Howdy...welcome to the forum. There is a lot of information on `old`threads/posts, but yeah it can be time-consuming and maybe a bit confusing for total newbies..... don`t stress too much over this game...it IS a big step to take, but it needn`t be a huge ordeal either. There are a myriad of products on sale on loads of sites, both for bonding and maintaining, and it can be difficult to know where to start ! Some things are a `must-have`, others are more of a personal choice and a bit of trial-and-error to see what works well for you. Your initial `set-up` costs can be on the high side, but once you get `going` in the wearing, they last quite a while....such as glue.....only applied sparingly and thinly, so a bottle can last months ! Only problem can be , if you shell -out for a particular one, and then find it doesn`t do the job you require and you have to try another..... how a glue and/or tape `works` varies from person to person and is influenced by your local climate, and individual physiology.... if you have an oily scalp or tend to sweat easily will have a bearing on what way bonding products will `behave`for you. Tape is relatively cheap, glues can be pricey. Debbie`s site gives a little synopsis alongside each one and gives the strength-rating and expected bond-duration ---again, these are all subject to `local` factors. A lot of guys use the [strong] glue known as `Oil Resistant White Glue` [ Google it for suppliers] and report good results with it....might be a good idea to start out with that. You may not need to have to bleach knots...the factory is supposed to bleach them at the front and crown --recently some guys have reported issues with visibility..hopefully that has now been resolved... again it depends on the style you wear and the colour of the hair and it`s density...darker thicker systems are not going to show any knots really....lighter colours and lighter densities can obviously allow more `visibility` and if knots are not properly bleached, it then becomes an issue.. no point buying a bleaching kit if you don`t actually need one..wait until the system is in your hand and you can see it....
As a starter, you`ll need 2 bottles of Lace-release [as you`ll use that a lot] a bottle or two of Glue-melter such as `Pure`, I`d definitely get a bottle of a Citrus-based glue Solvent such as C-22, or De-solv-it [you can Google them] a few rolls of tape [varying strengths] a good glue such as the ` ORWG` I mentioned and maybe an `alternative `one, just to have a `fall-back`..the white glues are usually popular ..the acrylic glues can be a little trickier to apply, but not majorly-so, get a bottle of knot-sealer, and a shampoo and conditioner [preferably specifically formulated for system hair] and a leave-in [spray-on conditioner] for daily maintenance. A decent hair Serum can be very useful for if/when hair feels a bit dry...even with the best care-routine, the texture can go a bit `off`..a Serum can help combat that. Some supplier-sites have very comprehensive ranges ...literally everything from a needle to an anchor, others have a more limited range ..this can increase your costs due to shipping costs incurred by ordering from several sites. If you Google ``PPI Enhance hair conditioner`` you`ll get a list of suppliers...it`s one I use all the time and it`s great--simply spray it onto damp hair and allow to dry -in .... it`s quite cheap and goes a long way, and doesn`t build up on the hair. Hope that helps.