Daily Wear, What is your experience?

[Diesel guy]

I have a few things coming up in the next few months where I am going to need to be more self sufficient in regards to maintenance above just cleaning up the hair line. So, I am trying 'daily wear'. While I have removed my system before, I have never reattached it. Today was my first go at it, and it did not go well. And for clarity, I use a lace base with poly on the perimeter. I have moved from bond on the hair line to no-shine contoured tape and this has worked out well for me. While not a pro, I have managed to replace the hairline tape without tooo much issue. Tho I apply it straight to my scalp and not the system.... So, let us sit back an laugh for a moment.

I took they system off last night, took a super long HOT shower and let the water beat on my head. Followed up by a good nights sleep and burying my head in cotton sheets and thrashing about without any regard to what it is doing to my system. I've been using satin pillow cases for a while - so this was a real treat - not chasing the pillows all night long. It was good night.
Today however... What started off as my simply replacing the tape on the hairline and reattaching turned into more. With my system on the styrofoam head, I attached the tape directly to the system - like we do in the salon. I used my eyeliner pencil and put a dot on my forehead to mark where I begin attaching. Well, not sure how to hold and manage the hair, I missed my dot, and not by just a little. So I pulled it off and the tape i put on remained on my forehead. So retape the hairline and start over. Well in an attempt to be extra aware of where that dot is on my forehead, I somehow managed to drop my system and it lt landed tape side down, on the thick, plush, shaggy throw rug I have in front of the sink and mirror. When I picked up my system - i brought up all the fuzz with it. So, head back on the styrofoam head - I remove all of the tape.

When applying the tape to the perimeter for the first time, I discovered that I don't have adequate lighting, and I can't see the edge of the system. So, with the help of those lights we clip on our headboards at night so we can read, I set up in the kitchen. I clearly need better lighting throughout my entire house. I refreshed my memory and watched a couple videos before I started. What I thought would take 5 min or so took way longer. Cutting and placing the tape wasn't that difficult - but removing the backing off of the tape was an all together different story. I ruined more than a few strips of tape. I did do the overlapping the tape thing - so when I eventually made to the point of actually removing the backing, it was easy. Ready now to reattach, I grab my styrofoam head and head back to the bathroom.

After verifying that my dot is in the proper location, I'm ready to attach the system. It didn't take me but a second to realize I was headed to a problem. While I had the front of my system free from 'bangs' blocking where my system meets the 'dot', because my head is down, and the overall system flips over and hangs down and blocks my view. Wouldn't it be great if I could keep my head more upright and somehow have my system lay atop of my head in normal position! Viola! Wax Paper! So hair back on the styrofoam head, I may my way back a few minutes later with a piece of was paper just a bit larger than my system. This will solve all my problem! So with wax paper covering the tape on the perimeter I align the system with the dot and press. It only takes a moment to realize I have another problem - getting the wax paper off. Somehow, I managed to twist system and the very back of the system curved under and the that tape adheared to the tape on the sides; I can't separate it without removing it again.

Hair back on the styrofoam head, using a wig pin dipped in 99% alcohol, i surgically separate the two sections. I was also able to get the hair that stuck to the tape during this fiasco separated. I'm ready to put it back on - but as you can imagine I am frustrated beyond belief. Foregoing my wax paper solution, head down for a clear view strategy - I put my forefinger on the end of my system and aligne it with the dot and press. Mimicking what I see in videos, and what they do at the salon, I press and pull till my system is on fully. Mist then brush my hair and check out the results. My alignment could use a little more work - and I think the tap on one side is actually pulling on some of my bio hair, but overall I can live with it.

As for that dot. It should be just below where my system meets my forehead, but once again, I missed - and it is under my system. While the me of literally yesterday would be obsessed over it - after this morning, at this moment it time, I don't have any more Fu**'s to give!

I said all of this just to solicit some of your advice and best practices.

 

[mambovipi]

Today was my first go at it, and it did not go well.

My first, second, third attempt was a disaster. It's a learning curve mate.

I used my eyeliner pencil and put a dot on my forehead to mark where I begin attaching

I've seen people use this technique on youtube but it must take a lot of practice. From what I've read on here, it's not a common way of doing it when you do it yourself.

Cutting and placing the tape wasn't that difficult

Glad to hear. Dipping the scissors in IPA works a charm for this part.

but removing the backing off of the tape was an all together different story

Yeah this can be a bit tricky. I press the edge down hard onto the lace then try and peel it off. If it's a tricky edge then can apply some hot air from a hair dryer first and that does the trick.

I don't have any more Fu**'s to give!

haha! I know the feeling.

I said all of this just to solicit some of your advice and best practices.

The way they do it in salons and the way most people do it at home seems to differ. I know some guys on youtube just manage to place it right off the bat but I could never get that technique to work. The best IMO is what I read here from @Noah where you tape up the back and sides and leave the backing on. Then divide it up into front and back. At the front just have a piece of tape as an anchor. I think you even have tape at the front so may not need the anchor tape and can just use the tape you usually put in the front. Put the system on your head and align it properly then just lift the front and remove the backing off that front portion of tape. Once the front is down with that one piece of tape (or your usual hairline tape) you can peel off all the remaining tape and it's easy enough to put it down perfectly after that.

This sh*t just gets easier with time.

 

[smoka123]

For me personally I wouldn´t do every day re-attach. Once a week is ok or 2 weeks. I just hate it doing by myself.

 

[Mystery411]

I would rather use clips than have to re-attach daily. Hell, I hated doing it once a week during lockdown lol. I too go to a salon. However, it’s definitely essential to, at least, know how to be self sufficient. I f’d up my first few times too. I think my first time took three hours lol. The tape was a nightmare to get on/off. The advice that saved me was spraying several spritzes of alcohol over the scalp, just before application. It gave me time to move the system around for better placement. The good news: it gets way easier, especially if you have a second unit you can prep ahead of time. It shouldn’t take longer than 30 minutes. Cheers.

 

[J_D_R]

I think you can spray Isopropyl Alcohol onto the tape before attempting to position it. This takes away its stickiness for just long enough to get it into place.
I can sympathise with everything you've written. I once used practically a whole roll of Walker tape and took the best part of an afternoon to get it right. My scalp was red raw with pulling the tape off again and again and I was emotionally spent.
I now have a really convoluted method which involves wetting the hair around the perimeter and clipping it up to stop it sticking the the tape. I have a little scar about 1cm below where the front/centre of the hairline goes, and using that as a gauge, I get the temple at my parting side positioned and attached first and foremost and then press down the rest in a clockwise motion to the other temple. If I'm taping the hairline I remove the tape and do that separately. When using glue, I put little dots of pencil on my forehead following the contour of the hairline and then apply glue, remove pencil dots with cotton bud dipped in alcohol, let glue cure and carefully attach, making sure not to get any creases.

 

[DarthJoking]

I may have to resort to daily wear soon.
As I've tried a ton of tapes and they always cause me irration and quite bad itching after 3-4 days.
Walker max hold sport protector I find is pretty useless, gives me an extra day if that.

I have Walker 1522 and Natural Hold 1-7 day, daily wear tapes supposed to be low residue.
As better than giving up on hair systems I'd wear daily if removal of tapes was easy and minimal cleanup and
minimal maintenance.
It would be too much hassle if the maintenance was alot daily. Then I'd just give up and go back to shaving my head.

I just hope those tapes work with a full french lace base.
I don't care about potential shine as I don't have an exposed hairline.
I don't want to have to fork out more money for a hybrid hair system again for daily wear if they only work(stick) on poly.