Balamouti:

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I USE 2 DIFFERENT TYPES OF GLUES!
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Since ST-30 disappeared, I've been using two glues
(as neither one provides a strong enough hold for my
skin chemistry by itself)

First, I (or Di Di) applies a thin layer of Walker Safe Grip ....
Let Dry till tacky.. and then apply a Layer of Ultra Hold ....

I have never been caught (but who knows what people
think) ... although my hair is long and my piece's hair
is combined with my own long hair ...

So it's not what people are used to seeing as far a
hairpiece length and Di Di always make
sure my natural hair and the piece are touched up
during the maintenance procedure ...

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THE BANDANA SOLUTION
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I toss and turn a lot during the night ....

I also have parrots with a predilection for dive bombing
and dropping loose turds on my head if I don't give them
attention ..

So Di Di (or maybe it was in a tip on a back Toplace Post on
BA's old Forum), the post read 'to minimize wear and tear
during your sleep, wear a bandana (A dollar biker special)'

.. and I do that at night as I live alone ....
(otherwise someone might think they're waking up with
a crazy Arabian Ali Baba in bed next to them).

In the morning (depending on how many days after
maintenance has gone by, I gently blow dry the
piece and my real hair and if it has come up in
the front, clean with some alcohol and reapply
the two glues ....

I can go about 2-3 weeks before the glue gets
crappy, hair color starts to fade a bit .. and I
need maintenance ....

and when I shower with the piece on (every 2 days),
I wash with color treated formulated shampoo and
conditioner ... and then put on Sally's generic version
of Infusium 23 ... which seems a better product
for me than the original name brand product ....

As far as a blonde unit, yes ... they all were ordered
that way from TopLace and then dyed.

But I recently got back a repaired piece where the factory
didn't follow the instructions and put dark hair when replacing
the front..

Di Di's having a job of it to bleach the knots ...
I'm just glad I don't have to do it ...

I hope that answered your questions ... I'm not the expert
like many on here ... I know what I need to do and then
rely on DiDi to do the time consuming stuff.

balamouti Wrote:Didi was very wise to order a blonde unit (probably unprocessed). She dyed it dark brown making the knots invisible.
I just got a piece from hollywoodlace.com just to experiment and play with. . .
I used the Jerome Russel bleaching product on it several times. Those knots are impossible to bleach. It seems the factory has dyed the hair (dark brown) with some super dye! Argh,
There is no way I'm wearing that! I have to admitt the base when sunk into the ultra hold glue does dissappear. But all those black dots are off the hook.
So, i did some mad scientist experiments and cut a couple of 2x1 inch pieces off the unit to experiment with glues and tapes.
The ultra hold is very strong. But, oh boy it absorbs all kinds of airborne dust and turns dirty at the hairline quick.
I slept with it and it got very dirty on the edges. I will try tape later.

Count, What kind of attachment do you use for the front these days? Have you ever been "caught" wearing the piece?
Do you always get a blonde unit and dye it dark brown? What's your morning routine like?

Thanks a bunch,
Balamouti.