Hi Paris..... how good is your side and back hair ? If it`s still pretty ok [density-wise] it would be a shame to just shave it all off over a colour issue. I guess shades of blonde and browns can be tricky to get spot-on, even with the best efforts....that is one of the advantages of Fullcaps--the hair is a uniform colour all over, and will also, oxidise , over time, at a uniform rate. I wouldn`t worry too much about getting precentages nailed to the last ....a few pics enclosed with the order showing both style and density you`d like will help get you what you want...... as for keeping some of your hair..yeah I kept just a little bit at the side-burn area and a bit at the back [nape] ... at this point, it wouldn`t matter if I got rid of the nape bit at all..the system covers it entirely anyway.... I think I`ll keep the little bit at the side-burn area but the fact that it`s there at all, doesn`t affect my template-size at all ... I just made a template as if I had no hair at all....where the perimeter sits in front of the ears on the side of the face there, ..well I have shaved the bit of growing hair off..there`s just a little bit immediately `` below`` the edge of the template...... I have plenty pics. I can send you if you`d like to see.... drop me an e-mail to martrans [at] utvinternet.com it`s faster than posting them here ..... some I have posted here in the past as you`ll have seen, but I have others and don`t want to fill the thread with them ! Have a think about it though..... Fullcap wearing has it`s own issues compared to Toppers...nothing too major though. As for the base, I`ve always worn all -French lace on the fullcap...the first week it was a bit itchy ... I think that was purely because the skin there had never been shaved before and was a bit `raw`..the slightly coarser French lace[ compared to Swiss] was a bit `irritating`to the skin...it settled down tough...... as for a Swiss-front bit ---well, depends if you want to wear and `exposed` front hairstyle..... I find the French lace to be no more noticeable than Swiss..... some guys wear all-Swiss on their fullcaps.....but the side-burn/temple flaps would need to be reinforced [double-layered] because they can weaken and tear over time from the `pressure` of removals.....that part of the system can be prone to `stress` as you have to pull them `down`a bit tight when bonding...... hope that helps, and drop a line if you wish...Paul.