QuoteReplyTopic: Elite Thermofiber hair New Install (pics) Posted: October 29 2006 at 4:01pm
hmmmm....I wonder if you could somehow dye keratin glue...the amber and clear always show on my dark hair, although I have dyed my roots and bonds before and then they match perfectly, also, it doesn't seem to affect the integrity of the bonds
oh! i've already done that! i added black RIT a bit at a time to my LG until it was black and used it. it seemed to work fine. the only problem is that i used a bit too much dye, and didn't keep it shaken up, so it seperated and sometimes i'd have glue on the brush, sometimes just dye. the trick, i think, is to keep it shaken constantly so that the glue and dye won't seperate.
what I'm wearing: 1 pkg 18" DLux SS #2 and protac
sherrie215
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sorry I missed this, misslou the dark LG is simply regular LG with 1/2 cc of rit dye added to it to color it dark. So far it seems to work alright from the initial reports Ive had from people using it.
Sherrie, if you want to send me a couple of bottles for my next install I'll be happy to update you on the experience. I'll contact you later next week to place an order.
oh Kristie, you would be a perfect candidate to try out the dark 'colored' LG...hehehe (my wheels are turning)
I guess Im used to triple machine wefts installed, so what might be 'bulky' to some seems fine to me! I use all handtied wefts now with the pro-tape which is half sized and its very comfy for me. I also have a very DRY head so that may make a difference too, the only time I sweat is if I am sick.
I agree completely about the difference between Protac and LG. Protac was much more hot, thick, heavy and sticky for me, even with half-tapes. The LG bond is smaller, drier, and lighter for me. Julia, I didn't like that hat feeling either. I've found by using LG and putting less hair in, with the bonds in a smaller, more concentrated area, I mostly avoid that feeling of not being able to get air, and my fingers, to my scalp. I work out every day and the Protac was just so hot and damp. Even after blowdrying, I'd sweat (that time of life, you know!) and feel like I had a rain cap glued to my head.
I only put one triple weft horseshoe around my head, temple to temple, and one double weft across the back about an inch below the horseshoe. This gives me a band around my head of only 1/2 inch on the sides to about 1 1/2 inches in the back where I have any extensions bonds at all, making the install much more comfortable. I also like having more of my own hair "out."
As far as removal, I took down my two week LG install last night, using only a bit of citus remover. It took a little time to carefully slip all the hair out of the bonds, but it was simple and non-damaging. I sprayed on the remover and watched a movie, working the stuff into the bonds and easing the wefts off. Next time I'm going to use a straightening iron on the bonds after putting on the remover to make it even easier. Cleaning the wefts and my hair was simple, too. All the glue boogers came right out with a good shampooing and conditioning.
I'm ready for a fresh LG install today after coloring my roots this morning. I'm finding LG so easy to install and take down that I can easily redo everything every three weeks or so. I like to take the wefts out the night before so they can spend the night drying. An hour for root touch-up and an hour for reinstalling and I'm good to go!
so far i've noticed a big difference in the amount of bulk between the
protac and LG. i used half tapes of protac, but they were still
kinda bulky. maybe it's because i used 3 wefts per row. the
wawa is also heavier and thicker than the elite thermo. the
protac would also get gummy. like i said, for my humid head and
physically active schedule, the protac would be better for a weekend
install, rather than anything long-term.
what I'm wearing: 1 pkg 18" DLux SS #2 and protac
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I used the half tapes for my install. Like misslou said about her LG install I felt the same way about my protac install. I felt like all my hair was tied up in the protac. I parted my sections real cleanly but I had a hard time bringing the hair on top of the tape. Maybe I should have worked harder on bringing the thin layer of hair on top of the tape. Sometimes I would just let all my hair go and flatten it onto the tape and then reclip it for the next row. The flap feeling is not what bothered me. What bothered me is the feeling that all my hair was tied up in the tapes. I couldn't even scratch my head. Maybe I installed it wrong?
Edited by juliap - October 26 2006 at 11:15am
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I think you will experience the same 'flap' feeling with the LG bonds once they start to get away from the head a little. I dont really notice any difference in how they feel after a week or two when the LG isnt snug to your head. Misslou or JuliaP have either of you tried the tapes split in half?
As for the acetone I agree with misslou. Sure its probably not the healthiest thing to use, but I do far more damage using other things on my hair. An do more damage with removers that dont work as well or as quickly.
As for the oil to remove LG. LG's remover is made with mineral oil. And I have heard of others using oil type products to remove LG. Alot of people also use the C-22 and other orange oils. LG's remover suggests the use of a curling iron laid on the bond along with the remover to loosen the bond. But I still prefer the ease os acetone to remove.
i don't think there's any reason to be afraid of acetone. think about all the junk you put in your hair and LEAVE in there for extended periods of time (bleach, dye, hairspray, heat, etc). the acetone is only on for a short time and is washed out immediately. i'm not saying it's good for hair, but it's not the worst.
from what i can tell, the LG is not unlike rubber cement. it's a self-vulcanizing (drying/hardening) rubber. once solid/dry, it's like regular rubber/latex. oil might work, but i doubt it since i don't see it penetrating the bond. the reason oil works on protac is that the tape itself is membraneous, allowing stuff to soak into it.
the bond of the weft is definately smaller, but i'd recommend help putting them in. i didn't part as cleanly as i should have, and used WAY more of my hair on the top of the sandwich than necessary, so i've got pretty much all the hair on my head incorporated into the darn things. next time i'll know better.
i washed this morning (not the ends, though; just the scalp and the area covered by my hair since i used product on it) and everything seems hunky-dory. the drying process went by much better since i didn't have to worry about damp getting it gummy.
it's only been in since sunday, and this is my 1st wash, so it's hard to tell what the future might bring. but i'm keeping my fingers crossed and so far so good.
what I'm wearing: 1 pkg 18" DLux SS #2 and protac
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I had four rows in the back and two side pieces it felt like I could not get to my head. Like I was wearing a hat or something. Also this was the first I had ever worn extensions so I wasn't use to having anything on my head. I might try it again with less rows and with the bohyme tiny weft. So the LG feels better I wonder if it can be removed with olive oil also? I have seen were they mention acetone removal but I am afraid of that.
the thing i didn't like about protac was the the "flap" that i suddenly happened to have on my head. i could flip it up or down (which was bizarre!) and there was limited airflow to the scalp (which was warm and humid-feeling). all in all, i loved it for easy of use, and i'd definetely use it for a quick install for the weekend and such. but i can't wear it long term. i'm rockin' some Elite and LG now, and i definetely like the smaller flap area!
jeepgirl, I curled the hair with a medium sized curling iron and wet down each section with a damp rag as I curled it. The curls went to slight waves by about the third day.
misslou and Darling Nikkie, I used protac to install it and I did it myself.
The hair was soft to start with but then it got a little rougher after I washed it. It felt about the same as really dried out fried hair but still looked great. I know there are ways to make it soft again but I already took the hair out. It was more work then I wanted to spend on my hair especially since I had some bohyme coming. It is very nice hair and is great for the price. I also never wore extensions before and I wanted to make sure I could that sticky scary stuff out of my hair. I am pleased to say it came right out with olive oil and did not hurt my hair. I loved the way my hair looked with protac but it felt so strange on my head. I am not sure if I am going to use it again but I probably will since its sooo easy.
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