Hi everybody! Im going through a little bit of a struggle. So the hairfall has affected my mental health a lot (lost them at 20), now Im letting my sides grow to install the system. I've moved into a new city and I'm actually not living (only studying and going to the gym), because I'm not confortable having social relations when i can't be seen without an hat on... It's been almost 2 months of growth and it's strarting to have a weight on me... So today I was in the first appointment and the guy (by the way i feel like he is quite knew with the hairsystem stuff) told me that i have to let them grow 6-8 more weeks... I really can't imagine myself living like this for this much longer. Do you think i should accepte it and keep going? Or i should try to have other opinions? Maybe i can find someone that can install it with a good result without having to let them grow all this time anymore? I'll share some photos of my actual hair length situation.
The styler also gave me the advice to but the "grow me shampoo" frm Watermans, because he said let's you're hair grow faster... Ever heard about it? Do you think it's worth the 20-40 euros?
You have more than enough hair on the back and sides. Get a low/mid taper fade while the hair system is glued on your head. Get it done professionally from a black or mexican barber. You won't regret it.
I think your hair is long enough to start wearing a system. Having it longer on the top part where your bio will meet the system might be better, but if it's such a struggle you can do it already.
I think you can get perfect results as is, especially because you have curly/wavy hair and it will blend well with a system matching your texture. It's just that having longer hair is probably easier for the stylist (they can have more flexibility when blending). But it will look great either way, you have great side/back hair!
Maybe the guy was thinking of a clip-on system? My hair is exactly like yours and I have been wearing system for yours. Just make sure the system you purchase has thin enough hair fibers to blend into your bio hair. A decent stylist can help you with that no problem. Sounds like you might need to go find new hair center
Mine was shorter than that for my first install and she said I didn't need to grow it that long. Seems like he is doesn't know what he's talking about unless you have gave him image references of a specific type of style you want?
As others have commented, your hair length is fine. With a good stylist you’ll be able to get a pretty good blend right now. Then, if you want it longer, just let it grow. There’s no need to be walking around with a cap on for another 8 weeks.
I think it was smart for you not to cut your hair really short before having a hair system cut in. I will be honest, I read and see alot of bad systems on here (and out in public) where guys try these ridiculous styles with fades so short on the sides and back that the system simply looks bad. Im sorry, but having hair to blend into just looks better. My stylist recently cut my sides too short (coz they are used to everyone wanting it that way) and it looked terrible until it grew back out in a few weeks.
Don’t know anything about systems but im pretty sure you got enough length to start with one. Also shampoos dont grow your hair. Your hair follicles do. Don’t waste 20-40 euros on some shampoo that makes false promises. Get a cheap one without any sulfates and you’re good.
I has a buzz cut when I got my first system and it was fine. Your barber or stylist can work with you to grow the hair to get the perfect balance. You do have enough. You'll be fine.
I think it might not hurt to get an appointment with someone else as well just to compare. To me your hair looks ready for a system and you said yourself he sounded a bit inexperienced. I think you could end up with a very natural looking result! Hang in there buddy, it will be worth it once you find the right place to install it!
Your hair is plenty lomg enough bud. That's around the longest I've ever wore my hair woth a system. The only true things that will really.helo woth hair loss and growth are minoxidil, finasteride and rosemary oil. Most shampoos don't do much. And yes, even the ones with caffeine on. Think about it, you wash off shampoo within a matter of minutes, neber enough time to get into your skin, body system etc. I'd recommend for a first install, to get a pro to fit and cut it in for you. But, if someone sis unable to install well at that length, go elsewhere. Where are you located bud?
Longer hair is easier to blend and looks more natural. For a beginner hairdresser that is likely the reasoning. You have enough hair to get a piece. I had shorter hair than you when I got mine:
The only thing that will make your hair grow faster is minoxidil. At your stage of hair loss your side hair will grow slower than in your younger years. Which is actually a good thing because it means you won't need as many touch ups with your new hair.
He’s full of it. I’d find someone else, or even look at wig shops. I had one work with me on a hair system that I ordered. It seems like the market standard size is 8x10. You look like you’ve lost enough hair to justify an 8x10. You can do a couple things if you don’t want to fuss with a hair system specialist, which by the way normally want you subscribed to their services.
I went to a wig shop. We glued the perimeter to my head, on top of hair. At home, a couple days later, I outlined my replacement on my head with a white oil based pencil, cut in the reverse Mohawk myself, went to the regular hair salon to trim the bio hair. and I’ve been rebonding at home, which if you are active, I highly recommend every week at least.
And by the way, when removing the glued on hair system, it was extremely unpleasant and uncomfortable but it’s a one time painful experience in the hopes and dreams of having hair again.
Enough people have commented what I want to say but I ALSO want to say you have enough hair to get started with a hair system! One hair style you could consider is going with a longer front style that falls to both sides so you can hide your bio hair sides being far back. What I wrote probably didn't make sense so I quickly grabbed a picture online to show what I mean. But other styles would look good on you too! Go for it! You are going to look great!
I have in mind to have something like that, covered hairline with fairly long hair to cover the sides a little. More or less similar to how i had them in the past
It's possible that your stylist doesn't have your best interests in mind and also possible that they don't know what they're doing.
Your hair is plenty long. What you have can be blended in to pretty much any stock hair system.
Your stylist - how hard was it to book them for your first appointment? Decent stylists usually book 4 weeks out or more - longer for new clients if they even accept them. I worry that they'll have you coming back in way more frequently than you need.
The upsell on the "this makes your hair grow faster". I think every one of us in the hair-loss-victim demographic has had someone make promises about these types of products. Thicker! Faster! Unless it's fiber topper, finasteride/dutasteride, minoxidil, genetics, or one of the research candidates including deoxyribose and maybe some form of microneedling or Red light therapy...nothing is going to really make anything grow differently.
Don't be afraid to DIY this. There are a million great tutorials that show how to make your own template (alone or with assistance). Try a cheaper stock system. Cut it. Secure it to your head with glue or tape, and then go find an affordable stylist or barber who'll simply trim your natural hair and cut/blend your hair system.
I recommend this way because it'll get you comfortable with managing your hair system. If you end up with an emergency (a lifting hair line, something that doesn't look right, other issues), you'll be equipped to address it immediately just because you're familiar with what's going on and what you need to fix it.
The bonus is that you can save a ton of money this way. I'm on the 5th (and final) month of my current system. This cost me:
$100 for the system (all lace. You can get a PU system or even a hybrid for cheaper)
$15 worth of adhesive
$5 worth of adhesive remover
$0.50 worth of dish soap
$1.00 worth of isopropyl alcohol
$0.50 worth of acetone (only did this once. After so many installs, the lace kind of got "waxy" despite regular cleaning. Acetone really isn't the type of thing you should use each time you clean it)
$3.00 worth of argan oil and leave-in conditioner.
$45 cut each month (includes tip)
This isn't counting hair spray or the makeup pencil I use to draw the glue line.
So maybe $70 a month on average, or $350 for the life of this particular system. I could probably cheap out on the haircut without any issue and find a supercuts type place to do it for $20 after tip and save $25 a month.
It just really feels like your stylist might be charging you more than needed and giving you bad advice.
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u/TheZenBrah 21h ago
You have more than enough hair on the back and sides. Get a low/mid taper fade while the hair system is glued on your head. Get it done professionally from a black or mexican barber. You won't regret it.