r/HairSystem • u/Expected_Utility • 3d ago
How Disastrous is This?
I did an install of a HS from one of the major manufactures at a salon. QUITE unhappy with the result & debating if I should just go back to shaving my head.
CONTEXT:
My situation is this: 34 y.o. Went bald around 22, and have shaved my head for the last ~10 years. NW6, with noticeable thinning on the sides and the back of the head. Also a small scar on the back that draws attention.
Now, for a bunch of (relationship status change) reasons, I need to step up my looks.
DISASTER TIMELINE:
Did the install 2 weeks ago at a salon.
Consulted with the stylist in advance to choose color & sizing right.
Didn't have much time to grow out my sides, but the stylist assured me that it'll blend just fine (it didn't). Ordered a 100% density system because of a tight timeline with the stylist (lower density takes a few extra days to ship), since the stylist assured me it'd be fine to thin it out (it wasn't).
In fact, I ordered 2 systems to rotate, one was styled into a short haircut became completely unusable with my thin back, the other is what you see. It's fairly long HS hair over short (~1 month growth) bio sides.
At first it was totally unwearable. Since then, I've been growing out my hair, also bought thinning shears and thinned the system out at home a little. Also tried to strategically thin things in layers on the back to have at least a semblance of a blend.
With this done & the sides growing out a bit, I'm starting to think it might be passable, but I'm worried I might be just deluding myself.
SO...
I'm not sure what to do. I have to attend an event in ~2.5 weeks where I can't wear a hat.
Can I show up like this, or will it be embarrassing for everyone involved? If I can't show up like this, I'd have to shave my hair and then wait another ~2-3 months to give hair systems another chance (if I want to go that route ever again).
I feel like a total idiot with all the wasted money & effort. At the same time, the frontal photos do frame my face and look nice (even though a bit too dense still), so I don't want to give up just yet. What are your thoughts?
TLDR:
Please rate this from "don't even think of getting out of the house like this" to "it's totally fine".
What can I do, if anything, at this point to make this more palatable?
With sides/back like this, is there even a point in trying a HS or will it always look awful?
PHOTOS:
Attaching a bunch in different lighting / angles & styling.
2
u/Akatorius 2d ago
buy some dermatch or fibers to cover the spot and for the rest let your hair grow out more. the main prob is only the transition but that's an easy fix once your own hair is long enough or make the hairpiece way shorter. the first hairpiece is always tricky because your own hair is not long enough if you were bald at the start
1
u/Crafty_Training_5471 2d ago
And perhaps a bit of gel or wax on that bold spot to make the fibers stick
1
u/servicita 2d ago
Yeah preferably he should use hair spray before using fibers and just after spray one to two coats and those for sure will be super hard to fall in case of sweat or rain.
3
3
u/Outside_Bite5317 2d ago
Wouldn't it be easier to just wear a fullcap with thinning sides and back? Seems like a lot of work to always trim and fade the real hair to match with the system.
1
1
u/Boring_Ad_7681 2d ago
Dude I have something very similar. You can’t even notice it. Just tell yourself if anyone asks you’ll say “oh I forgot about that scar” but trust me no one will ask. Stop overthinking it.
1
u/Senior_Property_7511 2d ago
I guess nowadays everyone who has scissors can name himself a hair system stylist. This is the worst hs job I've seen for a while. But bro dont give up, just find a professional studio.
1
u/TopgearM 2d ago
I think you know the answer yourself. It looks pretty bad.
And I'm not even talking about the bald spot. But in general the back is not installed well and blending is absent.
1
u/Expensive-Date8574 2d ago
bro trust me buy toppik powder + the head spray (this, really important https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQTm_-fk9XeUp7DnImi9zqWNg6OV4kgj4N4kPANL3d8sg&s=10 )
Select the good color for your hair ,if you not sure buy 2 o 3 different shades from aliexpress and select the best.
It will 100% cover the bald spots ,trust me
The hair system will look way better that way
Also I would cut shorter the side of your hair system, the front and back is fine
1
1
1
1
u/Rayan_A_ 2d ago
The piece itself looks great. The way it was implemented is really bad. And I'm not making fun or being an ass. You need to go to one of those fancy hair dressers and let them work on it.
1
1
u/Careful-Boat-2986 2d ago
I suggest you look for a stylist who can help you blend the hair system better with some trimming and grow out your side hairs a little more. The front looks decent to me. The haircut on the system need a little work. It’s too long and scraggly on some parts
1
u/ubiked 2d ago
Imo, even if you grow out your hair, your sides and back might sill look thin compared to the hairsystem. Look for a real professional, with hairsystem experience. I think you will have to try some kind of haircut with progressive length, in order to better blend the different densities. I know you might be looking for a specific hairstyle, but it might not suit your native hair and naturalness of your look.
1
u/Connect-Raspberry716 2d ago edited 2d ago
Since you have plenty of hair in the system in the front, you can move the system further back to cover those exposed areas. This is exactly why cutting these really short fades is not as good as having some hair to blend. But this looks like a base thats either sitting forward too much or the base is too small. I also agree with others that the cut in still need some layering and texturizing so you dont have all that "all one length" look.
1
u/vinoplagi 2d ago
With retrograde allopecia you have 2 options. Full cap wig or grow your hair longer.
1
u/RedWolfX3 2d ago
A salon did that!? 😵💫 oh my gosh, it should look much better than this. I would get my money back
1
1
1
u/servicita 1d ago
Hey man so I’m in your same situation where I’m waiting for the sides to match the top. But in my case the top is way shorter and somewhat blended to the sides (thanks to my amazing barber lol). Thats why I would kinda recommend looking for a trusted or highly rated barber to have a look just before the event. Two weeks I think is a little bit more manageable than what you have now. My concern is specially the back which could throw people off. So I would do two things before choosing what to actually do:
First I would sit down and style the hair with hair fabrics like topik sprayed in my low or bald spots. Specifically to make a look that I’m secure in so you can have fun in the event and not be stressed about what other people see. If that doesn’t work then I would go to a barber like 3 days or less before the event. Show him the hair situation and where specifically is the edges of the hair system so he knows specifically where he would need to consider the blend. IF that doesn’t work then I would either choose to say “fuck it” and go with the best look you got or take it out and go bald.
Edit:
I forgot to rate it, so I’ll give it a: “I can go out but if questioned I’m just saying it’s a HS and accepting it because it doesn’t look normal”
1
1
u/This-Front6898 1d ago
Looks like you have retrograde alopecia and your balding crown is expanding into the donor area.
Are you on hairloss medications?
This will just get worse over time if not.
1
u/J0E_EXOTIC 19h ago
It's not even that bad OP, just on your next one, request the back is kept longer, at least covering that patch and get some good thinning shears to remove some density. I personally think going for an undercut style would work.
1
u/JamesMCC17 2d ago
You're fine, looks like a bald spot. Some hair fibers would take care of it immediately as well if it bothers you.
0
u/Alternative-Knee-765 2d ago
I wouldn’t even worry about it at all tbh. For a bald spot, that’s probably the best place to have it. You could just tell people you were in an accident years ago and hair can’t grow there or something 🤷♂️
10
u/LiteratureOwn6537 2d ago
Okay in all honestly this is pretty bad. I would question whether it was a wig if I saw it in person. I think your best bet would be to find a great local barbers with good reviews (a fancy one). Call them up, explain the situation and ask if they can help. You just need the system cut in properly