Hi Kevin --just read your post. I`m in Ireland and while I have been wearing hair pieces for a long number of years, of various materials, I am new to `Toplace` and have just ordered a stock -piece to keep me going while I make a template [which I just did tonight] and send that to USA in order for a custom -made unit to be made/sent to me. Don`t be in the least bit afraid of `joining the club` --- you`re in the right place here and any advice you want /need will be provided. If you go to one of these hair -replacement salons, not alone will they keep you in the dark about how easy it is to care for your unit and also about re -attaching it, but they will cost you a fortune. My existing unit I bought from a supplier in Dublin ---it`s made in Germany and took 3 months to arrive. It`s 40% Human hair and 60% Fibre. It cost almost 1000Euros --which is almost the same price [now] in sterling ! While it is very easily maintained with very little washing required, I , like you , find that in the 12 months since I got it, have found my own hair continuing to thin at the back and sides and the difference in density between my own and the unit is now noticeable, so I have ordered a unit with less density and more length at the back to help blend in. My advice to you would be , source a salon near you in Scotland [in the Yellow pages] that supplies wigs for women or chemotheraphy patients --they will have some experience of styling in hairpieces ---- in fact, if you order the correct density in the first instance, practically any good stylist should be able to style it for you as there should not really be any need for thinning it out. It would really not be much different than if anyone went in there with long hair and wanted it cut/styled shorter --the only trick is to position the front of the unit at the actual start of the hairline and then ``roll`` it back across the scalp ---- it`s very easy with welded mesh bases --the lace [by it`s nature ] would be much less ``rigid`` and a little trickier as you need to anchor it with adhesive from the off ---with the welded mesh bases which have a polyurethane perimeter you can just pop on a little double -sided tape front and back and perhaps a little at the sides just to hold it in place while it`s being styled ---- obviously the lace bases are not as rigid and need to be anchored more or less in the final position-- ie once it`s styled, you won`t be taking it off again immediately. My scalp is oily and hot [although generally I don`t have oily skin] so I need to clean my scalp every day so I just put a little rectangle of tape on front and back and that`s quite enough to hold it in place even on very windy days --there`s no need to have the thing taped all the way around --- I just take it off at night and pop it back on in the morning after my shower. I know some people can get away with leaving the unit on for a lot longer but just for hygiene, I like to pop it on /off daily. Also, it`s not too good to wash the hair too often ---you can clean around inside the unit where it`s in contact with the scalp just to remove sweat [the acid in sweat will eventually rot /damage/ cause holes in the poly perimiter if not cleaned --just a little soapy water on a clean cloth or a cleaning fluid which I`m sure is available through the site here. When I used all -human hair last, I only ever used watered -down Johnsons baby shampoo or Lòreal shampoo for Coloured hair about once a week [they are definitely the mildest ] You can also get pump -action leave -in conditioners from good hair salon suppliers --- try not use too many gels and waxes as they can build -up and are hard to get out of the hair eventually.
Finally [I didn`t mean to rabbit -on so long! ] take the plunge --you`ll never look back and if you want any tips, just post here --if I can help I`ll be happy to or other posters will too I am sure -- cheers mate. Paul.