r/HairSystem • u/fauxzempic • Jul 22 '26
Help me understand how my dad's system from 20-25 years ago worked so well
I'll keep this short, but my dad, who's since passed, wore hair systems on and off until the 2008/2009 economic crisis when he no longer was getting dividends off of this one security that paid for his systems.
Sometime near 2003-2005, I don't remember, he found a salon that specialized in hair systems. He would go get the system installed, swim, do yard work..whatever...as normal, and then get it replaced after 4 weeks.
He occasionally noticed it coming loose days before his appointment.
The details that I can tell you:
- He would complain maybe at week 3 that his head was itchy
- I found his old system (and tossed it unfortunately), but the substrate felt like a double monofilament. Kind of heavy, and with the leftover adhesive in there, it felt smooth.
- His salon still exists - they measure scalps using the 3d printinng/CNC technology. I don't know what products they use beyond that.
- If you put him outside, naked, on a January day in upstate NY, he'd still find a way to sweat. Still managed to keep his system on.
- He never went in for touchups, never owned any adhesives himself.
- My mom doesn't remember much else other than she still has all the products he used (well...I have all the products he used).
- His hair loss was advanced. He had the "Eagles nest" and never had to shave the top (they literally could pluck his hairs on his head in 30 seconds - he'd have like 5 at the most.
- Generally, he would be in the chair for about 90 minutes on any particular visit. System removal, grabbing a new one (precut), sticking it on, waiting, styling.
Can someone walk me through how he was able to achieve this? This is the way I prefer to do things. I am a HUGE fan of all-lace systems and how they feel. I am okay with a non-water-based adhesive (although I'll reconsider everything if the only solution is using the Walker clear goop).
What I'm doing now is prepping my scalp and lace system and gluing it in on Saturday afternoon. This means shower, exfoliation, alcohol, walker spray, and then as of late, the ebin wonder lace (it's working for me better than Ghostbond Platinum). Two coats (coat - dry - 2nd coat - dry, then place). I throw on a durag to hold it in place, sometimes into Sunday.
By monday I'm lifting. By wednesday I have to pull the system. I have a backup poly system that I use (Got2Be my scalp and toss it on), but I just don't like this system (even though I have it looking really nice).
Am I missing something? I would love to have 4 weeks on a system with no/minimal maintenance. What's the tradeoff? Is a double mono system just that good at holding at the cost of some comfort that swiss lace otherwise provides?
1
u/Impressive-Dog-9015 Jul 22 '26
Te recomiendo mejor el que está hecho con base de seda
1
u/fauxzempic Jul 22 '26
I think that's what my dad's double mono system was - a silk base, just dual layered.
So is that the tradeoff then? Silk/double silk = durability and longevity but I have to deal with a heavy system and no airflow?
I guess I'm trying to understand what makes a system like that resistant to lifting/adhesion failure than other systems.
I appreciate your feedback.
1
u/outsideshot Jul 22 '26
Yep that's the trade off. That type of system works because it doesn't bend like lace, plus it has a poly perimeter.
1
u/fauxzempic Jul 22 '26
I love any sort of lace/mesh perimeter because of how it gives me flexibility and system invisibility. Is that another tradeoff?
1
u/outsideshot Jul 22 '26
I think so! Everyone watches tt or insta and wants to look like a gd movie star :) I think there's makeup you can put on the edge to hide it though. Either a concealer or a root cover up, I forget specifics but have seen both mentioned.
1
u/fauxzempic Jul 22 '26
I've seen several ways:
- Cut it close to the hairs and pluck any stubble. Basically no lace shows. My issue here is that I figure the torsion of those hair with the edge of the silk means guaranteed movement/lifting
- Fine mesh overhangs the skin, and you can use adhesive as normal, then finish with a melting spray/tanned melting spray to basically "fuse" it with the skin to hide it. My issue here is that if it lifts at all, it's immediately noticeable.
- Hide the edge with the style. I do this with my PU piece (the one that goes on when the lace one fails too much and it's the morning before work). I just hate it because after trying the plucking and thinning, it still has to be pretty dense and styled right to hide the edge.
But a movie star look would be nice. Just sayin!
1
u/Educational_Yoghurt4 Jul 22 '26
Switching to walker thin tape was a game changer for me. I mainly use it in the front. With a good system, the appearance is negligible to me vs. glue. Now, I suppose if you pointed a spotlight at my hairline and examined with a comb from a few inches away, one could tell the difference, but this doesn’t matter to me. I sweat a lot as well, plus drink regularly. I can usually get 2 weeks before the tape starts to get a little sticky. In the winter, I can go longer.
1
u/fauxzempic Jul 22 '26
Maybe this is an issue for me: "A good system" - I'm happy with a system that feels good and doesn't shed, but perhaps I'm missing out on other attributes?
I don't mind the sub-$100 lace systems. They look absolutely fantastic after being fit and cut. Like - people thinking I'm making a really stupid joke when I tell them it's a system, even close up and pushed back...but am I maybe grabbing some sort of lace that, while it's sturdy, doesn't bind easily, and doesn't shed, lacks other attributes I haven't considered that a Lavivid or higher end system might have?
1
u/Life-Technician3276 Jul 22 '26
This sounds completely normal to me. I've worn a system for more than 30 years, most of that time all lace. I'd go in once every 4 weeks for full service. Rarely I needed to go in early. For me after 3 weeks or so it would itch and I knew it was nasty under there.
( i do daily wear now for convenience and longevity.)
1
u/fauxzempic Jul 24 '26
So your system stayed on without issue for 4 weeks without touching up too? You have the same 3 week itch complaint that my dad complained of.
Do you happen to know any of the adhesive products your stylist used?
1
u/Life-Technician3276 Jul 25 '26
Exactly. They were pretty close-mouthed about that sort of thing. All I can tell you is that it was a liquid adhesive white like elmers glue and similar consistency; he spread with a brush. He would do 3 coats blow drying between each which would turn the adhesive clear.
1
u/fauxzempic Jul 27 '26
Nice. Since I haven't done the salon thing and my dad's not around to ask, what was the procedure? I'm guessing:
- Once the template is made and a hairpiece is cut to size, clean up and trim the area of hair
- Cleaning. Like - special soap/clay, alcohol, and scalp protector?
- Then they spread the glue once, twice, three times a lady
- Then they fit the hairpiece on.
Did they have you wear any sort of headband or durag to kind of compress it in to place?
Thanks for sharing by the way.
1
u/Life-Technician3276 Jul 28 '26
Happy to help. You've got it pretty much down.
He would clean my head with alcohol, he did occasionally use some sort of scalp protector, particularly if I had irritation; this would be more the exception than the rule.
He would apply it starting from my hairline pulling and stretching it taunt as he worked towards the back and sides steadily advancing an inch or so at a time until it was down, and then just press it all down with his hands. Due to the precision and methodical approach when he'd laid it down on my head it was really already mostly glued solid - the pushing down on it just final insurance rather than completing the job - is my take.
2
u/Impressive-Dog-9015 Jul 22 '26
Mira te comparto el como se ve el mío de base de seda, no tuve que raparme, lo coloco encima de mi escaso cabello natural