? And it's not that difficult to remove from lace is it?

 

[BaldBearded]

I have used the walkers 3-mil tapes, all around, it looked fine... they have hairline tapes, that can be ordered in the correct contour to match your own system. Make sure to put the correct side, towards the skin, otherwise, you will get shine.

 

[deg_dilemma]

But again I ask, why not just use glue on the front hairline? You just need the tiniest amount.

 

[Slapster]

As soon as I heard them saying things like "mature hairline" and "Jude Law", I started to suspect that maybe a transplant wasn't the best way to spend ten grand. Thanks very much for the list of salons and suppliers.

With regard to glue vs tape on the hairline, I've read on here that tape is generally easier to deal with. I guess I'm just being paranoid about making a mess of it or the process taking ages. Incidentally, once you're used to DIYing, roughly how long does it take to perform the weekly removal / clean / reattachment?

 

[BaldBearded]

OK,

I can only talk about my experience (French lace, HOT climate), tape is far easier to clean up, it comes off with some 99% alcohol, and almost no residue left on your scalp. Adhesive (I only have used Ghostbond XL), requires a solvent (Ghostbuster, C-22, etc), and you need to get it off your entire scalp, and the system. Adhesive gives a better bond, and especially the hairline. I am just off a 1-week full head bond with adhesive, and it looked great. I can't do a hairline clean up since my hair is VERY long, and the adhesive gets in the hair, and cannot be cleaned whilst it's still on my head, so I am betting (with the cooler weather) I could have gone two weeks.

I can't tell you about time, since I usually remove Th/Fri, and re-attach the second unit on Saturday, so I can start my week fresh, on Sunday.

 

[Noah]

I spend less than an hour a week on maintenance. I have 2 units in use, which I swap. It doesn't save any time, but it makes the process more flexible, because you can separate the cleaning bit from the detaching and re-attaching bit, and you don't have to hang around the house bald. It's easier to find 2 spare 20 minutes slots than a 40 minute slot.

 

[rme]

OK,

I can only talk about my experience (French lace, HOT climate), tape is far easier to clean up, it comes off with some 99% alcohol, and almost no residue left on your scalp. Adhesive (I only have used Ghostbond XL), requires a solvent (Ghostbuster, C-22, etc), and you need to get it off your entire scalp, and the system. Adhesive gives a better bond, and especially the hairline. I am just off a 1-week full head bond with adhesive, and it looked great. I can't do a hairline clean up since my hair is VERY long, and the adhesive gets in the hair, and cannot be cleaned whilst it's still on my head, so I am betting (with the cooler weather) I could have gone two weeks.

I can't tell you about time, since I usually remove Th/Fri, and re-attach the second unit on Saturday, so I can start my week fresh, on Sunday.

Hi all
Update.
I use GhostBond glue classic. And, I think, this is very good, until 4 -5 day (the hairline is clean remains). Very very easy to clean....even without alcohol. The repair process is very fast. But, I think it is not good for the swim/ under the water. I'm afraid the glue would let the head.
this is my own experience so... you may need a swim cap when you swim. (unfortunatelly)
no allergic reaction, and no no itching.

And now I test some tape.