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+--- Thread: attachment tips needed (glue and lace) (/showthread.php?tid=1048)
attachment tips needed (glue and lace) - NotGuilty - 03-23-2009
How do you guys ensure an attachment that's lined up correctly and flush with the shaved/bald area? The method I've been using is this:
Once glue is dry I press the front of the hairpiece down in what I think is the middle of my forehead, let it sit for a few seconds, then I pull in both directions - laterally and in a downward motion - and push down lightly, every two inches or so. I keep doing this motion until I get to the back and it's done. This works ok for me, but I'm not 100% at it. Often I get one side overlapping my real hair and thus screwing up my attachment. Like right now I have my left side and left/back part of my lace hanging over my real hair by about 1/4". I hate the feeling when after I pressed it down and i feel that edge and realize I screwed it up and don't know how to start over w/o completely starting over and wrecking my scalp by removing fresh glue and reapplying.
What's a good method to ensure a higher rate of getting it flush with my shaved area? Btw, I checked and the base shape/size is the same as the shaved area so that's not the issue.
Also, when I do realize that I screw up the attachment like this, is there an easy way to pull the piece off and try again w/o having to clean up all the Ultrahold and completely start over? It's been about 24 hours now, do I have to remove the piece and glue and completely start over?? ouch
Re: attachment tips needed (glue and lace) - DebbieS. - 03-23-2009
some people make a mark on their forehead and place the piece just behind it.....then remove the mark after the piece is on.
If you are new to this , and only overlapping your own hair on one side by 1/4 inch, you are doing very well.!! there is a learning curve to this, the more you do it, the more accurate you will become. if your piece is the right size, and it sounds like it is, you could try applying one side first and then laying it down side to side, if one side lines up perfectly , then the other side should fall in the right place....unless you are stretching it a bit too much.
DebbieS.
Re: attachment tips needed (glue and lace) - hairagain - 03-23-2009
I glue or tape around the perimeter and leave the front clean then I attach the back and sides. I flip the front up (like a hood of a car) and apply the glue, let it dry and the flip it down to get a nice all around attachement. You should also try the Re-align product from Debbies site, You spray it on your glue/tape BEFORE you place in on your head, it sort of temporarily stops the stickyness for about 30 seconds so you have time to move things around. It seems like it ruins the bond but it dries and the bond is then normal.
Re: attachment tips needed (glue and lace) - NotGuilty - 03-23-2009
Thanks for the quick responses.
I know that you can spray alcohol on your head and base and that gives you a few seconds to move the piece around to get it positioned, then the alcohol evaporates and you are past the point of no return. I haven't done this but will try. The reason I didn't want to do it like that is that I want to get a nice, tight, flush attachment (like MB does in his video where he stretches the base a little) and I figure if you just lay the piece on your head you run the risk of getting bubbles and wrinkles. Maybe I'll try your method, hairagain. The only thing I worry about is after you attach the back and sides, do you get bubbles/wrinkles at the hairline? That would be my fear. That I'd lay the front down into the glue and realize that it's not stretched enough in other areas. Know what I mean?
Debbie, thanks for the compliment for not being off to badly. I did, in fact, make marks at the hairline based on a duplicate template I made. I glued the area above the marks and did a nice job there. The problem is knowing where the center of the hairline on the lace is, not on the scalp - I could see the center on my scalp with the mark I made. Obviously what I think I did is I missed the center by 1/4" and that's why it overlapped on the one side (either that or I stretched the piece too much and need to shave more area to account for the stretching I'm doing) - or a combination of the two (lol). I wonder: is there a way to mark the center of the the lace at the hairline, and line that up with the mark I made on my forehead? And then be able to wash away the mark on the lace so it doesn't look weird and draw attention to my hairline? That way if I'm still overlapped I know I'm stretching it and need to shave more area. I'm really trying to dial in on these attachments cuz when I get this thing flush there's no detecting it by touch, let alone by site. It's so awesome when you rub your hand and fingers all around your head and you feel nothing. The transition is seamless. A lot of chicks will rub their hands through your head (especially if you have nice hair haha) and I just don't want a nail grabbing an edge. If it happens so be it, but obviously it's not a situation I desire.
Thanks again guys
Re: attachment tips needed (glue and lace) - DebbieS. - 03-23-2009
I understand what you are saying....it sounds like you are doing everything right.....and yes, you can make somekind of mark on the underside of the lace to mark the "middle".....I have a client that marks the back of her piece with a sharpie marker....it doesn't show from the other side . (she has a small piece with no crown and no tag, all lace....so sometimes determining front from back is a challenge).
so perhaps a very small marking with a sharpie right on the base will be a good trick for you. it really sounds like you have your act together and that you know what you are doing and what you want to achieve....and you may be right about needing to either shave a tiny bit more hair OR trimming the base down a bit.....with the stretch factor of the lace, to make it meet up exactly right. I think MB once said he actually makes his pieces 1/4" smaller than his bald area and then stretches to accomodate...giving a nice snug fit.
DebbieS.
Re: attachment tips needed (glue and lace) - hairagain - 03-23-2009
NotGuilty,
I have gotten a bump or crease in the past but with using the Re-align, which gives me some time, it is not a problem.
I wear my hair in a medium length, around 3.5 to 4 inches. It is side parted and falls to the side. I show a crisp realistic part and hairline only near the part because of the length and conservative style. If I have a miss-hap, its only a problem if it is on or near the part. I think having the very short and almost crew cut style looks great on some peoples but I have always worn my hear in some version of what I have now, tweaked for the times lets say. I think with it being shorter, you really have to attach perfectly.
Re: attachment tips needed (glue and lace) - NotGuilty - 03-23-2009
btw, I like the side to side idea. I might try that as well.
One last question: is there anything I can do to salvage the glue from a recent (like within a few hours) attachment? In other words, is it possible to remove the piece and reapply w/o having to remove and reapply all the glue?
Re: attachment tips needed (glue and lace) - BA707 - 03-23-2009
The centre of your hairpiece should line up with the centre of the bridge of your nose, Get that part right and the rest will line up as long as the piece is made to a template to cover the same size balding area on each side.
Re: attachment tips needed (glue and lace) - hairagain - 03-23-2009
You could try spritzin with 99 alcohol? that might reactivate the glue, I can't say I have tried to get it to work after taking it of, I like a clean start...