How will I know when I need a new system?

[doubleindemnity]

I have a Lavivid Mirage system. It's my first system. It's 0.04-0.05mm thin skin and the website says that the replacement period is 2-3 months (why so short?). I have it cut down quite a bit in density and length so I guess that it will last less long than average. Ordering and fitting a new system takes up to 4 weeks and I don't want to be without a system. How will I know when my current one is going downhill and I need to start ordering the next one? Looks like it's these

1. Too many hairs have fallen out and the plastic base shows through

2. The color has faded too much

Is there anything else that is not steadily occurring that could cause the system to be finished? Will the base tear one day? I have just been maintaining it every week and I can not see why it wouldn't have lasted another 4 months at least if I had left it at full density. But why does it says 2-3 months replacement period, compared with 3-6 months for a lace?

 

[TooBad]

I have a Lavivid Mirage system. It's my first system. It's 0.04-0.05mm thin skin and the website says that the replacement period is 2-3 months (why so short?). I have it cut down quite a bit in density and length so I guess that it will last less long than average. Ordering and fitting a new system takes up to 4 weeks and I don't want to be without a system. How will I know when my current one is going downhill and I need to start ordering the next one? Looks like it's these

1. Too many hairs have fallen out and the plastic base shows through

2. The color has faded too much

Is there anything else that is not steadily occurring that could cause the system to be finished? Will the base tear one day? I have just been maintaining it every week and I can not see why it wouldn't have lasted another 4 months at least if I had left it at full density. But why does it says 2-3 months replacement period, compared with 3-6 months for a lace?

You can address fading with dye or color depositing shampoo/conditioner. It's time to replace, when you start getting areas that are too sparse.

 

[DarthJoking]

You can address fading with dye or color depositing shampoo conditioner. It's time to replace, when you start getting areas that are too sparse.

That and is the base itself starts to break down.
I'm finding that much less with French lace. The hair seems to wear out and go dry first.
But thin skin and hybrid the poly area would eventually get weak points or tiny tears in it.

 

[doubleindemnity]

The hair is getting red tones now so I need to soon look into color depositing conditioners or dyes. The hair color is black 1C. The darkest Back2Natural color is dark ash brown. Will that be ok or will it dye the hair brown? Alternatively, shall I go to the salon and ask them to dye it with actual hair dye?

 

[deg_dilemma]

I find my 0.03 UTS will last "up to" 6 months. But it will look absolutely terrible at that point.

Ideally I would replace every 3 months because that is how long the hair looks healthy and has some bounce in it. I can make it to 4 or 5 months reasonably well, by dyeing the hair at around the 3 or 4 month mark. But when the shedding starts at around the 4th month then I know I will need a new system within a few weeks.

 

[grincher]

Bald spots and shedding are late signs with skin.
If you are committed to wearing, why wouldnt you have a spare just in case of supply problems or an emergency? Its just putting off the inevitable and skin can fail.

 

[cottonReville]

Wear it as long as you still like its aesthetic.

When I first started, I used tape &, not knowing better, would treat my systems like real hair. It was the summer. So I'd swim in it, then shower, shampoo & condition, following up w/ gel or pomade.

Those were solid French lace systems (Summer 2019) & I'd replace every month.

 

[Technologic0280]

LOL I can answer this! I've had my system for 14 months now (lace with poly base, use tapes on the rim only), I started to get a bald spot where the collick is on the system I told my partner that they stress me out so much, that even my fake hair is falling out LOLOLOL.

Anyways, I dont mind the thin spot, it actually looks natural (Im 42 years old). Its barely noticeable, and I have a new unused and cut-in hair system ready to go. But at 14 months, I know I am getting close to the giving this thing a proper burial soon.......

 

[Cruise21]

How will I know when my current one is going downhill and I need to start ordering the next one?

You should order the next one long before it's ever needed.

 

[deg_dilemma]

LOL I can answer this! I've had my system for 14 months now (lace with poly base, use tapes on the rim only), I started to get a bald spot where the collick is on the system I told my partner that they stress me out so much, that even my fake hair is falling out LOLOLOL.

Anyways, I dont mind the thin spot, it actually looks natural (Im 42 years old). Its barely noticeable, and I have a new unused and cut-in hair system ready to go. But at 14 months, I know I am getting close to the giving this thing a proper burial soon.......

It's a huge mistake to leave it too late when changing systems. The contrast between old and new will be very obvious and easily detectable by people that see you regularly. The ideal pattern is one where the look of the hair remains reasonably consistent throughout.

 

[Technologic0280]

It's a huge mistake to leave it too late when changing systems. The contrast between old and new will be very obvious and easily detectable by people that see you regularly. The ideal pattern is one where the look of the hair remains reasonably consistent throughout.

Yeah, this is only my first hair system and I just got my new one (so only my 2nd ever). The issue was my Salon ordered the hair piece in August (!!) and it didn't come in until late December. It kept getting delayed and delayed... Otherwise, I would've had it 3-4 months sooner so the transition would've been much less noticeable. Then again, it looks 100% natural and blends in perfectly, so nobody has never really said anything unless I already told them I wear fake hair, lol.

 

[doubleindemnity]

I want to order a new one but my color isn't available in ultra thin skin. So I have to wait. In the meanwhile, my current system (2 months in, Lavivid Mirage, 0.06mm poly) is fine but the hair is getting brown. I wear hats everywhere outside but I think that just the oxygen makes it go brown. Back2Natural doesn't come in black. So is there a conditioner or shampoo I can use to get it back to black or do I have to hair dye it (and make sure to protect the base with the Got2B stuff)?

 

[DarkStranger]

That's why some hair replacement salons advice you to buy 2 or 3 hair systems at once.
For a spare if sh*t happens and it gets damaged or it wears out.

 

[doubleindemnity]

That's why some hair replacement salons advice you to buy 2 or 3 hair systems at once.
For a spare if sh*t happens and it gets damaged or it wears out.

So when you buy 2 or 3 at once do you take them all and get them all cut in at once too?

 

[DarkStranger]

So when you buy 2 or 3 at once do you take them all and get them all cut in at once too?

I can't remember. Think they weren't cut in at the time.

 

[grincher]

So when you buy 2 or 3 at once do you take them all and get them all cut in at once too?

I cut in one at a time as the cut in isnt an issue for me, in fact I could do it myself.

At anyone time I have 3 spares and have done this for a few years (before 2020). I like the peace of mind knowing I am not dependent on any one supplier, factory or middle man. This is effectively 3 years plus my current piece.

As I get a new piece cut in, I tend to keep using my older piece before phasing it out.

There are no hard rule to get all cut in at once or 2 or 3. It really comes down to your own circumstances.

 

[jeepwrangler]

I use a leave in conditioner so 'dryness' isn't an issue. Color fading isn't so bad as long as you keep on top of UV protection and coloring.

It's usually when the edges of the system starts thinning out. That's when I take it out of rotation. But this can be somewhat avoided with either a sleeping cap or satin pillow cases.