Jake1979

17 hours ago, grincher said:

I have used the same supplier for 8-years. They ship worldwide when I worked abroad too.

https://www.ukhairsystems.com/

 

Thank you Grincher! I appreciate that I’ll check them out. I know you’ve been doing this a while now so definitely your experience is helpful. I just gotta find a better option than what I’ve been using. Thanks again! 

I’m not sure this necessarily falls under the topic of “hair system downfalls” but it is definitely a struggle I’ve recently experienced and once again proven to me what a steep learning curve this is. 
I had only used Poly perimeter with lace or mono center up until recently bc I have been told by so many that full poly would be too hot for me and I’d have bonding issues given how much I work out and I do sweat a ton in summer even when not exercising. 
 

I ordered a custom full lace naively thinking this would be even better lol. I’ve never had so many issues with getting the system to stick and bond properly using tape. Probably common knowledge to most, but somehow I either ignored or missed the important part about full lace being difficult to work with especially using tape. 
 

So now have ordered another Poly perimeter lace center unit which ive never had problems getting to stick and bond. 
 

I really want to try a .08-.10 Full Poly unit, Lavivid makes one called the Coeus which is at 115 density and another on called the Oceanus I believe which is 130 density but thicker at .10-.12 

im not interested in the thin skin bc of the delicate nature of them.

But I keep hearing that the sweat gets trapped under the Poly giving it no place to escape creating more issues. Can anyone share their personal experiences with full Poly units and sweating?  Thanks

Been a while for me. Plenty of ups and downs with hair system journey. Currently trying to find new supplier, Lavivid prices, customer service, and especially quality has suffered in my opinion. Not sure if Lordhair is back to it’s original good quality and former glory it was pre Covid,but it appears my options are Lavivid, LH, Super Hairpieces, or Curtis’ MHE. Anyone have experience with any of these suppliers or any others I haven’t mentioned? Thanks!

16 hours ago, BeHappy said:

A hair piece wasn't for me, but everyone has their own goals and expectations, so if it works for you then that's great.

 

Yea man I hear u! Systems have their drawbacks, I'm loving it now but maybe in a few years could feel different about it, we'll see.

On 9/22/2021 at 10:55 PM, Gatsby said:

You've won!!!!! 👍

Thanks for the kind words bro! I'll take any win i can get in the hair loss battle....first world problems at the end of the day though 

7 hours ago, grincher said:

Jake, it sounds like you have made a success of it. Well done

Thank u my brother!

Hey guys, just wanted to report back with my experience with hair system.

I'm approaching the 3 month mark of wearing and so far it's been pretty great.

I had an extremely bad first week. My stylist did a perimeter tape bond, but put water based glue in the center of my lace base unit.

I did not understand the importance of brushing regularly and thoroughly and so developed some tangles and knots when I first washed "my" hair, where I think the glue seeped thru into the hair and knotted it up pretty badly.

After that I never used glue again, just tape on perimeter and I've been a habitual brusher LOL, I've had no more tangle issues since then so the rookie mistake taught me a valuable lesson moving forward.

I'm kind of amazed how light and cool the unit feels on my head, especially bc i started this journey during the hottest 3 months of the year in an extremely hot and humid region of the US. I honestly forget it's on my head.

As far as getting ready in the morning it takes like no time at all, so quick and easy. Took me longer to shave my head. And the gym and sweating has been no problem either. The bond holds for about 18 days, and by that point only the front hairline breaks down and lifts, sides and back still good.

I did my first at home diy detatch/reattach maintenance and cleaning a few days ago. I watched several YouTube tutorials on this, best one I found was one by MG Ford. Curtis MHE has some good ones as well. It took me a couple of hours but I really took my time with it and it was my first attempt, and it came out really good.

I also cut and dye my own bio hair and have purchased Back2Natural color deposit conditioner which I'll use, next time I take it off, to dye the hair system back to darker to get some of the red tones out.

I definitely have been happy with it so far. Much more manageable than I anticipated and I feel like once u learn to do the maintenance at home yourself and have the proper products (glue, tape, scalp protector, c22 etc.) it gives u much more control over your own life with a system.

Also, still pretty amazed at how natural it looks. I know some on this thread mentioned the paranoia with wearing a system. I just don't have that bc I know it looks good. I honestly had paranoia with SMP, but not the hair system.

Hopefully I can continue to have a great experiences with wearing systems, this has really helped my confidence tremendously:)

Been wearing now about 2 months. Go to salon every 3 weeks for maintenance. 

So far great experience and i agree with Grincher, my only regret is not doing it years ago.

Amazed and how easy it is to wear, and this is the toughest time of year with it being hot summer and I live it hot humid climate. Still pretty effortless to live with.

So far it's easier and less maintenance than shaving head every day or two to make my SMP look good.

Smp...smh LOL, what a waste

4 hours ago, Hairnomo said:

Best wishes to you Jake! I’m excited for you.. Anything in life worth anything is always work! The bigger the effort the better the reward 🥳

Amen to that brother and I'm excited for you also! 

Let's hope a short time from now you and I are back here sharing our success stories with each other

5 hours ago, Hairnomo said:

Thanks Jake1979 for pointing that out. After a couple failed transplants and all those pills and foams and scars, I’m 53 and seriously thin on top! I’ve worked extremely hard all my life and now have plenty of cash!! I’m going to find the best HS available and rock it!! Guess it’s hats at the beach and barbecues for me but at night look out.. full head of hair for me!!! Whoo Hooo I’ve always had balls of steel but I just look better with Hair! I’ve come So close to just shaving so many times but my girlfriend begs me not too. If I had a head like statham I’d already be slick..I’ll post pics as soon as I get my rug! 😃

Good luck to you with your hair system journey bro! Sounds like u have a great attitude about it going in, and I think a healthy and realistic perspective is vital. 

I've also had some failed procedures, and rogaine and finasteride have done little to help regrow hair but have rather helped me keep what I have left.

For me I feel this is something I can do to make myself look better, and I'm approaching it with the mindset that if I'm found out for "wearing" I honestly dont care bc this is for me and not for everyone else who really couldn't care less anyway. I'd say the vast majority of people are concerned with their own appearance, not mine LOL

Is there going to be work involved? Yes

Will there be some hard days? Yes

Will I be neurotic and paranoid at first? Yes

Is that all just part of the journey and will it be worth it in the end? Yes! Anything worth having in life is almost never easy and almost always involves work and some struggle! 

I ordered my first system last week and have my first install appointment in less than 2 weeks. I'm pretty excited!

On 5/19/2021 at 7:06 AM, SD1984 said:

I researched and studied hair systems for the better part of the last 3 years and I can say a few things with certainty, especially after trying one myself one day, some of which have already been stated in this thread:

 

-it is true IMO that you have to be on a certain level personality wise (balls of steel confidence as one said) to truly pull off wearing a system. I don't care how amazing they can look today (which they can) and I don't care how many YouTubers are out there (with a few thousand followers only mind you) explaining how great they can be. The harsh reality is that hairpieces still have a very negative stigma attached to them and yes, 80% of people if not more will laugh or at least think weird of you behind your back after they ever found out you are wearing. It's just that simple. If you are very unsure about wearing or have even the slightest bit of general anxiety you are really going to have an uphill battle because they are, at least initially, going to be a solid amount of work and a huge undertaking for one to deal with, both physically and emotionally/mentally.

-Yes, most of these YouTubers do have money coming in somehow and will never flat out bash hair systems or tell you how awful they CAN be, which is the case for a lot of guys imo. That being said, some of them are great and can be very helpful, especially Curtis at MHE.

-Speaking of which, it also takes a very "creative" and "handy" type of guy to pull off a system. Glue, tape, cotton balls, adhesive remover, etc. You name it, you'll have to deal with it, and trust me from trying one myself, it just ain't fun, and I even consider myself to be handy/creative.

-If you're going out in the hot sun in the summer, whether it be to a beach or to a friends backyard BBQ you may as well always wear a hat. The bond has a 50/50 chance I'd say of breaking down in serious heat and you don't want any of that glue or even a lift showing. This alone was one of the things that just made me say F it as if I had a hair system full time I would only want to worry about it when it came to the bathroom maintenance. Truth is, you'll always be kinda worried about the hairline, at least if you rock an exposed hairline which is typically a go to look for most men in 2021. Don't get me wrong I don't think the system would "own" me or "run my life", but the bottom line is that it would be something always in the back of my mind. I would put my fibers and hairspray in everyday and while that was hell, at least when I left the house I never thought about it again (unless I was somehow someway caught in a downpour). The system would actually be much worse than fibers ever were, for me at least, and I'd imagine many other men.

-I used to think a HT was the last resort for balding men. I've since changed my stance in that hair systems are the last resort.

-For me personally the only way I could ever see myself wearing a system full time one day is if it was my real hairline (transplant possibly) and having a low density system behind it. Would that be hell to pull off as far as maintenance goes? Absolutely. But at least I would be able to go out and live life without worrying about dirt on my hairline front and center for people to see, or whatever else may go wrong up front.

Wow, Alot of Blanket statements there with little regard to the countless individual factors and variables.

Pretty typical though (not just yours but many posts on this thread)...when people are disappointed in what they held great hope in being their solution to a big problem, the negatives of the subject get Magnified, the positives are Minimized, and the personal struggles are over generalized.

But I get it...that's just human nature...it's difficult to wish for other's success in a venture that was a failure for you.

4 hours ago, Kraistoff said:

Hi Jake , i highly doubt it but sure there’s someone out there that will say otherwise.

 

Hey Kraistoff, thanks man, I appreciate it! I'll probably give it a go, at this point I dont have too much left to lose...literally and figuratively LOL

If you use as directed, and then discontinue using, does it cause "shock loss"?.....

Hi guys, I'm thinking of starting Nizoral shampoo 2%, does anyone know if you would experience "shock loss" after discontinuing use of shampoo, similar to finasteride and minoxidil discontinuation?

Hey guys, I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas and a happy and safe New Year! I just wanted to post an update. I visited a second salon a few days ago. It was a little nicer, had a hair salon downstairs and some nice offices upstairs where I had my consultation. This woman (stylist) I met with was younger, probably mid to late 30s, and I just liked her alot better. She was very down to earth, made me feel at ease, and seemed much more open, honest and forthcoming with information and details. The first place I went to the lady was older, probably more experienced, but she just kind of gave me a vibe like she wasn't being fully honest, especially when I asked her about Lordhair and Lavivid products.
Anyways, this second place seemed great, and then she got into the systems they use and pricing... she said they also use OnRite, but mainly a product called Hairskeen, and she charges $1,000 for initial install, cut, and hair system and then $85 after that for maintenance appointments. The $1000 is not in my budget, especially paying this every 3 months, so I basically told her I'd think about it and get back in touch...I think she could read in my eyes and voice that this price was not gonna work for me, so she then told me I didnt have to get their hair system and could order my own, and if i went that route it would be $150 for the cut in and install, and then $85 for each maintenance appointment. This was great news to me, bc this was the scenario I was looking for, and those prices are in my budget...especially given the fact that (according to my basic research) I get get a good quality system for $200-250.
This lady was very informative and told me that if I do go there I can always call her in case of hair emergencies and she stays on call, and could get me in quick if I had issues, and would also teach me how to do alot of the maintenance myself and small touchups.
She did some measurements on my head and matched my hair color.
She said it was a color "2b" or "1B" with 20% gray, is anyone familiar with the color "1B" or "2b"? I cant remember which one she said. She said it was like a dark brown ash color. I looked on Lordhair site and I found a 1B so maybe that's what she said, I may have to call back and ask her again. I'm just trying to figure out the right color to order. She also said she suggested the lowest level of density, especially on the first system.
I hope I explained all of that well enough, I know I'm kind of all over the place with these details, I apologize for that. Any feedback and advice would be greatly appreciated. I appreciate you guys and thanks for listening. Here's to a better 2021 for us all!

On 12/24/2020 at 12:30 AM, Gatsby said:

Hey Jake,

Initially I loved wearing a hair system if you could believe that! You really need to have the attitude that it's like a fashion accessory, like wearing a suit, etc. Initially I thought that their was no way that I would ever wear a hair piece but I embraced it as a hair transplant wasn't an option for me back at the time (this is pre FUR/FUT). I told my friends and I had a wig party back then! If you can be up front and joke about it and own it no one can take the piss out of you. My confidence went up after about 6 or 7 years of depression from the beginning of my hair loss and the scars that were left on my scalp as a result. Today I just shave my head and I have had SMP to camouflage the scars but I am waiting on a hair transplant once travel resumes. All the best!

Man, sounds like you had a great attitude and sense of humor about the whole thing, and that’s great advice about having that mentality going into the hair system journey, I will try to approach it with that frame of mind. 
      Most people i talk to who have “worn hair” successfully, and are happy doing it, have that same mentality and say that it has to be something you do for yourself and not for others. 
     Good luck to you with the transplant! I’ve seen some pretty amazing results and it is so incredible how far the ht medical field has come and how far technology has advanced in that area of expertise. Hopefully this COVID stuff won’t affect travel for much longer and you can get it done soon, I’m sure you are ready to get on with it

17 hours ago, Gatsby said:

Jake1979 don't get locked into a contract, payment scheme, etc, etc. I wore a hair piece to hide two botched hair transplants and my baldness. I finally threw away the hair piece after 25 years of them about four years ago. I started with the hair piece 'glued' to my hair and as my hair grew I had the piece removed and reattached and glued to my hair again. After about six months I found this a real drag as it can get 'sloppy' on the scalp as your hair grows and eventually found a hair dresser who ordered the hair piece and then colored and permed it and then cut it into my own hair (my hair is/was very curly). Today hair pieces have come of age and with the internet have come down in price. I suggest you contact several 'ethical' hair transplant surgeons who have a contact with someone who can supply a hair piece, etc. An ethical hair transplant surgeon will want to help you and not rip you off/take commissions, etc. Keep researching and asking questions here. All the best.

Hey Gatspy! Man thank you for your response, and thank you for sharing your story and experience with me. That is all very helpful and useful information for a guy like me who doesnt know much and is just getting started, and it provides me with some extra perspective. 

Sounds like you are much happier not doing hair systems and that is great you have found your freedom and peace on hair loss journey. Have you gone in another direction like smp or HTs, or are you shaving now?

I do not know if I will enjoy hair systems either, but I have to give it a shot and see if I can make it work, and above all else, decide whether or not the good outweighs the bad and if it is worth the hassle. It may not work out but time will tell.

The lady I visited does not do contracts, and that is something I understand i should watch for and not get locked into, so I'm grateful for your validation of that. I have a consultation at another salon next week, and then I'll probably do a third at a salon that is about 55 miles from my home but looks promising. Ideally I would like to find a place that just does the work and maintenance and allows me to order my own unit of my choosing, but that may not be an option. May just have to take what I can get in order to learn and then order my own when I feel comfortable with the DIY way.

That is great advice about asking HT surgeons, I will try that and do some research in that area. One good thing about the place I am visiting next week is that it's recommended by a HT surgeon in my area on their website, but whether or not that means much, who knows?

Thanks again for your feedback and support and encouragement! Happy Holidays brother!

Jake

Hi Grincher, thanks for taking the time to read my post and for your helpful feedback man, greatly appreciated!

So no, she says she doesnt do contracts, which I understand is a good sign and for me is good not to be tied into anything.

And Like you said, ideally I would like to do the DIY way after a few months and just order my own units. I just would probably have to find a new person to do cut in.

I guess my main concern with this place is that she only uses the "On Rite" brand and doesnt allow me the option to order my own from Lordhair or Northwest lace or Lavivid. When I try to find out info on that brand I cant find a whole lot online. I guess I'm wondering if she's using the best systems or just subpar to increase her profits. 

Have you heard of OnRite or know anything about that brand?

Thanks again brother! 😀👍

Thank you sir! I appreciate that and thanks again for the information you provided 😀

Thanks for your response and info Dr. T, I appreciate it. The systems you speak of sound great, but unfortunately they are way out of my price range. I cant afford anything near that. I am looking for a good quality hair system between $250 and $400 that'll last 3-4 months. Lavivid, Lord Hair and Northwest Lace are a few I've found that seem to have lots of guys online who have had good experiences with them. My challenge now is finding a salon. So far the one salon I've visited uses one brand exclusively that I'm not familiar with

Hi guys, I've been researching hair systems for over a year now and hoping to get started in the next 1-2 months. I visited a salon in my area today and the lady was very nice and answered all of my questions and seems very qualified. She and her assistant asked alot of questions about my lifestyle and work environment and took a good hour with me matching my bio hair to what they thought would be best on color wheel which was a very dark brown with 20-30 gray. She charges $370 for the initial install which includes the unit and cut in and just everything that goes with getting it initially installed, and then she charges $120 per appointment for detach and reattach and cleaning and bio hair cut, and she claims I will only need to schedule these appointments every 3-4 weeks. However based on my research, my understanding was that a hair system must be removed and cleaned and then reattached every 5-10 days.

Also, I was hoping to be able to order my own hair system from Lord Hair or Lavivid and have her do all of the rest, but when I asked her about those two brands she said she doesnt like them bc she finds the hair to be "too coarse" and not natural. She says she only uses a brand called "Onrite" which she orders herself and  takes care of that end of it,but I am not familiar with that brand. I tried to search for it and was able to find it for sale on a site called discount hair systems and another site that I dont recall the name. The units were listed as around $450 and up, but so far I cannot find much about "Onrite" hair systems or that company. I am a bit suspicious about this, feeling it may be a red flag, and wonder if these are just cheap units that she is using in order to increase her profit margin.

My questions are: 

1)Has anyone heard of Onrite brand hair systems and do you know if they are any good?

2)are the prices she is charging fair and reasonable?

3) is it a red flag that she is claiming that I will only need to come in for reinstall every 3-4 weeks?

I'm just wondering if any of these things are obvious red flags and if should move on to another salon. Any help from some experienced hair system veterans would be so greatly appreciated.As you can probably tell, I am a rookie and definitely dont know much about this stuff yet, still learning and just trying to get started but dont want to start off at a bad place with a bad system that might sour me to the whole hair system deal. Being so green at this I'm an easy mark to be ripped off.

I hope I provided enough info to give a clear picture. Sorry if I didnt. Thanks for listening guys😀