How short can I keep my sides while wearing a system? I am using American Conair clippers and hey have #'s 1-8 with 1 being almost shaved. I have seen some pics with really short sides but doesnt the system need to "blend in" with longer growing hair? Thanks!

I taper up from a no.1 to 3. I think it depends on the style , its does need to blend in but as long as there is no visible step i thinks amazing what you can get away with..

The idea is for the replacement hair to blend in with your natural hair as much as possible.
Hence most people go with a graduated cut, tapering from 1-3 as suggested by Sagem.

However, others do a buzz cut to their natural hair with a 'step' being created by the replacement hair.
Its a radical style and not for everyone, but with little to no natural hair showing, there is no need to 'blend'.

This old thread of Reubin and his system might give a few ideas..... just [ no pun] off the top of my head I think it`s a skin `island` with a lace strip all the way around ...it`s excellently -done and very very impressive. I`m sure John could provide specs/guidance if anyone wanted to try it out......
http://www.forum.toplace.com/showthread....lac+island

I cant really go any lower than a 3 because my transplant scar will show, and then I cant really go over a 3-4 because my hair is frizzy and im afraid it wont match the top. So Ill have to constantly have to keep it at a 3-3.5 wich isnt a big deal I can just trim it down every time I de/re bond. No biggie . Now I just gotta get the wave pattern down (Ive seen a few people have been having problems with the wave match lately) and Ill be good to go, thanks guys youve been a big help Im almost there!

I have two huge scars on the the back from transplants , i was worried they would show but with this new slicked back look they dont notice so much. The first piece i had was short on the top so used i to spray the scars with topik.But now im more confident and dont mind if it shows a bit.

Yeah man it sucks I shaved my head once and everyone at my old job was like wtf happened to you?! I can touch it up with some couvre or toppik if need be but thanks man ill prob do the taper cut. I cant really do the shaved thing, its not me. Ill be on systems till I get really really old or a cure comes out. I dont care about the maitenance or the chance of getting spotted I care about looking good and feeling good if I have to take extra time to do so, so be it. Cheers.

I had my head shaved for years with scars fully exposed, i had real butchery done in the early 90´s , the doc´s back then were shit and the techniques barbaric .I just recently got fed up wearing a cap so grew the sides and back longer then ordered a piece. Should of done it years ago , but like many i just assumed any false hair would look like a bad rug . I was wrong.