When you first start wearing hair and/or doing your own hair system maintenance, there’s a short-lived learning curve that can feel overwhelming at first. However, most people move quickly through the curve and feel comfortable with the basics in the first few months.
This curve consists of establishing your own:
Attachment methods
How you attach your hair system depends on your level of hair loss, the type of hair system you order, and your personal preference. Clips are fairly easy to adapt to, but if you choose to bond, it may take some experimentation with various adhesives until you find what works optimally for you. Our hair replacement consultants can help you to figure out what works best with your body chemistry.
Base-cleaning methods
We have various guides to teach you best practices for cleaning your base so the cleaning process is as fast, easy, and effective as possible. You’ll have a few methods to choose from and can decide what works for you.
Individual skin preparations for your scalp type
Like other aspects of hair replacement, learning the best way for you to prepare your scalp for attachment is a process of trial and error. Variables like your body chemistry and lifestyle (exercise routine, swimming, etc.) affect how well and how long your bond holds. In addition, if you sweat a lot or have oily skin, it will take some time to figure out which products work best. Scalp preparation is vital to the success of your bond. We provide tips on how to get started and how to modify your scalp prep routine if you have skin irritation or other issues.
Bonding products
Once you decide how to bond your hair system, you’ll need to decide if you want to use tape, liquid adhesive, or a combination of the two. An adhesive that works well for one person doesn’t necessarily work well for someone else. If you have sensitive or challenging skin, you may need to test out a few different products. At the same time, you’ll be testing adhesives for length of bond time. Every adhesive has its own attachment duration. Try different adhesives until you get the hold you want. This is normal and should be expected.
Hair care routine
It’ll take some time for you to get used to working with your hair system, since it’s different than caring for your growing hair. Your hair care routine — washing, conditioning, drying, and styling — will depend on the length of your hair, your hairstyle, and your lifestyle. You may need some time to adapt to styling hair in general, as you may not be used to working with hair. We provide tips to help you avoid common styling issues, and how to choose a hairstyle that will be easy to work with.
Ordering specifications
It’s possible your first hair system won’t give you the exact look you were imagining. Supplemental hair will most likely not look exactly like your growing hair once did. You need to expect that you will look a little different, and accept that change is good! It may take some time for you to get used to your new look. If something really isn’t working for you, such as density or color, your hair replacement consultant is always willing to help you with adjustments. Assume that it may take tweaking your order a few times to get it to a place where you are really comfortable.
Stay the course
The learning curve encompassed in the facets discussed above is normal, necessary, and typically very short-lived. Keep in mind that “this too shall pass.” We also recommend you stay the course and commit to doing your own hair before assuming someone else should be doing it for you. You may struggle for a few weeks. This is normal. After helping tons of customers, we know that it is truly possible to be autonomous with your hair replacement. You just need to be patient and remain calm and focused. Remember, our consultants are available to help you with any obstacles.
Whether you are working with synthetic or human hair, there can be some frustrations. Tangling, frizzing, breakage, and matting are common issues with human hair that is heavily processed (light color or tight curl) during manufacturing, or is poorly or incorrectly maintained.
Synthetic hair is acrylic, artificial hair that is machine-manufactured to look like human hair. Due to its make-up, it has a very specific maintenance protocol.
That said, not all hair wearers experience these issues. They tend to depend on your unique hair system specifications, such as hair length and curl pattern. Your hair replacement consultant will advise you if your hair requires special care.
The following issues commonly cause inconsistencies between orders:
Donor hair
The quality of donor hair from one system to the next isn’t consistent. Most systems require two or more donor's hair to be blended together, so it's normal to see slight variations between orders. The less the hair is processed, the longer its lifespan should be. Unfortunately, many donors are now processing (coloring or perming) their hair before providing it for use in hair systems. This means the hair may already be compromised before being processed again at the production facility. We do our best to purchase high-quality hair for your hair system, but if it doesn’t meet your expectations, please take advantage of our guarantee.
Handmade
Each hair system is a one-of-a-kind, handmade product. The same person will not be making all of your systems, even if you order them at the same time, so there will be slight variation, especially in density. Please expect this – it’s standard operating procedure in the industry.
Curl or wave
Wave and curl is challenging to keep consistent from one system to the next. It’s steamed into the hair using long dowels prior to ventilating the hair into the base. Many factors, such as hair quality and color, affect how well the hair holds curl, so it can be vary a bit from one system to the next. The tighter the curl, the more compromised the hair becomes, which shortens its lifespan. For example, if you have long hair with a tight curl, the hair will tend to tangle and shed more. In cases such as this, account for your system’s shorter life span when planning the frequency of your orders.
Order error
Because we’re all human, it’s possible for you or your hair replacement consultant to make a mistake when ordering. All orders are translated from English to Chinese, which creates more room for error. This is why it is very important you communicate clearly with your consultant and ensure the specs meet your approval before each order is placed.
Production facility delays
When you place your hair system order, we provide an estimated delivery date. However, there are a few reasons why your order may be delayed.
Our production facilities in Asia close for one to two weeks at a time each year for national holidays and Chinese New Year holiday. These closures can’t be avoided, but because we know when they’ll occur, we order early to avoid delays.
However, if at any time an order is sent back in the production line because our quality assurance system has a concern about it, it could cause a delay. In addition, orders are shipped overseas, so sometimes delays occur because of travel or weather-related issues around the world, not to mention the delay caused by the pandemic. These unforeseen issues are why we recommend always have a backup hair system to help avoid delays.
Be prepared
All of the above can seem daunting, but the day-to-day routine of wearing hair is really quite easy and comfortable. We provide this information to help you be aware of issues that may arise in the early months as you adjust to this new lifestyle, and longer term as well.
Flexibility (and a backup plan) are essential when you’re navigating the world of hair replacement. If you have unrealistic expectations, you’ll set yourself up for disappointment. We want to set you up for success! We have a 30-days return policy to help ease your concerns. If you are unhappy with your hair system for any reason. As always, our hair replacement consultants are available via phone, email, and WhatsApp to help in any way you need.
