Secure Silicon Adhesive	Extended Wear Adhesives formulated for bonding Hairpieces and Wigs to skin up to 6 weeks.
VAPON Silicon Adhesive	Extended Wear Adhesives formulated for bonding Hairpieces and Wigs to skin up to 6 weeks.
Ultra Hold Adhesive	Extended Wear Adhesives formulated for bonding Hairpieces and Wigs to skin up to 6 weeks.
Invisi-Bond Adhesive	Extended Wear Adhesives formulated for bonding Hairpieces and Wigs to skin up to 6 weeks.
SafeGrip Adhesive . . . .	Extended Wear Adhesives formulated for bonding Hairpieces and Wigs to skin up to 6 weeks.

DAILY WEAR ADHESIVE
Mity-Tite Adhesive .	Extended Wear Adhesives formulated for bonding Hairpieces and Wigs to skin up to 10 days.
Liqui Tape Adhesive	Toupee Tape and Adhesive touch up.
Skin Shield

Posted By: sexibeach
Date Posted: Mar 9, 2008 at 4:35pm

A Step-by-step for Detangling Your Hair System:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PYx_HQVyxXg

Michigan Baldy DVD Preview :

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dEKEMBp9xCI

Mirror Slide for Hair Systems from The Michigan Baldy DVD:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PdiCp43WLM0

Cleaning the Front Hairline of your Hair Replacement System :

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OPWOzOfB4iE

Posted By: sexibeach
Date Posted: Mar 9, 2008 at 4:53pm

When Removing my Lf:

i put my alcohol that is 99% or 91%, and goo gone as my remover in two spray bottles that helps with everythang.. especially when my hands get sticky i spray them off. i also use both to spray on my lace to clean off the glue when removing, and it makes it pretty much roll off and use a soft toothbrush to remove the glue.. when i remove my unit and do my hair treatment and let my hair air dry over night, i use A & D Zinc Oxide cream on my skin where my unit is usually applied to keep my skin healthy and not chapped from wearing my unit it heals anything overnight..

Here is one site that shows how to make a template.

http://site.denovohair.com/images/Making-a-Head-Template.pdf

When applying my Lf:

this is what i do to apply my lf...i apply one layer of Mr. C's in the front and the back around the circumference, first let it dry for 2 minutes, then i apply a coat of the mity tite .. (sometimes while i'm waiting i got my unit prep with the tape on the unit at the nape and sides to apply once i get all the glue on, lately i've not needed any tape..) then after a coat of base bond or Oil Resistant White Glue (ORWG www.coolpiece.com ) dries until its clear, which only takes a minutes, i apply the base bond or ORWG as the final and last glue..

(i make my wig cap out of sheer nylon stockings, while my glue is getting tacky i apply the wig cap infront of my natural hairline on the skin of my forehead, b/c it has to look like continual skin meeting skin.. i take a couple of small pieces of tape and apply to the sides in front of my hairline edges and that way the cap can stick to the tape on the sides.. then i take and apply another thin coat of basebond in front the wig cap b/c thats where i'm going to place the hairline of the unit..every thing goes in front of my natural hairline, first the wig cap and then the units is placed in front of the wig cap.. ) now i just use the Sally Hansen Spray and not the Wig Cap.

then i pin the baby hairs back with hair clips, apply the front of the unit first around my face area, tie it down with the back clipped upwards not to touch the nape of my neck with tape still in the paper on the back of the tape b/c i'm not ready to apply it yet..then i wait about 5 min. tied down..while i'm waiting for the front that's tied down to dry some, i apply a coat of ORWG to the nape on top of the Mity Tite, and let that dry for that 3 min period while the front is tied down.. once i remove my scaf then i start to peel off the paper from the back tapes, b/c now the Mr. C's and ORWG at the nape is dry, then i can pull down the back and stick it to the tape and the glue is holding like heeck.. tie the whole circumference of my hairline down once again, wait another 20 to 30 minutes and then i'm all set to go.. my application time is less than 10 min.. in the beginning it takes a while to learn and sometimes hours to apply but take your time you'll learn and get it perfected with each application..

Posted By: sexibeach
Date Posted: Mar 10, 2008 at 2:22pm

PREPARE YOUR SCALP BEFORE ATTACHING YOUR WIG:

It is important that your scalp stay clean and free of oily buildup while you're wearing a hair system. This way, your scalp stays healthy and there is less chance of an oder problem, caused by perspiration, while you are wearing the unit.

Before you put your hair system on, cleanse your scalp using an astringent of approximately 70%-75% isopropyl alcohol. This should cleanse the pores and eliminate oil and perspiration.

If you use tape or a liquid adhesive to atach your unit, it can irritate your scalp over a prolonged period of time. I recommend using a product by Smith + Nephew called Skin Prep which will protect your skin from irritation caused by the adhesives. By applying it to your skin first, it forms an invisible barrier between your skin and the tape or adhesive. This way all of the pull stress is on the barrier, and not your scalp.

If you experience any irritation or prolonged redness even while using Skin Prep, you should try using a different adhesive or attachment method to prevent infection

USING FOUNDATION TAPE IN CONJUNCTION WITH NORMAL TAPE ATTACHMENT:

When using tape to attach your hair system, the foundation material has to absorb a lot of stress each time you pull the tape off and reapply it. Over time, this can cause the material to tear and the knots of the hair to unravel.

By using foundation tape you can protect the foundation materiel from excessive stress. Here's how it works:

You start by cleaning your tape patch areas with isopropyl alcohol to remove any oil or residue. Then you apply a strip of foundation tape to the patch area. This foundation tape stays on the unit for a month or more of constant wear. Your regular double-sided tape is applied on top of the layer of foundation tape. This way, each time you change your tape through the normal course of wear, the stress of changing it is put on the foundation tape and not the foundation material or tape patch. It also prevents tape residue from building up in the knots of the hair.

TIP: To keep the foundation attached through shampooing and longer wear, apply a smal piece of lace front support tape under it. This will keep the foundation tape secure even longer.

ATTACHING OUR WIG USING A DOUBLE-SIDED TAPE:

There are several different types of double-sided tape on the market today, but they really boil down to three types.

1) Standard double-sided transparent

2) Red Liner (used for bonding and extended situations)

3) Blue Liner (Lace Front Support tape)

The following are a few tips on how to use each type of tape. The applicaton for each is more or less the same, but each type has its advantages and disadvantages, so think carefully about which type of tape is best for your lifestyle.

STANDARD DOUBLE-SIDED TRANSPARENT TAPE:

To use the standard transparent tape, always start by first using foundation tape as mentioned earlier. Standard transparent tape only lasts about three days, so it will be changed often. This will put a lot of stress on the foundation material if you don't use foundation tape. Once you have the foundation tape in place, now you can appiet he double-sided tape and position the unit on your head.

Special tips: Once you press the tape down onto your scalp it will be difficult to reposition the unit. To alleviate this problem, just slightly dampen your scalp with water wherever the tape will make contact. This will give you a few seconds to adjust the position of the unit on your head before the tape starts to stick.

After putting the foundation tape o the base material apply the double-sided tape to the patch areas. It will be easier to apply if you remove only one side of the tape backing until after the tape is in place.

RED LINER TAPE:

Red Liner tape is most commonly used for bonding a unit ffor extended wear. It is applied around the perimeter of the unit and a liquid bonding adhesive is then applied on top of the tape to bond the unit to your head. There are many types of bonding adhesives out there, and most of them are better left to the professionals. You should only bond your unit if yourself if you completely understand the process and have worn a bonded hair replacement system before.

Red Liner Tape can also be used by itself to attach your unit. It is stronger than standard transparent tape, and will usually last about one week before it needs to be changed.

BLUE LINER (LACE FRONT SUPPORT TAPE):

Lace front support tape is the strongest double-sided tape available for wigs and hair pieces. It can easily be recognized by the blue backing and the words "lace front support tape" printed on the opposite side. The tape itself is transparent like the others.

This tape will generally last about two weeks before it needs to be replaced, and it will stick to any type of foundation material.

Lace front support tape can be used on all lace foundations but should only be used in specific areas where, such as the temples and the hairline. These are the areas where it is most important that the lace lay perfectly flat against your skin. Small pieces of tape the size of a postage stamp are all that is needed. Position the tape around the front and back hairline and on the temples.

Special Tips: To remove the hair system when using lace front support tape, dab 99% alcohol at the hairline while slowly peeliong back the lace. As the lace begins to lift, dab the alcohol under the tape so that it releases from your scvalp but stays attached to the lace. If you use alcohol, you will notice that once the alcohol evaporates, the lace front support tape will reactive and be sticky again.

When positioning your hairsystem wet your fingertips to prevent the tape from sticking to them as you lay down the front lace.

REMOVING OLD TAPE BEFORE CLEANING:

Before shampooing your hair system, you should remove all of the tape and residue from the lace of your hair system. This is expecially important when you use lace front support tape.

Start by applying Adhesive Release or 99% isopropyl alcohol to all areas of the unit where the tape is applied. The best way to do this is by using a sponge tip swab, swabbing through the top of the lace onto the tape. It should only tape a minute or two for the tape to release its grip so that you can pull it away.

At the hairline, you should be extra careful, so the best method is to soak the front portion of the hair system in a shallow dish of adhesive release for 15 minutes. After that the tape should come right off.

If using an adhesive release other than alcohol be sure to flush out the lace with alcohol once you've removed the unit. This will eliminate the oily residue left by the release liquid. If you don't flush it out the tape won't stick when it is time to put your unit back on.

ATTACHING A HAIR SYSTEM USING CLIPS:

If you only have partial hair loss or if your hair has begun to grow back, tape may not be a practical method of attachment for you. In such cases, comb (wig) clips are an option. These are small clips that clip into your existing hair and snap shut to hold the wig in place.

Once you have clipped in your hair system, you should not feel the clip pulling your hair. If you feel it pulling, open the clip and snap it shut again. The clip is meant to bite the hair, not pull it tight.

Special Tip:

1) Every three months you should have your clips repositioned slightly so that they are not constantly putting stress on the same areas.

HOW TO POSITION YOUR WIG TO LOOK MOST NATURAL:

Keeping your unit properly positioned on your head each day is key. Here is a way to make sure the unit is positioned correctly on your head each time you put it on:

In order to determin how far back or forward it should be positioned on your head, always use the first four fingers of your hand as a guide. Place them against your forehead with your little finger right at your brow line. The hairline of the wig should touch the edge of your index finger.

For wilgs, it will be easy to tell if the wig needs to be adjusted to the right or left by placing one finger at the bottom of the sideburns of the wig once you've put it on. When you look in a mirror your fingers should be directly across from one another. If not, adjust the wig accordingly.

As a final check, place the first three fingers of your hand on your temples with your little finger at the corner of your eye. The hairline of the wig should be equal distance from the corner of your eye on both sides, and your three fingers will should whether to adjust it further.

USING LACE FRONT ADHESIVES:

If your wig has a lace front hairline, you can use a liquid adhesive to attach the lace to the skin. Liquid adhesives work better than tape n a lace front, because they make the lace lay completely flat against your scalp. Different adhesives react differently when applied to a person's skin and you should never continue to use a liquid adhesive that causes prolonged irritation to your scalp.

To properly apply a liquid adhesive to your lace front, first make sure that the wig or hair system is properly positioned on your head. Starting in the center of your hairline, gently lift the lace and apply a thin coating of the adhesive to your scalp front the front of the hairline to about an inch back. WOrk your way along the hairline in both directions until the entire hairline has a thin layer of glue under it.

Never press the lace down into the glue with your fingers. This will cause the hair to get matted up in the adhesive and it will look unnatural. Instead use the teeth of a wide toothed comb and press the lace flat against your scalp. Make sure that there are no ripples or edges of the lace sticking up when you're finished, and dab a little adhesive on those areas where neccessary.

REMOVING YOUR HAIR SYSTEM:

Using a cotton pad or sponge tip, dab 99% alcohol (or Adhesive Release) at the hairline while slowly peeling back the lace. As the lace begins to lift dab the alcohol under the lace so that it releases from your scalp.

CLEANING YOUR HAIR SYSTEM:

Always remember that the best way to clean your hair system is while it is off your head. When you wear a bonded hair system you will have to shower with it on but you should be extremely gentle, as this is not the ideal way to clean the unit.

The irst thing you need to do is remove all the tape or glue residue from the foundation. After a period of time it gets embedded in the lace and must be removed before you can shampoo the hair. Simply soak the lace areas where there is residue in a shallow dish filled with Adhesive Release or 99% alcohol for approximately 15 minutes. If you use adhesive release be sure to flush the lace with alcohol after soaking it.

SHAMPOOING A HUMAN HAIR WIG OR HAIR SYSTEM:

1) Using a rinse sprayer like you might have in your shower or at your kitchen sink, rinse the hair from about an inch away from the knot in the direction of the hair towards the ends and in the same direction the hair falls. Do this with cold water to avoid getting the foundation of the wig or the knots wet, which causes them to unravel and the hair to fall out more quickly.

2) Pin the wig to a wig head, pinning it all the way around the base so that it will keep its shape while drying.

Taking 1/2" thick sections about 3" wide between your fingers apply shampoo to the hair working from 1" above the knot and work the shampoo towards the ends of the hair. Do this until all the hair is shampoo. ONLY USE A SHAMPOO DESIGNED FOR COLOR-TREATED HAIR AND DILUTE IT WITH WATER.

3) Let the shampoo sit for no more than 60 seconds and repeat the rinse process being careful to remove all the shampoo.

4) Once all the shampoo is rinsed out, blot the excess water away from the hair with a towel.

5) Lightly wipe the inside of the base of the wig with a towel and then again with a sponge or cloth soaked in 99% alcohol. The alcohol will draw out any excess water or shampoo that has reached the knots, allowing them to dry quickly.

6) Put the wig on your head while it is still wet, making sure that the hairline is the width of the four fingers from the top of your eyebrows and that the temples are approximately three fingers' width from the corner of your eyes. Then slowly comb through the hair starting at tha ends and working towards the roots. Comb and style as you normally would. These steps will insure your wig will come out as you desire without any surprises. It is easiest to part the hair while it is wet to get the desired look.

WHEN THE HAIR SYSTEM IS NOT BEING WORN:

Always keep the wig or hair system pinned to a canvas block and/or wig head when not in use in order to maintain its shape. Make sure the block is the same size as the wig. If too small or too large it can cause the foundation material to stretch and the unit will start to fit improperly on your own head over time.

STYLING TIP:

To get the hair at the hairline to lay back, use a 1/2" strip of cardboard pinned on top of the back front while the hair is wet and allow the hair system to dry overnight. When the cardboard is removed you will see that it is much easier to style the hair back away from your hair line.

Posted By: sexibeach
Date Posted: Mar 10, 2008 at 2:35pm

this is a post i did b/c of too much product build up and its helpful for your natural hair to be able to hold moisture while wearing these units.. so:

there are many clarifying shampoo's on the market in the drugs store i even think suave has one that's very inexpensive.. with the ACV i use it straight on my natural hair, my momma use to use it as a rise when i was growing up... some dilute it with water.. i use 1/2 cup and pour it on massage it in and rise it out, and the secret is to rise it with cool water b/c it seals the cuticles...no shampooing afterwards..

the ACV is really deeper than you think for your own hair care, b/c it restores the porosity which is the measure of the hair's ability to absorb moisture...this is determined by the condition of the hair's cuticle layer (the overlapping scales of the hair shaft), and is rated as low, normal, and high. In normal, healthy hair, the cuticle is compact and inhibits the penetration of the hair shaft by moisture both moisture going in, and moisture coming out...when the cuticle is overly compact and prevents the penetration of the hair by moisture it has low porosity..to determine the porosity of your hair, simply feel it both when wet and when dry...if the hair feels straw like and rough when dry, or if it feels gummy or slightly rubbery when wet, then you probably have a problem with overly porous hair... if your hair is taking days to airdry. then your hair is good...No...it's Great, that means it's in really good condition....think of a sponge with holes in it...these holes would be called pores..when the sponge is fresh and new, it is able to absorb a good amount of water and hold the moisture inside very well..as the sponge ages, the pores (holes) become distorted, widen, and lose shape...these changes make the sponge super absorbent, yet less able hold the moisture it once could...the older sponge is said to be more porous or have greater porosity than the new sponge..

porous means that your your cuticles are raised, allowing more product to enter...cuticles raised is a bad thing, it makes your hair tangly, it makes your hair frizzy.. and it makes your hair act badly..hair mats up like dog fur when it's like this...what I read is that your hair's PH balance is out of wack, i think your hair becoming more acid, therefore raising the cuticle. Porosity control by Roux is a Ph balancing conditioner.... so anyone at any point can use it if their hair's Ph goes off, just by using daily styling products...even shampoo will throw your hair's Ph off...anyway...if your hair holds water, and dries evenly hours later, your hair is in great condition...my hair is now soaking up water and holding it like a sponge and that's what we really need wearing these units for weeks at a time.. i use porosity control conditioner by roux and they have a shampoo as well you can find at the BSS... you could use these products on both the unit and your natural hair.. after my AVC rise i use the porosity control conditioner so i dont' smell like vinger..lol we need to be able to keep our hair and the units hair moist, for our natural hair the only way to obtain length and stop breakage is by being able to keep our hair moist so its very important...

my journey is really for my natural hair treatments, and thinking of the lf's along the way.. when i posted about the silicon mix, its not in replacement of the bleach bath.. altho i'm still testing..

but its a preventive measure to keep the unit for a long time, and to use after giving a BB to your unit i think will greatly enhance your results..

but the hair on the lf's need moisture more than anything thing else in the world, b/c its no longer attached to a human follicle to receive the natural oils that come from a follicle.. that's why when it gets dried up its a problem, and the hair can break too, not to mention the tangling issues we have with the lf hair too.. and the silicon mix is the da bomb and does improve the hair greatly, one of the ingredients in the silicon mix is Ceramide which is very important, it is produced in human hair..

i started looking into the products for this particular ingredient b/c its produced in human hair.. so its very much needed to keep the hair in great condition..

Ceramide is a lipid (fat) found naturally in the hair. It is what keeps the hair shiny, strong and healthy.

I am not sure how it is produced by the body, but I would imagine that since lf hair is not attached to the body and cannot be replenished of lost proteins, vitamins and lipids, a good Ceramide treatment would bring the hair right back to life.

All hair types (curly, straight, wavy, and coarse) can benefit from their hair process. Due to the history of the Dominican Republic the population is pretty much mixed. Some are white like their European ancestors while others resemble their African antecedents. Then there are many that have mixed traits such as coarse hair and light skin or dark skinned with curly/wavy hair. This means that the products are fabricated maintaining everyone in mind.

So with that in mind, they have a few product b/c of the science and what human hair produces while attached to a follicle, i think would be great for the lf's one in particular is called Kan Kanechomn Ceramidas

The ceramids are the main lipides of the capillary structure, acting as a basis between the cuticle and the cortex, offering to the hair threads more resistance against external aggressions including frequent wash. The Capillary Renewer with Ceramids Kan Kanechomn has a formulation with a special combination of ingredients, giving your hair a complete restoring treatment for the damaged hair threads, offering conditioning, softness and nutrition to the hair.

http://store.sickbay.biz/kankacedecoc.html

This product promotes hydration, conditioning and malleability to the hair giving back the natural oil to the hair threads and recuperating the shine, softness and vitality. Directions: Upon washing your hair, apply this product with a smooth massage during 2 minutes. Then rinse the hair taking the excess off. In case of a bath cream, cover your hair with a tepid towel for 30 minutes. Using a thermal cap let the cream ...

This product was elaborated with medulla and silicone and acts as an hydrating cream forming a protecting pellicle, reducing the hair electrostatic load besides nourishing and regenerating granting smoothness, shine and softness to the crisp hair. Directions: Upon washing your hair, apply this product with a smooth massage during 2 minutes. Then rinse the hair taking the excess off. In case of a bath cream, cover your hair with a tepid

I think its the science of what a lf needs that will work well with either of these products to mix with the silicon mix. and of course b/c i have a little product junkie problems i've ordered everything and lots of other stuff i've not even posted about..lol mostly for my natural hair care but i wanted to report on the wonderful results of mixing the silicon with the cermidas it had wonderful results.. and i'm sure some skank will be selling this on ebay in the very near future.. but at least ya know the truth and i didn't want to keep the results from my BHM sista's.. here's the link to these products since the pictures aren't showing..

http://search.store.yahoo.com/cgi-bin/nsearch?catalog=yhst-2926993581959&query=Kan+Kanechomn+products&.autodone=http%3A%2F%2Fstore.sickbay.biz%2Fnsearch.html

Silicon Intense Treatment Mix is restoring old lf units and maybe removing the need for the bleach bath or as a preventive measure to avoid tangling units. I am working on finding a comparable product that will work with the silicon mix or just for lf's so that we can have a long life span with proper care of the hair. I recommend this additional treatment when doing the bleach bath to give a deep conditioning.. it can be used as a monthly treatment, but be sure to rinse a very long time to be sure to get all the conditioner out of the hair..

http://store.sickbay.biz/risimixcatr6.html

Posted By: charron08
Date Posted: Mar 10, 2008 at 4:18pm

Wow thanks sexi!..that was very helpful. Especially the part about the silicone mix !..thanks girl!!!$ Aedad0` ->4br -80`` %.!---%%!$%! )!(`r /.

Posted By: Koffee Brown
Date Posted: Mar 12, 2008 at 4:49pm

Dayummm.. The Sexi-ONE in da house dropping knowledge. Get your pens and pads ladies and start taking notes lol. Or for 2008-- get to copying/pasting in Word docs. LOL.

Thanks for sharing SexiBeach!
!

Posted By: Koffee Brown
Date Posted: Mar 12, 2008 at 4:50pm

Hey! Charron! !

Posted By: sexibeach
Date Posted: Mar 12, 2008 at 5:36pm

TWO ADDITIONAL VENDORS:

Name:CHUNHAI DIAO

email: info@goldenwigs.com

website: www.goldenwigs.com - slow site but he is good with email

Holly zhang

http://www.wigsandclosures.com/

Posted By: sexibeach
Date Posted: Mar 12, 2008 at 5:51pm

i found two new products...i've found some steri strips which is what i used when i had my full tummy tuck, yes i have a flat tummy LOL but they have improved them since then.. they are now called Steri-Strip S surgical skin closure.. i thought it thru brought some and put it in the part of my chinese virgin remy.. i will post pictures tomorrow to show you, its very realistic.. the down fall is they have skin tone, but it won't match everybody's skin tone unfortunately.. maybe they will make darker colors but they have clear, or you might be able to utilize them by blotting some bare minerals makeup on top the skin tone colors to make it match your skin tone..

i added a little Mr. C's on the sticky side of the steri strip so that it will stick to the lace, and it looks like scalp, its extremely thin and has a little fuzzy side on the back so it won't stick to your hair once you place it in the cap.. and it stayed in place and then i put it back on the wig head.. i only placed it close to the edge and left the lace remaining where i knew i was on to adhere the lace to my natural skin so it will blend.. here's some information on the steri strips and what they are used for.. also i found some dry powder shampoo that sprays powder that can not only assist in dulling the shine on the virgin units, but also clean it at the same time and not harm the hair..

3M announces the addition of the Steri-Strip S surgical skin closure, a primary wound closure device, to its family of skin and wound care products. The Steri-Strip S surgical skin closure is a non-invasive, adhesive-based wound closure device designed to treat low-tension lacerations and surgical incisions painlessly and without the use of needles. Faster and easier to apply than sutures, the Steri-Strip S surgical skin closure is designed to provide a time-saving option for surgeons and other medical specialists.

This innovative technology creates a new skin closure option with multiple benefits, including minimizing scarring, which is important to many patients who undergo various surgical procedures each year," said Craig DiLorenzo, business director of 3M Skin Health. "We are pleased to introduce the Steri-Strip S surgical skin closure as part of our ongoing dedication to providing dependable, easy-to-use, skin-friendly solutions to the health care community."
The Steri-Strip S surgical skin closure is simple for clinicians to apply quickly and is available in assorted sizes to accommodate various wounds. In addition to a primary wound closure, it also can be used with suture or staple closures, or as reinforcement for wounds after early suture or staple removal. The device is constructed of soft polyurethane pads and interlaced polyester filaments to provide strong, secure skin closure on most any length of wound. The Steri-Strip S surgical skin closure can be worn for up to seven to 10 days, during which patients can take brief showers without any additional covering.
The Steri-Strip S surgical skin closure, formerly distributed as ClozeX wound closures, was added to the 3M line of skin closure products in April 2006. A variety of surgeons and physicians in different medical specialties have already experienced the dependable outcomes associated with the Steri-Strip S surgical skin closure after surgery. These health care professionals include physicians specializing in plastic and reconstructive, cardiothoracic, vascular, OB-GYN, general, orthopedic, dermatologic, and emergency surgeries.

http://www.allegromedical.com/wound-care-c541/steri-strip-tan-1-2-x-4-p548944.html

3M%20Steri-Strip%20Blend%20Tone%20Skin%20Closures%20%28Non-reinforced%29%20-%201/2%20x%204%20-%206%20strip%20envelope

here's the dry powder shampoo:

Algemarin Shampoo "Dry-Powder Spray"

oh yea forgot to say if your knots are bleached, the grid completely disappears, you don't see it anymore...

and i had a little tear a small hole in the cap once i put the steri strip on it sealed it up made it lay flat and no sewing needed so it repaired it too..

UPDATE: here are the pictures, i must say this works, the skin tone color is a little bit loud, but i found using the bare minerals blotting in the part did tone it down.. i did use Mr. C's to apply the strip to make sure it sticks to the lace, the strip is a blunt cut on the end, so i clipped it with pinking shears to have a zig zag end.. at the end of the zig zag and where the lace was left out, i used the bare minerals to make it blend together so you can't see where it starts are ends period.. for my dark skins sista's i'm going to keep thinking this thru, i do think that the darker powder makeup will work but you'll probably need to add this as soon as you apply the strip to the unit, while its still sticky.. b/c its applies sticky side up, in order for the powder to stay stuck.. altho i still want to think it thru to perfect it for them.. altho if your willing to do your own experimenting i would suggest that you buy one pack of skin tone and one of clear and get to work...however this is working the grids are gone.. so i'm pretty satisfied for the first try, but you know me i'll keep thinking of ways to make sure it never fails for all of us..

http://public.fotki.com/sexibeach/lace-fronts/3m-steri-strip-s-su/3m-steri-strip-s-su/ no password but you must be signed in to view

I mean you can experiment for what suits you, but i found that once i brush the Mr. C's adhesive on the strip i immediately apply it to the unit the grid disappears then.. then place it on the wig head.. i think for the more brown complexion its important immediately once its pinned back on the wig to begin to blot with the darker powder makeup and it will change the color.. i did test last night with the darkest powder i have which is tan, and did it that way.. i blotted as soon as the mr. c's was applied and was wet tackyness and the powder stuck and changed the color of the skin tone strip. this is the darkest powder i have, so it not really a dark shade, but it did change it.. once you do the first blotting when its in a tacky wet stage after applying to the lace and then the wig head.. then once you do you actual application, you should be able to add more if needed..

Posted By: MsMahoganyRed
Date Posted: Mar 13, 2008 at 7:47am

Work it Sexi!! You are so helpful!!

Those strips are tha bizness!!!

Posted By: ladyk
Date Posted: Mar 13, 2008 at 10:04am

Can you use the strips at the nape with Mr.C's adhesive?

Posted By: ladyk
Date Posted: Mar 13, 2008 at 10:25am

How long does your application last using this method before you need to do it again?

Posted By: Koffee Brown
Date Posted: Mar 13, 2008 at 12:51pm

BAm! look at that app! that part! that SCALP! Lovely
!

Posted By: kalenjin
Date Posted: Mar 13, 2008 at 1:25pm

Sexi ...

can you make this thread an informational one only?

nothing against the ladies questions but it would be easier to read without the back and forth

Posted By: Divavocals
Date Posted: Mar 13, 2008 at 4:24pm

!p` ,&$,$`` ` &What if the admin simply hid all the posts in this thread that are not related to newbie information.. I think we could ask her to do that if we explain why we want it done (she's VERY good about this kinda stuff too).. I think she could make it read only too as long as everyone is DONE posting newbie information to this thread.. (which is the only reason why it's a sticky thread but still open for replies).
%! ied t`` $( b !, bb ,(,% ,%,!(%-,-- Bb ,

Posted By: sexibeach
Date Posted: Mar 13, 2008 at 4:46pm

diva i'm not done adding information but if she could just hide stuff that would be great until i've completed it..

Posted By: Divavocals
Date Posted: Mar 13, 2008 at 5:52pm

Got it Sexi..

I'll let her know.. Divavocals2008-03-13 17:53:22 %! ied t`` $( b !, bb ,(,% ,%,!(%-,-- Bb ,

Posted By: kalenjin
Date Posted: Mar 13, 2008 at 7:13pm

YAY!

Posted By: sexibeach
Date Posted: Mar 14, 2008 at 6:50am

how to wrap your hair underneath if its too long for braiding:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zJgFQXMA_C0

how to cornrow:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7IlHSEf9BHo

different types of braiding:

http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=how+to+braid+hair+black+hair&search_type=

Posted By: sexibeach
Date Posted: Mar 14, 2008 at 4:48pm

PERMING A LACE FRONT:

The Rods Themselves
Perm rods are designed on a universal standard. The various sizes are color-coded, even though the manufacturers may use shades of the same color that vary from other manufacturer

Posted By: sexibeach
Date Posted: Mar 15, 2008 at 7:50am

RECOMMENDED AMERICAN VENDORS:

http://www.ImmaculateWigs.com

http://www.brehshouseoflacewigs.com/

http://www.ynobecouturewigs.com/

http://www.californialacewigs.com/cart/

Posted By: sexibeach
Date Posted: Mar 15, 2008 at 4:59pm

SUMMERTIME TIPS:

when summer comes you'll be hard pressed with adhesives and wearing your lf.. some that sweat alot this is a tip for you.. Some us certain dri for your scalp you're supposed to put it on overnight before you plan to go out because it actually closes your sweat glands up. usually take your lf off in the evening, apply certain dri and moisturize hair if needed, then get up in the morning and reapply. It helps a lot cause being a heavy sweater! But it does itch if you put it on freshly washed skin, so you have to be careful to wait awhile after you clean your adhesive before using it. I also use Desolve-it + alcohol to remove my lace.

The ingredients in Certain Dri is Aluminum Chloride, sodium bicarbonate, & water. Certain Dry works by closing off the pores. Any sweat that would normally be release from that area will be safely redistributed to other areas of the body's skin surfaces (Reading from the pamplet inside the box).

Ms. YahYah's Grandmother came up with this Tip:

For one week I applied it around my hairline at night (the box says to use it at night since that is when it works to shrink the pores) After the week was up I just applied it once a week, any time of day, whenever I reapplied my LF.

I applied in this order - certain dri (let dry completely)-scalp protector-glue/tape.

I believe the scalp protector made the hold weaken and some said it made it stronger so I guess it depends on the person body chemistry.

Posted By: BooBoo
Date Posted: Mar 16, 2008 at 12:57pm

hey people!!!

I just ordered my first custom lace wig from Rex...I'm so excited!!! Have any of you guys ordered from him before? I found the information in the newbie thread.... Just wanted to express my gratitude for this site being here! You've saved me an awful lot of money!!

Posted By: sexibeach
Date Posted: Mar 16, 2008 at 3:23pm

HOW TO THIN A LF BY BREH:

Okay, here's what you all have been waiting for. I've taken a few pics to give you all an understanding of what I am talking about. If you follow the steps that I

Posted By: sexibeach
Date Posted: Mar 16, 2008 at 3:27pm

BREH'S INSTRUCTION ON CREATING A NEW HAIRLINE:

Hi Ladies,

I know it's late, but I'm up playing beauty shop with one of my new lfs. It is absolutely beautiful, except once again the hairline is all wrong. Why does this happen? You email a picture to the vendor, and they still get it wrong. I didn't want to send it back because I just got it and I sent it back the first time to be remade. So, I have learned that somethings you just have to fix things yourself. I have some very simple steps that anyone can do to create a new hairline. I haven't gotten on the same level as Bless yet(the girl is talented)

, with the ventillating in all, but I'm going to learn one day. In the mean time, I have illustrated some steps with pics in my fotki. I'm not all glamed out, so be gentle.

Follow these simple steps and you'll have a customized hairline everytime.

1. Gather your supplies. You will need scissors, a colored eye liner pencil(something bright that can be seen through the lace), and a rat tail comb.

2. Trace the outer perimter of your natural hairline with the colored eye liner pencil.

3. Place the lf on your head, and part the hair so that you can see the colored pencil through the lace. Part the hair in the desired hairline shape that you want(using the colored pencil as a guide. )

4.Seperate the parted hair that you want to be cut away by loose braids.

5. Cut along the parted sections.

6. Place the lf back on your head and check out your new hairline. Make any adjustments that you see fit.

7. Create babyhairs (optional). IMO, it always looks better.

***Update*****

Just thought I would share a few pics of how new hairline looked applied.

Nevermind the breakouts on my face.

Posted By: sexibeach
Date Posted: Mar 16, 2008 at 3:29pm

BREH'S INSTRUCTION ON DYING THE LACE:

Hi Ladies,

I went to the fabric store last week looking for Rit Dye to dye the lace of my lf. I wanted to dye my lace from a light brown which blended very well with my skin to a brown shade. While looking for the Rit Dye I stumbled upon these permanent fabric dyeing pens, called FabricMate. I was skeptical so I purchased the Rit Dye along with the pen. I tried the pen out on a left over piece of lace that I had, and I must say that it worked pretty well. I just got around to trying the pen on my lf, a few minutes ago and it works very well. I took the pen and lightly colored the inside and outside perimeter of my cap to see what it looks like and it looks great. The lace blends so well with my skin that it disappers with no adhseive applied. This is a great product, the color is permanent, and you don't have to worry about getting any dye on the knots.

You can purchase the fabric dyeing pens at any fabric store, craft store, or online.

http://softexpressions.com/software/paint/FabMateChisel.php

This is the exact pen that I used to dye my lace from a light brown to a brown shade.

Posted By: sexibeach
Date Posted: Mar 16, 2008 at 7:27pm

how to make silky hair yaki step by step:

step by step guide below..

http://public.fotki.com/mocolace/

pw: silkyhair

Posted By: sexibeach
Date Posted: Mar 18, 2008 at 1:02pm

Nair Baby Hair Tip:

you can use the nair tips:

Nair My Babyhairs- put a lil Nair on my baby hairs on the middle/ends not close to the knots and/or cap construction cuz you don't want the hair to fall out, and only for a few seconds. It makes the baby hair real flimsy and fine just like my natural baby hair. the nair just makes the baby hair super fine to the point where it lays down by itself without gel, more like real babyhair. I practiced this on my old unit and it made the hair elastic because I left it on to long, that's you can't leave it on too long. Use only the original nair, none of the scented, improved stuff and leave it on only like two seconds and rinse.

Posted By: sexibeach
Date Posted: Mar 18, 2008 at 1:05pm

Resizing by Yildiz

Some of you asked, and I hope the tips are going to help about resizing/modifiying the size of lacewigs

The pics are in my fotki: http://public.fotki.com/Yildiz/resizing/ pw: tips

This is how I proceed:

1. turn the unit inside out, place on yourhead in exact position for applying

2. determine the area where the unit needs resizing. To make a unit smaller, I usually do any modifying behind the ears

3. seize the superfluous part of the lace you want to remove to make the unit smaller or better fitting

4. use pins to fix this part of lace first on one side, then on the other side of the unit with the wig still on your head.

Take care to make corrections until the unit fits you perfectly! Probably you're going to have to try several times pic1

5. start sewing with transparent thread along the lines marked by the pins, both sides of the unit pic2

6. cut open the lace in the middle of the part that's sectioned off by sewing pic 3

7. the two parts of lace that are left from cutting are placed on the right and left side of the sewing line and fixed again with transparent thread pic 4

8. cut off the hair from the inside part of the unit pic 5

Pic 6 shows a piece of stocking sewed in the area of where I'm creating a part.

The last two pics are of the unit applied without using adhesives

Layering your own hair -- courtesy of you!

here's a step by step

http://www.wikihow.com/Layer-Cut-Your-Own-Hair

Lace hairline cleaning tips from HD

just got an email from Hair Direct about cleaning the hairline on lace units so they remain undetectable. U know we love our makeup so I thought u all would find it useful.

they sent me links to a video and a step by step:

video http://www.hairdirect.com/video/how-to/hairline-cleaning.aspx?=button

written instructions
http://www.hairdirect.com/resources/maintenance/lacefront-hairline.aspx?=button

Mirror Slide variations from Coolpiece

Mirror Slide

It's one of the easiest ways to safely remove glue residue from those holes on the lace. Just push the bottom of the lace firmly against a mirror and slide it down the glass. The glue gets pulled out of the lace and deposits itself on the glass leaving the lace clean and clear. (This idea came from Robert in Colorado but we named it The Mirror Slide).

Even better than glass is Saran Wrap , also known as cling film. Put this on the mirror or work-surface first for a great mirror-slide clean up, and then throw it away, leaving the mirror clean.

But wait, there's more. The mirror slide also works on wax-paper and it even works on those clean brown paper bags they give you at the supermarket. (Thanks to Jeff in Michigan). Basically, rubbing the lace firmly down any of these surfaces will pull out all the residue. Who would have imagined that?

We like the cling food wrap the best.

There is always more than one way to do anything, but here is our recommended method:

REMOVE
Tie a bandana around your head or slip on a sports headband to protect the eyes from the alcohol in the lace release or the ingredients of the solvents that you use.
If its a lace unit, spray Lace Release or alcohol through the lace from a very close distance to the head, then wait for it to work and then lift off the unit
If it's a non-porous base, such as polyskin, raise an edge and spray under the unit, progressively peeling back the base until it's off.
CLEANING YOUR HEAD
Spray adhesive remover all over glue area on your head.
Wait for it to work, then use a subway card (or any soft flexible plastic card) as a scraper to get all the glue to the front and lift off the big ball with paper towel
Repeat if necessary until it's all gone.
Use adhesive remover and a fine-toothed comb to remove any residue from your real hair
When all the glue and residue are gone, use lace release to remove most of adhesive remover
In the shower, stage one: apricot facial scrub on the scalp and through your real perimeter hair (optional)
In the shower, stage two: Clearasil face wash or equivalent to thoroughly cleanse the skin and hair (optional)
In the shower, stage three: shampoo normally
You are now as clean as you can be!
CLEANING THE HAIRPIECE
Apply some plastic food wrap to a mirror or marble surface or similar
Place the bottom of the hairpiece onto the wrap and firmly rub it along. The plastic wrap pulls all of the glue and residue right out of the lace or off the bottom of the polyurethane.
If the base is polyskin, there may be too much friction and the wrap may come up, so spray a little lace release or adhesive remover down to reduce friction a bit.
To remove glue from the hair on the piece. spray adhesive remover and gently comb it out using a wide toothed comb, then a fine toothed comb second, unless you have tight curls.
If it's a real glued up mess, use less glue next time, but for now place the unit in a plastic bag or container and shake it up in some adhesive remover to break down all that excess adhesive.
Squeeze out as much adhesive remover as possible, then flush it out with lace release or alcohol.
Neutralize the alcohol with water.
Shampoo the unit in a sink of cool water, making the water flow from bottom to top, through the lace, so that hairs do not get washed through to the wrong side.
Rinse under cold tap
Repeat until the lather becomes rich, indicating clean hair.
Condition as necessary
Dry without heat. Clip the unit to a room fan and let air flow through from the bottom. This drys the piece very quickly without the use of warm air.

Posted By: sexibeach
Date Posted: Mar 19, 2008 at 4:37pm

HOW TO LAYER CUT YOUR HAIR YOURSELF:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gNzLZ7H7FfI%5b/QUOTE

http://www.essortment.com/all/howtocutyou_reij.htm

http://www.wikihow.com/Layer-Cut-Your-Own-Hair

Posted By: sexibeach
Date Posted: Mar 19, 2008 at 7:01pm

How To Measure Your Head For Your Custom Lace Front Wig

You will need a soft measure tape for this task. Before you start we highly recommend that you style your hair as it will be when you wear the wig. To achieve the best results you should either:

Style your hair in a flat beehive
Braid it straight back in flat cornrows
Wrap it flat back

Try to eliminate any bulges by getting your hair as flat and tight as possible. It is very important that your head measurements are accurate. Your wig may not fit if you do not measure properly. Be sure to take your measurements several times to be on the safe side. Measurements are recorded in whole and half inches so please round your measurements up. For Example: 21 3/4 should be rounded up to 22 and 11 1/4 should be rounded up to 11 1/2. Always round the measurements up and not down. Once again, it is very important that you take the measurements several times to insure accuracy.

Head Circumference

Measure all around the head. Position tape measure so its edge follows the hair line around the head and nape of the neck.

Head Circumference = ____ in.

(Average measurement is 22 inches).

Front to Nape

(From Forehead to Nape)

Front to Nape: This measures the length of your head from the front to the nape of your neck. To determine where the nape of your neck is, tilt your head back and look up. Where your neck bends and may even develop a skin fold, is where your nape is. You want the bottom of the wig to sit right above this area so that when you do tilt your head back that far, your wig will not shift on your head. This area is often right at the occipital bone, but be sure to take the measurement with your neck bent down so that you are looking at your shoes. Starting at the front hairline, measure directly across the middle top of your head to the area that you have determined is your nape.

Front to Nape = ____ inches.
(Average measurement is 13.5 inches).

Front Hairline

( From Ear to Ear)

At front of ear, measure from hairline at base of sideburn, up across the hair line along forehead to same point in front of other ear.

Front Hairline = _____ inches.

(Average measurement is 11.5 inches).

Over Top of Head

(From Ear to Ear)

Ear to Ear Across Top of Head: This measures your head for the top of the wig base. Place tape against your head at the top edge of your ear and go directly across the top of your head to the top edge of the opposite ear.

Over Top of Head = _____ inches.

(Average measurement is 11 inches).

Point to Point

(From Temple to Temple)

From temple to temple across the back of head. Note: Place the tape measure at your temple to temple point on each side of your head as shown in the picture.

Point to Point = _____ inches.
(Average measurement is 14 inches).

Nape of Neck

The measures the width of the hair at the nape of your neck. Place tape at the end of your hairline at the nape and measure across the width of the hair. If you want more room at the nape, you may want to consider adding a half inch to your nape measurement.

Nape of Neck = _____ inches.
(Average measurement is 6 inches

Posted By: sexibeach
Date Posted: Mar 19, 2008 at 7:15pm

FACTS AND ANSWERS ON LACE WIGS:

What Is a Lace Front Wig and Full Lace Wig?

The term "lace front wig" and "full lace wig" are virtually the same; A lace front wig, or other known as a full lace wig has a very natural front hair line and is constructed with fine lace in the front and a variety of materials in the back of the head. A full lace system is the ultimate system since it will look natural from every angle regardless of how the hair is brushed or styled. The object of a lace front wig or a full lace wig is to look beautiful and natural! You do not want anyone to ever think you are wearing a wig. A full lace system is usually preferred and is the ultimate in style, design, beauty and naturalness.

What Lace Cap Choice Is Best For Me - French Lace or Swiss Lace?

There are many types of lace that can be used for the base, we prefer the French lace. French lace is more durable than Swiss lace and it is the best choice for new lace wig wearers. The french lace tends to last longer and is virtually tear resistant during the application process when using tougher glues and bonds. The French Lace is thin, delicate and natural looking.

The Swiss Lace is more undetectable but the main concern is that the lace breaks down faster and can rip much easier; if the lace rips this will make your lace wig system unusable. Again! - The Swiss lace is the most undetectable of the laces, but the most fragile. The swiss lace cap choice is best for experienced lace wig users.

Overall , both french and swiss lace look extremely natural and as the lace seems to disappear into your scalp when applied with our special surgical bonds and lace tape. Your unit will come with extra lace extending from the hairline, which you will trim off to custom fit your hairline and then bond with your choice of adhesive.

How Long will My Wig Last?

A lace wig unit can last for many months or even years depending on your usage and upkeep. The types of glues that are used during the application method also applies to the life span of your unit. For example, the lace wig can be compared to the tires on car; of course the more you drive your car, the more worn down the tires become and the need for replacement tires becomes greater. The idea remains that if you plan to wear your wig more often, the natural need for a new unit will become greater as the hair naturally degrades due to extended periods of use.

Can I wear this wig even if I have my own hair?

Yes. You will have to make your own hair as flat as possible, by wrapping or braiding it. Then apply a flesh toned stocking cap over your natural hair to simulate your scalp color.

What If I have Experienced severe hair loss due to an illness or chemical damage? Is this type of wig right for me?

Absolutely! I highly recommend this system for anyone with any kind of hair loss or undergoing Chemotherapy. If you suffer from a medical condition where you have experienced sever hair loss, it's recommended to proceed with full french or full swiss lace. This will ensure the most comfortable "perfect" fit.

What is Remy/Remi Indian hair?

Remy hair, also called virgin, cuticle or cut hair; is the highest quality human hair you can find on the market. The hair is in the most natural state, free from chemical processing of any kind.

Remy hair is special because each bundle comes directly from a single donors head. This allows each bundle to keep the consistency of texture, color, and length. It is then cleaned and sorted to be packaged. The cuticles of the hair are all intact and facing in the same direction. This eliminates the worrisome pain of tangles and matting. This is what makes Remy hair a step above the rest!

Posted By: sexibeach
Date Posted: Mar 19, 2008 at 7:21pm

Foundation Selection

We have over 50 different Foundation Materials available. The following are the most popular.

Fine Mono: The most popular foundation used today. Very durable closely woven Fine Nylon mesh material. Also known as M Mesh, E-3 Soft Fine Mono, Micro Screen and B-1

Super Fine Mono: A thinner version of Fine Mono. Very natural in appearance, soft and light weight. Not recommended for permanent wear or very active clients.

Mono Silk: Soft, fine, very closely woven polyester material. Looks like silk. Not recommended for large areas in the foundation due to the difficulty in shaping this fabric. Excellent for smaller areas in the foundations.

Welded Mono: P Mesh-XL Very popular Foundation. Made from clear nylon threads woven like window screen. Sonic welded to join the Threads permanently together. Made in single or double layer. Extremely natural.

Pu and Class Silk: Clear Polyurethane reinforced with very thin gauze material. A very durable transparent material that is natural in appearance.

PU thin skin: Clear polyurethane with no gauze. Beautiful but short lived. A very popular foundation.

PE Mesh: Nylite Mesh, PE Mesh, Poly Mesh. Flexible and durable four sided Polyester Mesh similar to Window Screen but with smaller holes. May be ordered in soft or firm finish.

Small Hole Fusion: F Mesh. Woven material with six sided Pencil size

Posted By: sexibeach
Date Posted: Mar 19, 2008 at 7:43pm

This might get a little technical but I think Its essential to learn about the human hair inorder to take good and proper care of the lacefront human hair. This is some information I found very interesting. Because I found in the winter time, my hair has tactic electricity which is quite annoying and something I'm totally not use too. And its different in the summertime. So here's what I found, it might be some helpful information:

Consumers evaluate the cosmetic properties of human hair according to combing ease, strength and elasticity. We translate these attributes into single fiber evaluations of friction and tensile properties. Human hair is an elastic substance that is subject to strain (deformation) and stress (recovery). The usual procedure for evaluating the strength and elasticity properties of human hair is via tensile strain/stress tests. A fiber of known length and diameter are stretched at a fixed rate and a fixed relative humidity and temperature on an automated instrument.

The procedures for testing the strength and elasticity involves setting the temperature in the testing room to approximately 21 degrees Celsius (70 degrees Fahrenheit) and the humidity between 40%-63%, the higher the humidity the stronger the hair will appear, which can guarantee results that do not represent reality. X length of hair will be mounted on clamps that will be zeroed, meaning we have to make sure that there is no tension or slack on the hair.

Tensile properties have shown to have little to do with the surface properties (cuticles), but the cortical properties where the stretching occurs. The cuticle does not contribute to the tensile properties, but can be damaged by excessive stretching as the scales lift and separate from the fiber. Cuticle damage is the first to occur. Much like stretching a rubber band that has printing on the surface. When you stretch it beyond the normal relaxation point, the ink will crack and eventually shed off the surface long before the rubber band will break.

The cortex is a major part of the fiber mass. Within the cortex are microfibrils that make up a large part of the cortical cells. And these consist of intermediate filaments and the matrix. This causes a loss of structure that is usually recovered on relaxation. Unfortunately, recovery occurs with normal healthy hair and not over-processed or non-cuticle hair.

Both combing and friction are considered the most perilous factors when discussing the maintenance of human hair. While combing our hair, we apply a significant amount of force upon the hair fibers and it is stretched in various degrees. The force applied during combing also creates friction that results in cuticles breaking and detaching from the strand, which increases the hair

Posted By: sexibeach
Date Posted: Mar 19, 2008 at 8:10pm

ADDITIONAL CHINESE VENDOR'S FOR THOSE SEEKING NEW CONTACT:

I've not personally had any units made by these vendors, I am not recommending them b/c i've had no experience with them. But these are just options for those that might be risk taker's that want to venture out with a new vendor:

http://public.fotki.com/lacefrontwig/

wigsupplier@yahoo.com if interested in

our partner web: www.chinawigsupplier.com

http://public.fotki.com/richwigs/

http://www.angel-wigs.com/

http://www.sunnyhairworld.com/

http://www.doubleleafwig.com/

http://www.bestlacewigs.com/productList.asp?catalogID=37&typeid=106

http://www.wigspretty.com/

http://www.xinyiwigs.com/

Posted By: sexibeach
Date Posted: Mar 20, 2008 at 7:34pm

HOW TO BLEACH KNOTS;

i use the loreal super blonde lightening kit.. i use more of the blue powder and the lotion as the mixture in a small bowl so i can save the rest for later, there's no need in using the whole kit.. there is a tube that is yellow that's the blonde lighten part, i only add like a little bitty dab of that b/c if you use too much it can be more blonde and turn the knots/lace orange.. don't push to hard, just brush lightly across the top of the lace, b/c if you push too hard it can push thru the holes to the other side, if that happens then you can bleach the roots.. altho it can be fixed by dying the roots with a small applicator brush, but best not to do that to begin with so skim lightly across the surface of the lace cap only making sure there's coverage of the knots you want bleached.. the LSBLK takes about 30 min.. i usually only leave it on for about 15 to 20 minutes checking it at 15 mins.. now if the hair has been colored by clothing dye which it could be, you need to do the rits dye remover first and then bleach the knots.. usually the no. 1 and 1b's colors are dyed with clothing dye.. do a test patch to be sure if the knots are not going to bleach then you know where to go from there...the instructions for the rits dye DIP is in the newbie thread.. if by chance you do color the lace then you need to do a slight rits dye dip (meaning only 2 or 3 dips) to try to remove the excess orange color from the lace, and/or resort to the rits dye pen to make sure your color matches your skin..

Posted By: sexibeach
Date Posted: Mar 21, 2008 at 8:23am

HOW TO MAINTAIN CURLY HAIR:

http://www.healthmad.com/Beauty/How-to-Maintain-Healthy-Curly-Hair.45538

http://alagio.com/

Also, recommended products to tame curly units--

care free curl, curl activator, along with the Luster's S curl texturizer styling gel

TIGI Catwalk--Curls Rock

glycerin and water mixed with a bit of jojoba oil (next staple)

Redken Fresh Curls, Curl Boost

Beyond the Zone Noodle Head

Aveda Universal Brilliant Styling Creme

Salerm 21

Silky Sexy Hair leave-in

Curlkeeper

dove curly products

Garnier soft curl cr

Posted By: sexibeach
Date Posted: Mar 21, 2008 at 8:33am

THIS IS HOW TO MAKE A LF, BUT I ALSO THINK IT CAN SHOW YOU HOW TO MAKE A TEMPLATE AS WELL..

How To Make A Lace Front Wig & The Art of Lace Wig Making

Throughout history wigs were status symbols, hence the term lace wig. One early wig making technique was to use goatskin to simulate a scalp and then poke hair into it with an embroidery needle. Today, animal skin is no longer used. These days

Posted By: sexibeach
Date Posted: Mar 21, 2008 at 10:37am

STOP FOKTI PICTURE THEFT:

Quick tip to deter picture collectors.

I know we haven't' had many run-ins with picture thieves as of late, but I figured I'd share this tip anyhow.

Ok so after logging onto your own personal fotki account. Underneath a photo album you have the option of selecting "Edit properties" After clicking on that link a new page should load. Underneath the "Viewer Discretion Advised" box there is another link for "Advanced Properties" click on this link. After that page has fully loaded scroll down until you read "Originals available to:" Under the drop box select "Myself only." This prevents visitors from right clicking to save your photos.

You also have to change "Sharing photos allowed for (also enable right-click saving)" to "Myself Only". This is what keeps them from right clicking. When they right click they will get an message that says "Protected". They can right click on thumbnails, but when you resize it, the picture will be distorted.

Here's a screen shot of the fotki settings. I place a yellow box around the ones that you need to change to "Myself Only" to deter therft.

WATERMARK YOUR PICTURES AS WELL:

HOW TO WATERMARK YOUR PICTURES & VARIOUS WATERMARKING SOFTWARE LINKS (compliments of various members. Special thanks to DivaVocals)

Some of you have asked me about watermarking tools and some of you are using the uMark tool I suggested.. The free version of uMark is okay, but if you REALLY wanna protect your pics you need multiple watermarks that go across the ENTIRE picture. (Please see my fotki for examples of what I mean by multiple watermarks) uMark's free version cannot do this. The full version however supports this feature and it's ONLY $14.99. Most importantly both versions of uMark will process BATCHES of photos in short order.

uMark is available by clicking here:
Uconomix Technologies Private Limited Software

If you want to see what you can really do with uMark, checkout Mahogany814's fotki (I hope you don't mind me spotlighting you Mahogany!) Notice the MULTIPLE watermarks.. It took only 10-20 minutes to process ALL the pictures you see in the 9 albums in her fotki. uMark is FAST and easy to use, and it is CHEAP!!!

Yes you can use Paint or Gimp. However remember that you must edit each photo individually. This is a tedious and time consuming task for most of us very busy ladies. For example, my last fotki album contained over 20 images, and adding watermarks one at a time to each photo is NOT the move!!! IMO, you need to use a program that will allow you to process a BATCH of photos at once.

Photoshop is a great tool if you have LEGAL access to it. However unless you are familiar with the advanced features of Photoshop which allows you to edit batches of photos (AKA the "Actions" function) you will still find yourself editing 1 photo at a time in Photoshop. PLUS IMO Photoshop is a professional level photo and graphic editing program and IS NOT for the casual user.. (Too much money, & too many features for the "average" user) Phototshop is a HUGE complex program and even understanding the "basic" features of it takes a little more than a notion..

I KNOW some of you HATE the idea of HAVING to watermark your pictures, but fortunately or unfortunately it is what it is.. If you post your images on the internet, they are subject to being taken and used for purposes other than what you actually intended.. I could go into LONG technical details of ALL the ways to steal web content, and ALL the ways IP logging doesn't stop (or even identify) content/picture thieves, but that REALLY is a different discussion. The ONE SURE way to DISCOURAGE thieves from stealing your photos and PREVENT them from using them if they do is to WATERMARK your photos.. Like it or not that's just the way it is.. (Sorry!)

This is because people who want to use others

Posted By: sexibeach
Date Posted: Mar 21, 2008 at 7:14pm

HAIR CARE INSTUCTIONS - PROPER CARE CAN PROLONG THE LIFESPAN OF YOUR UNIT:

Cleanliness
Keep the hair Clean. It is recommended that the hair be washed at least once every two weeks with warm or cold water. Please wash the hair right after swimming and comb the hair after spa activities and exercising etc

Posted By: sexibeach
Date Posted: Mar 21, 2008 at 7:16pm

HAIR CARE INSTUCTIONS - PROPER CARE CAN PROLONG THE LIFESPAN OF YOUR UNIT:

Cleanliness

Keep the hair Clean. It is recommended that the hair be washed at least once every two weeks with warm or cold water. Please wash the hair right after swimming and comb the hair after spa activities and exercising etc

Posted By: sexibeach
Date Posted: Mar 21, 2008 at 8:07pm

THINNING AND CUTTING TECHNIQUE'S:

Cutting and Styling hair systems can be challenging. Special thinning techniques are needed to reduce density.

home

	Step 1. Shampoo and condition system, pin on mannequin head. Section hair as shown and cut 1 inch longer than the desired finished length. Cut hair holding shears pointed out from center.
	Step 2. Start at the highest point of the hair system cut your guide section down center.
	Step 3. Continue cutting in pie shape always holding shears pointed out from center.
	Step 4. When all pie sections are cut. Hold mannequin head upside down to see that all hair was cut evenly.
	Step 5. Most hair systems come with to much hair on them. They need to be thinned to adjust the density and achieve a realistic look. Follow a circular pattern of

Posted By: sexibeach
Date Posted: Mar 22, 2008 at 6:19pm

About bleached knots

Bleached Knots: What should I expect?

Bleaching of knots does not result in white or clear knots, but it does help to give the illusion of growing hair by camouflaging the knots. But what should you expect when you order bleached knots?

If your hair color is Black, 1B or 2, then knots that hold the hair onto the base will be changed from black to light brown and will be much less visible. Single knots such as those used at the front edge will be be very hard to spot.

If your hair color is between 3 and 6, the knots will be even harder to spot.

If your hair color is 7 or lighter, the bleaching will make hardly any difference, but we still do it if the completed unit has knots that can be seen against the skin during the manufacturing inspection stage.

For all-lace units where the density is such that there isn

Posted By: sexibeach
Date Posted: Mar 22, 2008 at 6:29pm

French Lace is a barely visible polyester knitted material into which hair is knotted and the knots are bleached. Available in pink or yellow. Can be made brown upon special request.
Extra Fine Swiss Lace is the least visible lace, easier to tear than French lace. A knitted polyester, it comes in many colors. (see above for a revised opinion of Swiss lace)
3# monofilament is a hard to see, strong unwelded nylon fine knit that can be used anywhere except at an edge. Available in many colors.
0.12 monofilament, a strong lace alternative, is a woven and welded nylon mesh, similar to lace. Very strong and can be used at an edge. Available in many colors.
Polyskin is polyurethane available in various thicknesses from the extremely thin Polyskin 3 to a substantial edging material. It is non-porous and comes in many colors.
Poly-with-gauze is an untearable polyurethane edging material that is reasonably undetectable. Available in many colors.
Poly coating is a thicker and less popular alternative to poly-with-gauze but is better than poly-with-gauze if used on 0.12 mono. Available in many colors.
Injected polyskin is a multi-layer polyurethane that sandwiches in the ends of injected hairs without knotting. Starting in 2007, a new technique allows us to make these with a much thinner base than ever before, so for the first time, the front hairline edge will disappear sufficiently to be considered quite undetectable. This base method is still the best base for virgin hair (which the client supplies himself) that has the cuticle intact. Upon magnified close inspection, the slight bend at the "root" of each hair can spoil the illusion with these bases.

Finished Hair Length:

Finished hair length is from the knot to the end of hair before curling.

No extra charge for lengths up to 6".

Long hair charges will apply to length 8" and longer. See price list.

Undervent:

Undervent is a row of hair vented into the bottom of base along the outside perimeter. Used at the front hairline it helps to conceal the edge of base material that is not scalloped or made of lace. Light is 1 row, Medium is 2 rows and Heavy is 3 rows of underventing. We do not recommend underventing on lace units, scallop fronts, or Micro thin Poly skin (graft material) fronts. Doing this would show too heavy of a solid line on these materials and defeat the purpose of using that material.

Part Appearance:

Some type of hair direction must be given on the order. This indicates to the factory how to ventilate the hair to give it stylability. If you want a definite whorl in the crown, check the location on order form. If you want a definite or diffused part, check location on form. Freestyle is vented forward from the crown position, and can be combed or parted anywhere. On the picture

Posted By: sexibeach
Date Posted: Mar 22, 2008 at 8:18pm

HAIR PRODUCTS FOR LACE FRONTS: (remember Oils don

Posted By: mslady
Date Posted: Mar 23, 2008 at 5:23am

Here's what I will add, however, if you already have this posted. Please feel free to remove.

ADHESIVES

Top lace Flesh Glue: A water-based white cream that dries clear and without shine. Used mostly on the lace front and can give up to 7 days hold.

White Glue: Goes on white dries clear. Apply to scalp and while still wet apply hair piece and press down with brush, then quickly remove hair piece and let dry for 5 minutes for extra hold apply second coating, scalp and hairpiece must be free from oil and clean.

"I" Glue: Use on lace or poly gives a hold of 3 days to 1 week on lace and up to 4 weeks on poly. Apply to scalp and while still wet apply hair piece and press down with brush, then quickly remove hair piece and let dry for 5 minutes for extra hold apply second coating, scalp and hairpiece must be free from oil and clean.

Ultra-hold: Excellent medical grade formulated acrylic adhesive. Used mostly on poly and is regarded as the strongest adhesive available holding up to 4 weeks. Can also be used on lace for a strong hold, but does give a little shine through the lace.

Mity Tite: Medical grade formulated acrylic adhesive. It is a soft bond extended wear adhesive not as strong as Ultra-Hold but does hold for up to 3-4 weeks on poly. Again, can be used on lace but again gives a little shine through lace.

Kryolan Mastix "P" Spirit Gum Adhesive & Remover: Gives ultimate hold. This is a super-stick adhesive is especially useful in cases of extreme perspiration. Because it is a sealor type of adhesive, it dries quickly, so please use sparingly! Lace units must be positioned carefully as it is difficult to reposition them. This handly little travel size spirit gum fits right in your carry on or in your purse. Can also be handy to take to work incase you are ever in need of a quick touch up! Kryolan Spirit Gum P Remover is part of the set and is highly recommended to disconnect appliance from skin when using the Mastix "P" Adhesive.

Super Grip Adhesive: Goes on white and dries clear, can be used to reactivate tape, for use with lace, first apply Scalp Protector, let dry, than apply Super Grip

Tapes: You can tape your unit. Non-shiny tape good for front or back of unit.

REMOVERS:

C-22 Solvent Citrus Adhesive Remover: Easy to Use - Quickly Removes Adhesive and Residue from hair, scalp, lace or any bonded areas of wig or toupee.

99% alcohol: which can be used to clean your skin. It can also be used to clean your lace if using Spirit Gum.

Lace Release Adh

Posted By: sexibeach
Date Posted: Mar 23, 2008 at 7:41am

AMERICAN LACE FRONT VENDORS:

as always do your homework and research on vendors before you purchase at your own risk:

AMERICAN VENDORS

www.allaboutmyhair.com

www.californialacewigs.com

Arotreasures (ebay seller) http://www.bargainlacewigs.com/

www.zarawigs.com

http://stores.ladydislocks.com

www.thehairnetwork.com

www.mywigsandweaves.com

www.mymaneattractions.com

www.divacherrylacewigs.com

www.realmane.com

www.joyastylehair.com

http://www.crownanglory.com

http://www.ImmaculateWigs.com

http://www.brehshouseoflacewigs.com/

http://www.ynobecouturewigs.com/

http://www.californialacewigs.com/cart/

http://www.wigzandbeyond.com

http://www.denovohair.com/

Posted By: sexibeach
Date Posted: Mar 23, 2008 at 7:59am

BREH'S TIPS FOR CURLY UNITS AND NATURAL PART:

Cowboy Magic Rose Water Conditioner, Shampoo, and Detangler Shine serum.

Here is my recipe for my curlies/wavys

32 oz spray bottle (fill to the 25 oz line with water)

4 oz bottle of glycerin (pour in the bottle of water)

Biolage Detangling Solution (Fill to the 31 oz line, so you have room to shake the bottle)

Shake well to dissolve the BDS, and that's it. This stuff works great for curly/wavy units.

You don't need to spray the solution on your curly or wavy unit everyday. After washing, conditioning, and applying a dime size amount of the Cowboy Magic shine serum, spray your unit down. Then I spray with water in the morning, and spray with the solution maybe every few days if it needs it. The curls/waves will stay beautiful, soft, tangle free, and moist.

NATURAL PART:

I have a fool proof way to create a natural part. I believe it has been posted before, but I wanted to share again. The only supplies you will need is transparent bandage tape, foundation powder brush, and powder foundation. Here are the steps:

(Optional) Apply your wig cap. (I am wearing a black wig cap in the pictures. )

1.Dip your powder brush into your shade of foundation. (You can also use your finger, or q-tips). I found that using the foundation powder brush was much easier, and less messy.

2. Lightly brush the back of the bandage tape (Not the sticky side).

3. Tear or cut the tape, and apply to the inside of the lf cap, where the part will be. Apply the tape about 1/4" away from the hairline (just behind the baby hairs). Do not apply the tape directly on the edge of the lace.

4. Apply the lf , and style as usual.

You should have a fantastic looking part, that looks totally natural, that you wont have to worry about touching up until it's time to remove your lf. The tape is not shiny, so you won't have to worry about that.

http://www.walgreens.com/store/product.jsp?CATID=100957&navAction=jump&navCount=0&id=prod16193

This is the exact same brand that I used, it can be found at CVS, Walgreens, or any medical supply store.

COOLAZFEMALE'S TIP FOR CURLY UNITS:

This is the one that I washed with 10 en 1, nuked with Silicon Mix, moisturized with Silicon Leave-In & Whale Sperm Oil, and sealed with Coconut Oil!

Posted By: sexibeach
Date Posted: Mar 23, 2008 at 2:48pm

TWO TIPS FROM MRS. JONES:

I just washed my unit last night and implemented all of the great tips you guys posted and somehow discovered one of my own. I had a problem of adhesive stuck on my lace and in the hair. I am make-up artist so I used an eyebrow brush/lash comb that came in a walmart brush set and it worked even better than the toothbrush. It is a little more firm than a toothbrush so you have to be a little careful but it worked miracles for my dilemma. I didn't even have to use goo gone that much because it brushed the adhesive out of the hair easily.

And a way that I use to get great body wafter a wash is to pin curl the hair while it is still damp and then when it gets mostly dry, cross wrap it, then put saran wrap around it and blow dry the wrap to seal in moisture and leave it wrapped all night.

Posted By: sexibeach
Date Posted: Mar 23, 2008 at 3:29pm

WHAT DO I HAVE TO KNOW BEFORE BUYING A LACEFRONT?

The major issues to be concerned with are your head size and face shape, the wig color, and wig style.

The average women

Posted By: sexibeach
Date Posted: Mar 23, 2008 at 6:47pm

DIFFERENCES IN HAIR AND WHY OIL WORKS FOR BOTH HAIR TYPES, BUT FOR DIFFERENT REASONS:

The question came to mind in the Tip for Dry Ends thread. So i need to address this. With our natural hair care, there are definitely differences in how we approach it, b/c our hair is can be bittle and dry b/c of the tight coils in our hair pattern.. Not to mention years of over processing with perms and coloring that has caused our hair nothing but damage, breakage and shedding producing poor hair growth patterns..Oil is great for sealing in moisture to retain length after using moisturing products such as shea butter to moisturize and sealing with oils such as jamaican black castor oil mixed with wild growth oil. Not to mention protein treatments constant tender loving care. And it works great to stop breakage. Another thing we've learned is that certain ingredient filler's aren't good for our hair that we've used for years, I found an article that explains this:

From the time we are little kids, our mom

Posted By: sexibeach
Date Posted: Mar 25, 2008 at 5:02pm

THE SILK, LADIES JUST MEANS "FINE SILK MONOFILAMENT", IT A MATERIAL

VERY STRONG AND THIN, COMES IN MANY COLORS, SKIN SHADES,

THATS WHAT SILK MEANS, IT JUST THE TYPE OF BASE MATERIAL YOU CHOSE

YOU CAN CHOSE FRENCH LACE OR SWISS LACE OF WHAT EVER

Base Materials

Fine Mono - This is the most popular foundation used today. It is a very durable, closely woven fine nylon mesh material.

All Star Lace/Mono Graft Welded Mono - This is the same as fine mono, but uses finer, more closely-woven threads. It is used for welded mono front and mono graft hair systems.

Mono Silk - A silky, fine, very closely woven polyester material, but looks like silk. It is not recommended for large areas in the foundation due to the difficulty in shaping this fabric, but is excellent for smaller areas.

Welded Mono - A very popular foundation. It is made from clear nylon threads woven like window screen. It is sonic welded to join the threads permanently together. It can be made in a single or double layers and is extremely natural looking.

Skin Graft - PU and Glass Silk - Clear polyurethane, soft-scalloped front. The rest of the base is reinforced with a very thin gauze material. It is a totally natural appearing see-through foundation.

PU Thin Skin - Clear polyurethane with no gauze. A beautiful material, but extremely delicate.

PE Mesh - A flexible and durable, four-sided polyester mesh similar to window screen, but with smaller holes. It may be ordered with a soft or firm finish.

Small Hole Fusion - Woven material with six-sided, 1/4 inch holes.

Large Hole Fusion - Woven material with six-sided 1/2 inch holes.

Integration Material - A braided nylon sewing thread used to construct a foundation with any size holes.

System Fronts

Scallop Front - This front is designed to be slightly wavy along the hairline giving a realistic look. This type of front lasts the longest. Underventing cannot be done with this front.

Smooth Line Front - Underventing (hair coming from the underneath side of the system) is recommended for front hairlines that go in a smooth line.

Lace Front Materials

All Star Lace/Mono Graft Welded Mono - This is the same material as fine mono, but uses finer, more closely-woven threads. It is used for welded mono lace fronts and mono graft systems. Underventing cannot be done with this front.

French Lace - A "theatrical" lace material used to create a very natural front hairline. It may also be used for the entire foundation. Underventing cannot be done with this front.

Skin Lace - A very thin polyurethane plus gauze material. It is very natural looking, but very delicate and short-lived. Underventing cannot be done with this front.

Ventilation Options

Single Hair Vent - One hair is vented at a time. This is good for daily-wear customers who want an open look. This is the most convincing, but also the most delicate venting and is not recommended for hard usage. This venting may also be ordered in specific areas only, for example, front, part, crown or as desired.

Skin Graft V Loop Stitch - This is extremely natural with no knots at all. It must be polyurethane sealed and is not long-lasting.

Skin Graft Half Knot - This is used in polyurethane areas and is sealed after venting. It is as durable as single hair venting and is close to loop stitch for the finished appearance.

Standard Venting - The hair is vented 2 to 3 hairs at a time. It is good-looking and durable. The knots are more noticeable if styled strongly open. This is the recommended knotting for longer lasting results for permanent-wear customers. It may be ordered in specific areas only if requested.

sexibeach2009-02-08 07:48:17

Posted By: LatinJuliet
Date Posted: Mar 25, 2008 at 9:34pm

You obviously know your stuff, it's great to have someone so knowledgeable on this forum. I have never worn a lace wig but I am interested in purchasing one. I've looked through all the links you've posted but I can't seem to find one I like at a reasonable price. I want long black wavy, silky straight and human. I agree, chinese vendors are great but none seem to have what I'm looking for...any suggestions? I'm a little nervous about this purchase but excited as well...luckily you're on here to guide me Tongue

Also, I have very long hair - too long to braid, will my hair get full of odor if I swim with my unit on? I'm planning on getting it for my wedding.

Thank you for all your help - ,

D

Posted By: sexibeach
Date Posted: Mar 26, 2008 at 6:33pm

NEW TIP AND PRODUCT BY Countessrim

Ok ya'll I found that miracle product that makes my unit as fresh, soft, silky and a new as it was when it first popped out it's bag! This little jewel call Simply Stylin' is a gift from God! It's a pure silicone serum that is used on hair. I found it's website while searching for other Silicone products as an alternative to Silicon Mix. I bought the samples ($2) on Monday and they showed up in my mail box today. So, since my week old unit was looking rough (by rough I mean, stiff, matted, dry, dull, and tangled) I descided to go to the lab!

Here are my steps:

1) Bleach Bath my unit (seriously use Clorox I know others will debate on this but, it's the only bleach that actually works for my Holly units)

2) Shampoo with Dove Intensive Moisturizer Shampoo

3) Condition with a mix of Extra Virgin Coconut Oil, and Dove Intensive Conditioner. Nuke in the micorwave for a minute in 30 sec interavals. Let sit in bag for 3 minutes. FULLY rinse out with luke warm water.

4) Spritz on some Shine Pearl Intive leave in Serum ($1 at Dollar Genral)

5) Evenly distribute about 2 oz. (The whole sample bottle) of the Simply Stylin

Posted By: sexibeach
Date Posted: Mar 26, 2008 at 6:54pm

NATURAL PART TIP WITH STERI STRIPS FOR THE BROWN SKIN SISTA'S BY JADEVETTI STEP BY STEP HOW SHE DID THE TIP:

Ok, First, depending on what type of parting I want (one part or double parts) I correlate my strips to it. For a wide part, I used the wide Steri Strip. I dabbed the strip with my foundation using a thin applicator brush, then attached the clean sticky side onto my wig cap. So sticky side=down, makeup on top. I made sure I measured exactly where my lace would fall, so that it lined perfectly with the part. Then I used the thin applicator brush to smudge in a little foundation on the strip, through the lace, for extra blending (to match my complexion even more, no need to really do this if you are lighter toned).

And voila! That's it. I have the thin strips as well to use for any double part tricks I may want to try. I will keep you updated if and when I do that. I was very pleased with how convenient it was to apply. I made the mistake the first time around trying to attach the strip to the lace, which means I'd have to color in the sticky part. That didn't work so well, the strip wouldn't stick at all anymore.

Posted By: sexibeach
Date Posted: Mar 28, 2008 at 4:50pm

Question:

Answer:

Can you send me a color ring?

Can you send me color swatches?

How dark is (color 6) dark brown?

How do you name the colors?

I don't see this color on the website sample chart.

Since we use several factories, we don't have hair samples or a color ring that would cover our entire selection . Colors vary slightly from one wig to the next since there is no industry standard for wig colors. However, they are similar enough to be labeled as the same color number. Also, hair with a "wet look" will seem to be a darker shade than the same color in another non-wet-look piece.

Naming a color is a challenge since the perception of hair color depends a lot on the color and tone of the person wearing it. On darker skin, one color will look blonde, and the same wig on light skin looks very dark. For example, I had one light skinned customer try on the color 6 (dark brown) and say "I don't look good in black hair." I had another darker skinned customer refer to the exact same color as "too blonde."

For example, check out these ladies. wig%20color Whose hair color is lighter? What color is their hair? Is one Strawberry Blonde and one Light Auburn? They are exactly the same color hair. You see my dilemma.
I do my best to accurately describe each color since there is no way for me to know what color skin the hair is going on (and since everyone has their own ideas of what "blonde" or "brown" is.) Being in the hair styling profession for 25 years, my most natural choice was to base the color names on professional hair tint color charts.

There is no website color chart for the party colors because the colors vary with each style. If you are trying to match a particular costume, send us a sample of the fabric so we can see if it will match.

There is no color sample on the chart for uncommon colors that are only on a few styles.

What color is the wig in the picture?

Colors tend to look deferent on different monitors and with different lighting so even if I remembered what color the wig was, it would be misleading to tell you. I have no way to know what exactly you are looking at on your system.

If you are not familiar with wig colors, the best bet is to order by mail and send me a clipping rather than guessing from the computer pictures or descriptions. See address on the following question.

How do I know what color my hair is?

Please send me a sample of your hair. Make it large enough that I can clearly see the color, at least 1/4 inch thick. If the color is for a 3/4 cap or fall, please send a clipping near the front of your hair (clip off a piece from root to end). If the clipping is for a ponytail or hairpiece, I'll need both the front and back color.

Is this a good color?

Does this color look natural?

Answers in this paragraph are based on the synthetic colors only.

Although there is no such thing as a good or bad color, I do have some suggestions as to what colors I do NOT suggest if you are trying to match natural hair:

Color 24 or a 16:
these 2 colors are more of a "formerly grey and tinted blonde" color that doesn't have much gold in it. It is a wonderful color on a wig for a mature person because of the soft tones, but does not make a good hairpiece match for natural or tinted (non-greyish) hair.

24/14 and 18/22: Works well for a wig, but not for most hair pieces. These are very cool colors. There is also 24/14G, that is golden, but the regular 24/14 is not. If you have brown hair that is frosted with a warm blonde, these colors will NOT be gold enough to match your hair. They will look greyish next to your warm hair color. 18/22 is drabber--almost a greyish look (without any silver.) There is a color called 8t124 which is similar but a bit warmer than the 24/14, so I'd suggest that might be a better match if your hair is frosted.

Color 14: Is great for a wig if you want a lightest brown-- almost blonde color, but not good for a long hair piece, fall, or ponytail. It is too ashy for most natural "blonde/brown" hair. For a ponytail, it is better to go with a lighter shade if your hair is a blonde/brown since lighter ends are quite common in blonde/brown color of hair. Works fine for a scrunchie or a short piece such as Becky or Hayley. If you have blonde/brown hair, you might like the 10t19 (only in the Jewel).

Color 12: similar to the above but a shade darker. It s a good color for a wig on a cooler darker skinned person, but doesn't match very many people's hair. Once again, I do not suggest it for a long hair piece, fall, or ponytail unless your hair is tinted. Since most natural light brown hair has a warm tone and is lighter toward the ends, this color tends to look flat and "greenish" next to most light brown hair. Might be fine for a scrunchie or a short piece such as Becky or Hayley.

I encourage people to send a hair sample before purchasing a hairpiece.

I was told my hair is ash blonde, so that is what I ordered. This look greyish.

Why do you call it ash blonde?

What is Ash? What is Warm?

Some technical words end up being interpreted incorrectly in everyday language. The term "ash blonde" is commonly used to describe hair that was once golden and has darkened and gotten duller over the years. Compared to the way it was, it is now more of an "ash blonde". But technically, the hair itself probably still has gold tones in it and may more accurately be described as a blonde/brown.

Tone is not lightness or darkness of a color. For example, ash blonde does not mean dark blonde. Ash blonde means that the blonde has no gold in it. It is a cool color--like the drabness of ashes. Warm means it has reddish or golden overtones, like the warmth of the sun. Drab means it is even more ashy than ash--more toward the dull greyish side. Ash colors can look greyish or even greenish on warmer skin tones. Golds can look reddish or brassy on cooler skin tones. So what is a warm ash? A neutral color that might look golden on some people and greyish on others.

I have to laugh when I see the color charts for some manufacturers with 5 colors described as "Medium Golden Blonde". If you look at the hair, there isn't any "gold" in any of those colors. Most of them are ash.

I encourage people to send a hair sample since the perception of hair color depends a lot on the person wearing it.

What it a "tipped" color?

What does the "t" mean? Like in 8t124

How much of the ends are of the lighter color?

A tipped color is like a mix of two colors with only the lighter color on the ends. The illusion is that the roots are darker than the ends for a beautiful effect: like highlighting or sunstreaking. The amount of tipping varies with each wig.

There are usually 2 numbers listed with a "t" between them. The darker color is the base color, and the lighter color is the tip color. How this is done: Both colors are blended through the root and middle area. The base color stops near the end, but the tip color keeps going so it looks lighter on the ends.

For example, 4t130: Auburn with flame auburn tips = A mix of dark brown (4) and flame (130) at the roots and through the middle. Flame (and no brown) at the tips. The overall effect looks like someone who may have had dark brown hair with sunbleached ends that has now dyed their hair with flame hair dye. The darker hair would be a darker flame, and the ends would be brighter.

Another example, 8t124: brown and blonde are blended throughout the wig, but the tips are totally blonde. This wig looks like brown hair that was frosted with blonde a few times--the roots are a bit darker than the ends.

What is highlighted?

What does the "h" mean? Such as: 24h613

How much of the highlight color is in the wig?

There are usually 2 numbers listed with a "h" between them. Sometimes the "h" is in the beginning. Different manufacturers name them differently. For example: 24h613 is the same as h613-24

The darker color is the base color, and the lighter color is the highlight color. Normally, the highlight color is about every 3 inches and the thickness of the highlight is about an inch wide throughout the wig and thinner strands towards the top. The amount of highlighting varies with each wig.

What is mixed, blended, frosted or streaked colors?

What does the "/" mean? Such as: 24/14

What does the "SP" mean? Such as:1bsp33

How much of the each color is in the wig?

Do the streaks show?

There are usually 2 numbers listed with a "/" between them. The two colors are evenly used in the wig. The amount of blending varies with each wig.

Unfortunately, there is no industry standard on how these colors are blended. Sometimes they are streaks, sometimes they are blended so that it looks like one color, sometimes it gives a highlighted or frosted effect. Most of the time it give a slight highlighted effect and color depth to the wig without looking streaky.

There is also an "sp" blending code. The "SP" suggests that the two colors are closely blended to form a new color. It looks like one color rather than highlighted. For example in the 1bsp33, the color strands of 1b and 33 are blended creating a blackish version of the color 33.

If you have a question about a particular wig in a mixed color, please contact me and I'll see if I can describe it.

Does this wig come in this color?

I didn't see the color I wanted in the pull down choices.

Can you make it in my color?

Not all wigs come in all colors. Colors an item comes in are listed in the pulldown menu next to each item.

To custom make a wig in a certain color would require you to order a minimum of 20 pieces of that exact style in that exact color. If it is something you will be wearing for many many years, it might be worth the investment. I don't recommend it unless it is for a dance team or other group of performances that need the exact wigs in a certain color. It does take 6-8 weeks for a special 20 pieces or more order.

If I don't like the color, can the wig be dyed?

Synthetic hair cannot be tinted. It is made out of a nylon fabric and will not take any kind of human hair color. It would be like trying to dye pantyhose with hair dye. It doesn't work.

You may tint human hair, but it is not always recommended. It is not easy to go lighter, but sometimes you can tint them darker. If you want a lighter color, it is best to order a different color.

You may not return a wig that has be tinted.

Are the rave reviews from customers who bought human hair wigs, synthetics or both?

Both.

This human hair color looks different than the synthetic one I bought.

Most human hair tends to be "warmer" than synthetics of the same color. For example, the color 30 in synthetic is a brownish auburn. In human hair in is a truer redder auburn.

The Human hair colors vary much much more than the synthetics, especially in the blondes. In some wigs color 613 is a pale blonde, in some it is a brassy bleached blonde. I try and put a "G" next to the human hair wigs where the color has more of a brassy tone to it. All of the human hair blondes are not as "pale" as the synthetic of the same color and tend to be more golden.

Brunettes -- Do not try and match your hair against this chart. It is only a guide and not color accurate.
	1=Blackest Black, very black--like a witch black, or a tinted deep black.
	1B=Natural Black, close to 1b but more of a natural color. Not as harsh as the color 1.
	2=Brownish Black, one shade lighter than the 1b. Has some brownish overtones to it.
	4=Darkest Brown, a very dark brunette, not black, but very dark.
	6=Dark Brown, lighter than the color 4. More of a medium dark brown. Not quiet a dark dark brown.
	33=Mahogany Auburn, a dark auburn similar in darkness to a color 6, but with a violet auburn tone. Not orangy or flame.
	8=Medium Brown, lighter than the color 6. Looks lighter on dark skin. An ashy tone. No gold.
	30=Brownish Auburn, about as light as a color 10, but reddish more than brownish. Not as bright as a flame, more of a natural chestnut auburn.
	10=Medium Light Brown, a regular light ash brown color. Not dark, not blonde. Leans towards the ash side rather than gold.
	12=Light Ash Brown, lighter than color 10. See FAQ above for more information.
	27=Light Auburn, about as light as a color 14, but reddish. Sometimes referred to as strawberry blonde on people with dark skin, but it is darker than a true blonde.
	14=Blondish Ash Brown, a color not quite dark blonde and not quite light brown. See FAQ above for more information.

Blondes -- Do not try and match your hair against this chart. It is only a guide and not color accurate.
	16=Med Wheat Blonde, not a "natural" blonde color. See FAQ above for more information.
	19=Golden Strawberry Blonde, lighter than a 27. A medium blonde color. This color is seen often when dark hair is lightened to blonde using a tint. It is golden with some reddish tones. Very pretty.
	15=Warm Ash Blonde, a lot like the 19, but slighlty less red. Lighter than the color 14 and more golden.
	24=Med Beige Blonde, not a "natural" blonde color. See FAQ above for more information.
	24B=Med Warm Blonde, similar to the color 19 but lighter. Same lightness as the 24b, but more golden. Beautiful color. This color is seen often when medium brown hair is lightened to blonde using a tint. Great hairpiece color on many medium blondes.

Posted By: NOT W8N
Date Posted: Mar 29, 2008 at 5:04pm

(#t $, 4r 0 `a``

Sexi - i being the studious newbie that i am - found that the link for the how to wrap your hair to be incorrect... here is the right one... i guess you can just edit the link above

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_0ZuPj3898Y&feature=related

Posted By: sexibeach
Date Posted: Mar 29, 2008 at 7:30pm

thanks sometimes those youtubes move alot..

Posted By: sexibeach
Date Posted: Apr 3, 2008 at 6:35pm

by QUEENBEE:

Buying LF Wigs Online

Thank you for taking the time to read our guide. We hope that we can provide you with tips on purchasing the best lace front wig and help you avoid disappointments, scams and costly mistakes.

The 10 Commandments to Follow When Buying Lace Front Wigs Online

1. Thou shall find out how long the seller has been in business and if they do indeed make or order their wigs elsewhere. Many sellers purchase their wigs overseas from mass produced shops. They gather your measurements and then ship them off to the foreign shops to be created. This can be a bit risky since most foreign suppliers focus on quantity and not quality which could result in a poorly made unit that only last for a few weeks to a month. Also if there is a mistake with your custom unit then the wig will have to be sent back for repairs which will take even longer. Make sure you know what your sellers policies are in the event that your wig comes back with defects or errors.

2. Thou shall ask the seller for references Many lace front sellers keep a compiled list of references for potential customers interested in purchasing a unit but would like to contact past customers first. Ebay feedback is great for viewing customers remarks about the sellers wigs.

3. Thou shall be leary of 0 and private feedbacks. Zero feedback doesn't mean that the seller is not legit. To be on the safe side request references or ask if they have any sample photos of their actual work. A lot of sellers use private feedbacks which means no one can view what is being said about their items. This is a red flag for most when ordering such a personal, costly item.

4. Thou shall do your own research. Make sure that you are fully educated on lace front wigs before making the decision to purchase one. Talk with others who wear & sell lace front wigs.Applying a lace front wig is an art within itself so get educated on the pros and cons of these wigs.

5. Thou shall ask thyself if the price is reasonable A decent price for a lace front is hard to determine since people value their products at different levels. If the seller makes their own lace fronts and does not order wholesale then the price will be higher usually ranging from $500-$1,000 depending on length. It takes 40-60 hours for highly experienced wig makers to create a full hand-tied wig. Find out what others are paying for their wigs and the quality of the wig.

6. Thou shall request photos of the actual wig or photos of the sellers work Don't settle for celebrity photos on stock units. Matter of fact, don't settle for celebrity photos at all, not unless they are being used to compare their actual wig against a celebrities to show similarities. Reputable sellers do not use copyrighted celebrity photos to solely endorse their product. 1.) The celebrity in the photo may not even be wearing a lace front 2.) If they are, it is theft and misrepresentation of someone elses work and not that of the seller (unless noted that it is indeed their work) If you want to view the wig from a different angle ask the seller for a photo of the wig from that angle. Don't be hesitant to request the pictures you will need in order to make a decision to purchase. Most sellers will be more than happy to accomodate your wishes.

7. Thou shall be sure the seller will offer after-purchase customer service. Customer service is big when purchasing a lace front wig. You may need help after you recieve your wig. Be sure to order from a seller that will offer you after service support and responds fast and professionally to all your request.

8. Thou shall know the sellers policy. Be sure to read the entire ebay listing and make yourself familiar with their return policy and the way unsatisfactory is handled. If you are not confident the wig will fit, either ask for assistance on measuring your head or don't purchase the unit. Most sellers do not offer a refund which means you may get stuck with a unit that doesn't fit.

9. Thou shall make sure the lace front wig comes with a guide Any product should come with a guide of use and care. Lace front wigs are no exception. Make sure that your wig comes with a guide that tells you how to apply, remove and take basic care of your unit.

10. Thou shall remember the signs of danger. Be leary of sellers who do not respond to messages, stress immediate payment over and over again in their listing, does not have photos of their actual products or uses photos stolen from other sellers, has private, negative and or 0 feedback, does not offer after-purchase customer service, use celebrity photos to solely sell their products, has unorganized unprofessional listings, constantly uses 1 day listings. Also check the sellers completed listing in search of self-bidding.

These are just a few basic things to consider when purchasing a lace front wig online. If a seller has a few of these signs it doesn't mean that they are automatically a bad seller or scammer. Every seller has a way that they do business so what it comes down to is your personal choice. Do your research & choose a seller that you feel comfortable with.

Happy Lace Front Buying!!

BUYING USED LF FROM MEMBERS

BY PRINCESSLF AND CHARMED:

I'm starting this topic as an etiquette type of thing. I'm a member of several hair boards and recently purchased a used unit from one of the members, who that person is is not important. However, what is important are basic etiquette things that should be done when selling a used unit:

1. Remove all adhesive from the unit. If you can't remove all the adhesive after at least making the attempt to do so, make the buyer aware of this beforehand.

2. WASH and CONDITION the unit before you mail it out. Don't take the unit off your head, stuff it in a package as is with all the hair products you had on it, grease, dirt etc and ship it out.

3. Make some attempt to package the unit nicely. When you received the unit brand new, it came to you with the hair netting and a plastic bag. Comb the unit or at least show that you wanted to send a good product.

Even if the unit is a beater, there is no excuse to send a nasty, dirty unit to someone. What's nasty and dirty is reaching into the package and grabbing hold of a greasy mess that you have to immediately drop and wash and sanitize your hands.

1. dont mis communciate the condition of the unit (hair length, condition, cap condition etc.)

2. dont charge an arm and a leg when you know it is worth $50 and actually you should be giving it away.

I bought a unit from someone and when I received the wig there were holes in the lace, the hair was coming out, it had been dyed (that was not mentioned) it was much shorter than described and she charged me $185 for a very used wig vs a gently used item. I was steaming mad and I addressed her behind the scenes.

Ladies beware that there are people that are selling units cause they are trying to get up some bill money. I don't have issue with that BUT if it's crap dont try to jerk me

Posted By: sexibeach
Date Posted: Apr 3, 2008 at 6:42pm

Compare Hair System Bases

Base%20Comparison How does it look? How does it feel? How long does it last? Choosing the right hair system base can seem tricky, but we're here to help.

Use the comparison chart below to decide which base design would be the best fit for you. Want to learn more about appearance vs. durability?

Full Lace Bases
HD24 Full Lace Base					hide
HD03 Full Scalp Lace					hide
HD26 Full Reinforced New York Lace					hide
Show all Hide all

Lace Front Bases
HD21 Hollywood Lace Front Conventional Top					hide
HD22 Hollywood Lace Front C-Thru Back					hide
HD04 New York Lace Front Poly Skin Back					hide
HD06 New York Lace Front Conventional Top					hide
HD18 Hollywood Lace Zig Zag PU Skin Top					hide
HD11 Reinforced Lace Front Conventional Top					hide
Show all Hide all

Skin Bases
HD10 Micro Skin Base					hide
HD14 All C-Thru Skin					hide
HD23 True Remy Skin Base					hide
Show all Hide all

Conventional Bases
HD08 Nylon Top with Thin Poly Front					hide
HD07 Nylon Top Thin Poly Perimeter					hide
HD05 Skin Front Nylon Top & PU Perimeter					hide
HD13 Nylon Top PU Perimeter Skin Lip Front					hide
HD01 Nylon Top PU Perimeter NY Lace Front					hide
HD02 Nylon Top Poly Perimeter					hide

//tblInit("BaseComparison"); tblInit("FullLaceBases"); tblInit("LaceFrontBases"); tblInit("SkinBases"); tblInit("ConventionalBases");

Posted By: sexibeach
Date Posted: Apr 13, 2008 at 12:04pm

TRANSITIONING FROM RELAXER TO NATURAL WHILE WEARING LF'S:

During the time you are transitioning, there are really two key things to focus on: 1) you will need to keep your hair moisturized, and 2) the point where your relaxed hair meets your natural hair is very fragile. You want to wear the simplest styles possible with as little manipulation as possible. Something "tied down" like a bun or cornrows, or protective style like lace front wigs are good options. Styles that disguise the two textures and don't require combing like a wet set are also good. Insert Lf's here!

Braids are fine during your transition. If you are planning to use extensions, it's probably best to go to a natural hair stylist to have them done versus a braiding salon. Theoretically, a natural hair care salon will understand what you are trying to accomplish and give more consideration to the overall health of your hair. When you get braids done improperly, unfortunately they can cause scalp damage and hair loss.
Use a moisturizing shampoo, moisturizing conditioner, leave in conditioner, moisturizing styling products, and seal with Oil to lock moisture in...there is really no such thing as hair that is too moist for a transitioner.

Here's product that is especially designed for black hair that is for curly coiled hair:

http://www.curlmart.com/store/home.php?cat=9&gclid=CPKEvuy72JICFQm6PAodqRIsmA

Posted By: sexibeach
Date Posted: Apr 13, 2008 at 7:34pm

TIP BY LOVEANGIE ON ADHESIVE REMOVAL:

I posted this in another thread but I think it deserves a thread of it's own. To remove tapes (yes blue liner tape too!) and glues from your lace without alcohol and without oil (goo gone, etc.), try this: Cinema Secrets Brush Cleaner, along with this: natural bristle brush.

The Cinema Secrets is meant to clean and sanitize makeup brushes and it doesn't contain alcohol and it isn't oily. It smells like vanilla. ^_^ I get the big bottle and put some into a small 2 oz spray bottle. To remove my wig, I spray a little CSBC on the along the hairline and gently rub it in. After about 30 seconds, I can lift it up. Most of the tapes and glues stick to my head and not the wig. What ever is left on the wig, I spritz with the CSBC and brush gently with the brush (that little brush is the truth) and it's out. No oil. No holes in your lace. No stinky solvent or orange smell.

I don't work for them, I just really like it and wanted to share.

I now use it exclusively and know for a fact that it works on Supertape, Blue Liner tape, Vapon NoTape, CoolPiece ORWG and White Cream Adhesive, but not on SPIRIT GUM

A makeup artist discovered this trick and this is what they use on sets to clean ventilated lace goods.

Posted By: sexibeach
Date Posted: Apr 13, 2008 at 8:30pm

The Cinema Secrets brush cleaner is here: http://www.alconeco.com/products/tools/brush_cleaner/cinema_secret_s_brush_cleaner

The Natural Brushes are here: http://www.alconeco.com/products/tools/brushes/hair_coloring/rcma_hair_coloring_brush

the brushes are dye brushes but they are used to clean lace wigs too

Posted By: mslady
Date Posted: Apr 15, 2008 at 5:03am

Tips by meechie2cute--

Well for all yall Mastix P sprit gum users...I use Stridex to remove the glue from skin AND lace. It cleanses it well and get all those flaky bits off the skin. This also works for silicon based glues, this prevent excess "boogies" and just gets rid of them. Stridex are alcohol free. They are awesome and Stri-Dex%20Maximum%20Strength

super affordable.

Posted By: mslady
Date Posted: Apr 15, 2008 at 5:46am

UPDATED: HOW TO APPLY LACE WIG USING TAPE--

http://video.aol.com/video-detail/front-lace-wig-application/101159560 - http://video.aol.com/video-detail/front-lace-wig-application/101159560

Posted By: sexibeach
Date Posted: Apr 17, 2008 at 5:50pm

AMERICAN VENDOR:

www.contagioushair.com

UK VENDOR AFRO GERMAN GIRL

www.bargainlacewigs.co.uk

Posted By: sexibeach
Date Posted: Apr 18, 2008 at 7:12am

HAIR TYPES AND TEXTURES:

Lighty Yaki - Freshly Permed AA hair

Yaki - Kinky straight or appears like you might need a perm

Virgin Unprocessed - Hair in its natural state, no chemical processes

Curly - Kinky Curls, Smooth Silky Curls, all done by chemical process

Wavy - loose wave, water wave, deep wave done by chemical process

Chinese Virgin - Thicker coarse hair shaft not as shiny as indian

Indian Virgin - more shiny and thinner hair shaft

Malaysian Virgin - in between the thickness of chinese and indian, some natural unprocessed malaysian is wavy, curly and even straight more expensive hair

Please refer to page one on the other different types of virgin unprocessed hair..

Posted By: sexibeach
Date Posted: Apr 23, 2008 at 6:26pm

Curlygirl11's tip:

Custom Colored Lace & Wig Caps Tutorial

http://talk.hairboutique.com//forum_posts.asp?TID=60607

Countessim tips on Hiding Grids:

which can also refresh the steri strips and Johnson & Johnson bandage tip while applied and when it needs a refreshing.

Trick to Hide Grids in Parts

http://talk.hairboutique.com//forum_posts.asp?TID=60640

Posted By: hairmad
Date Posted: Apr 29, 2008 at 6:36am

no one has ever made me shut up so easily! respect girl....i am going to take my time read this and get intelligent about lace hair!

with knowledge and research like this...girl you gotta be rich!

Posted By: sexibeach
Date Posted: May 9, 2008 at 2:29pm

Jacksun's website:

http://www.shuangyewig.com/

Posted By: reggie54
Date Posted: May 18, 2008 at 1:53pm

i am having a problem this site is great but i am lost i want to ask a question and possibly get a answer i am a new member. my name is regina i apologize because i put this message on two foroums. well hopely this is the right one.

i am 54 yrs. old i was given a new lace front wig but i find it is to thick. i would like to know what would be an apporiate density for me the one i have is 100% or medium density i find that very full. i want it to look as natural as possible.

i also have transparent lace, even though i lost most of my hair to lupus i still feel its to light. my skin tone is close to toni braxton what color lace do you recommend. i plan on buying another one for my birthday next month

and i need help i dont kknow much about vendors also i can't afford to waste the money

Posted By: sexibeach
Date Posted: May 30, 2008 at 5:15am

www.shuangyewig.com

Posted By: keedielove
Date Posted: Jun 17, 2008 at 8:35pm

i just used GOO GONE to get some invisibond glue off my skin and i swear it works so well!

Posted By: sexibeach
Date Posted: Jun 19, 2008 at 5:04pm

CUTICLE ALIGNED AND NON CUTICLED ALIGNED HUMAN HAIR

"The cuticle: The outermost surface of the hair shaft and is composed of a very hard keratin. It consists of flattened platelets of amphorous keratin, wrapped around the hair shaft in several layers, each layer overlapping the adjacent one progressing from the root of the hair to its tip. The cuticle scale is sub-divided into three further layers, the endocuticle (third layer), exocuticle (middle layer) and epicuticle (the outermost layer) respectively.

The cuticle is the outermost part of the hair structure and its function is to reduce nutrition loss and block the invasion of foreign matter. It is the most important part to keep your hair looking healthy."

Most commercially processed hair is from China and has been processed with a type of acid to remove the cuticles. One of the reasons cuticles are removed has to do with how the hair is collected. Another reason acid is used is to thin out each hair strand. At this time Caucasian hair is the most popular in extensions, and wigs. By removing cuticle the hair strand becomes finer resembling Caucasian hair.

The hair is then sorted into lengths, colored, and usually permed. In the factory it will pass through a lot of hands from start to finish. When hair is passed on from one person to the next without strict quality control some of the hair can easily become inverted. It's extremely easy to turn the hair, even for professional wig makers, there is always that possibility. When working with hair you cannot tell which way the direction is by looking, all the hairs look the same. This is where strict quality control, and continually testing the hair with each step, from start to finish comes in.

In the long run it takes more time for quality work, but is well worth it. The amount of companies who are offering custom hand tied wefts are diminishing quickly. Assembly line hair is made on industrial sewing machines and will always be less expensive, sacrificing quality for profit. Some companies claim their hair is the same cuticle direction but they strip the hair anyway. This doesn't make sense, and is counterproductive. If the hair is truly all in one direction why strip it? The only reason is poor quality control. Removing cuticle will make the hair useable for a few weeks although the process to remove cuticle makes the hair lose its luster, and compromises the hairs natural beauty.

Once the hair has been processed it will need a silicone layer to bring back shine, and keep the hair from feeling scratchy. This silicone layer does wash off in time, meaning generally you must buy all new hair every 8 to 12 weeks. Human hair growing from the scalp is always roots to ends in the same direction. The type of hand tieing we do is from roots to ends, and only done on the best quality unprocessed human hair.

In processed hair the silicone layer wears off, and you will notice the hair becomes dull and tangles easily. At approximately 1 to 2 months time the tangles form into mats at the top of the weft. You will never see processed hair in actual custom made hand tied wefts. There's far too much work, and time involved to custom make wefts with a lesser quality of hair.

Posted By: sexibeach
Date Posted: Jun 19, 2008 at 5:07pm

Human Hair

Human hair extensions are made from genuine human hair that is paid for and harvested from people, usually young women, all over the world. Human hair extensions can vary broadly in quality.

On the low-medium end of the scale, hair is chemically stripped of its cuticle so that it can be machine processed without regard for direction or root-tip alignment. If the cuticle were left in but the root-tip alignment mixed up, the microscopic scales that form the cuticle would be opposed and snag on each other causing tangling.

The negative effects of stripping the cuticle are brittleness, reduced protection from sunlight, dryness, salt, chlorine and pollution as well as a tendency to absorb liquids and swell or matt. It is not advisable to colour or heat-style this hair.

Remi [AKA Remy] hair refers to hair that has not had its cuticle stripped and has at least been partially hand-processed to maintain root-tip alignment. This hair is more expensive but will remain in good condition for much longer than stripped hair. It can also be heat styled and coloured.

The other main scale of measurement of hair quality is the

Posted By: sexibeach
Date Posted: Jun 26, 2008 at 4:12pm

DIVAVOCALS TIP ON BLEACHING:

This is very true.. It's a common mistake that newbies to bleaching make.. They see the hair going through the color transition, panic and rinse the bleach out too soon.. When bleaching dark hair, the color transformation goes through a few color transformation stages.. Orange is ONE level on the way to the blonde end of the color spectrum (which is what you want to achieve when you bleach knots)

Bleaching hair effectively strips what appears to be our "natural" hair color, exposing the underlying pigment lurking beneath the surface.

Depending on how dark your hair is naturally, your underlying pigment could range from rusty orange to pale yellow.

Hair Coloring Formula

Virgin Hair
Underlying Pigment
+ Artificial Pigments
______________________
Final Result

Previously Colored Hair
Underlying Pigment of Regrowth
+ Existing Artificial Pigments
+ Artificial Pigments in New Color
_______________________
Final Result

Step One - Identify Natural Haircolor Level

An international system is used to identify the level of darkness of your hair, 1 being the darkest (black) and 10 being the lightest (blonde). Match your hair (just the regrowth if it's previously colored) to the hair color swatch below that most closely resembles the darkness of your haircolor...not necessarily the tone, which could be warm(red), cool(ash), or neutral, but the degree of lightness or darkness.

Step Two - Identify Your Underlying Pigment

Click to enlarge

A hair coloring process that involves any amount of hydrogen peroxide (which can include some semi-permanent formulas) will bring out the natural underlying pigment of your hair.

The "natural looking" tone that's visible as your hair color is not the true tone when it comes to the chemistry of hair coloring. Think of it as a surface layer that's stripped away, and laying in wait underneath are the bold and brassy tones of your underlying pigment.

The chart above clearly illustrates which color of underlying pigment corresponds with the natural level you identified in step one. So now you know what you're dealing with.

Posted By: Raquek
Date Posted: Sep 4, 2008 at 12:35pm

I been buying my lace wig from Styling Wigs - http://www.stylingwigs.com

Their prices seem reasonable to me plus the hair they use seems pretty good.

Posted By: nbrooks
Date Posted: Nov 4, 2008 at 7:38am

hello my name is nikki. i was reading a thread and i was wondering if you could help me. i purchased a lace front wig and it is too big. i think i cut the lace too short becase it won't stay down and its extreemly loose in the back which i also think messed up the fit. is their anything i could do nbrooks2008-11-04 07:41:51,!))

Posted By: sheeya
Date Posted: Nov 14, 2008 at 1:25pm

for those who need a visual on how to measure your hairline to customize your wig go to this link for the diagram

http://www.fabulouslacewigs.net/measurements.html

,!$% Cif`adpr ,,

Posted By: Msplaygurl
Date Posted: Nov 28, 2008 at 5:31pm

I've searched for reviews but cannot find anything, but has anyone purchased a custom unit from Hairaffairs on ebay??? If so, how did it turn out?

Posted By: lacewignewbee
Date Posted: Mar 26, 2009 at 8:27pm

im a 16 year old. and i had gotten my first lace wig on tuesday. and the lady that did it had sewed it to my braids. so far i do like it. But problems im having is the parting & the grid. where can i buy the strips(sallys?) tips? cause its indian remy curly hair. maybe next time ill go ahead and do the tape instead cause the sewed in isnt really looking natural.

Posted By: sexibeach
Date Posted: May 15, 2009 at 5:26am

UP GRADED VERSION OF THE BLEACH BATH, ITS MORE AFFECTIVE B/C WE ARE NOW DEALING WITH HAIR THAT IS UNRULY..

COMB THAT UNIT OUT COMPLETELY B4 IT TOUCHES THE WATER..Ok mircowave the hot tap water only for 2 min. YOU ADD THE BLEACH TO THE WATER AFTER YOU HEATED THE WATER NOT BEFORE. you should fix a big mixing bowl with shampoo and conditioner b/c you will dip the unit in that shampoo/conditoner solution in between the 2 parts.. the bleach a little MORE THAN THE 1/4TH A CUP BUT less than 1/2 cup + one gallon of water, put in the bleach and water for 3 minutes lift it up every now DURING THAT 3 MIN., and then with a wide tooth comb attempt to comb thru starting at the ends.. its not necessary to get it detangled in this part, just start it and let it soak in that bleach for the full 3 min.s use a timer..

dip in the shampoo/conditioner, while you prepare A NEW BATCH OF WATER FOR THE AMMONIA SOLUTION (NEVER MIX AMMONIA AND BLEACH TOGETHER)(mircowave the water 2 mins) (AGAIN NEVER HEAT THE WATER WITH THE AMMONIA IN IT, ADD IT AFTER THE WATER IS HEATED NOT BEFORE) for the ammonia a little MORE THAN THE 1/4TH A CUP but a little less than 1/2 cup + 3 CUPS OF WATER (not a gallon) the extra percentage of bleach and ammonia amounts are for a unit that has already matted b4 ONLY, not one that's trying to prevent matting. You need to stick with the 1/4 th cup measurement for prevention..

when you put it in the ammonia mix, put it all the way down in there for 3 min's use a timer. lift it up and being the combing again, and comb it all the way thru then lay it back down in the solution to soak, do a comb thru a couple of times during the 3 min process.. you'll see the tangles come out completely easy in the ammonia.. the ammonia part is the truth for detangle.

then put back in the shampoo/conditioner solution.. then squeeze the excess water out, and begin to saturate it completely with conditioner comb it thru again, it should be silky smooth and tangle free now. and put it in a zip lock baggie UNLOCKED, just fold it over, and nuke it for 30 SECONDS ONLY.. and then just let it sit in the conditioner a little bit.. then remove from the baggie, (don't rinse yet) and place it back on the wig head and pin it down.. then begin the rinse of the conditioner out of the hair running your finger thru the hair in a downward direction.. and finish the rinse and let it air dry..

Posted By: natural hair
Date Posted: May 20, 2009 at 1:19am

Hi sexi,I read all the info you posted in one breath, so useful they are! Thanks! To tell the truth,I am a lf wigs manufacturer from China,but I do not want to advertise here,I want to become another

Posted By: ilnaij
Date Posted: Jul 7, 2009 at 11:10pm

AMERICAN VENDORS

www.californialacewigs.com

www.thehairnetwork.com

www.mywigsandweaves.com

www.mymaneattractions.com

CHINESE VENDORS

IVY

Website: http://www.visionremyhair.com

Email: visionhaircn@gmail.com or ivy-hair@hotmail.com

!,% `e a ``` . b ($, p % %!,,) ! % ! $``

Posted By: hottipsfashion
Date Posted: Sep 28, 2009 at 6:29pm

Girl,you are right!But some american vendors do ventilate their wigs,even their cheap full lace wigs,

Administrator2009-09-28 20:16:10

Posted By: hottipsfashion
Date Posted: Sep 28, 2009 at 6:35pm

This is a big mistake to sew a full lace wig,because you damage the lace,and the parting of the hir doesn't look natural. You should use adhesives to attach your full lace wigs.

Hope this will help you,Girl!

Administrator2009-09-28 20:15:22

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