Lace Front Newbie: Please Read and Please Help

Hi all,

I decided to try a lace front wig for the first time because my hair has thinned out and broke off very badly.  Desperate to get it done, I searched online for places in the DC area that sold lace front wigs and did installations (I didn't want to install it myself the first time).  I found about 8 numbers but was only able to reach one person.  I saw her post online on CL.  She works out of her home.  I went there and tried on several different wigs while she explained the different types and textures, etc.  I liked a wavy wig best so I picked that one.  She installed it using tape + bond.

At first glance, I was just so happy to have a head full of hair on my head compared to what I had before.  Before I left, I noticed that you could see the tape in the front (it just looked really shiny and I noticed it right away).  She told me to put some makeup on it to dull it out so it wasn't as noticeable.  So this brings me to my first question - is the tape supposed to show at all in the front? Isn't the wig supposed to cover up the tape?

Ok, so I get home and I'm checking out my hair in my mirrors and I can finally see the back.  The back is a mess.  She told me I would be able to wear my hair up, in a ponytail, and all these other styles I so looked forward to.  Well not with this do.  It seems the wig didn't come down all the way to the end of my head so I have about 3 inches of my own hair out in the back.  She apparently tried to glue my hair down but it doesn't look right + you can see a braid hanging out the side of my hair when I pull it back into a low ponytail. 

I gave her a call and she told me that stock wigs don't usually fit right which is why she suggests everyone get a custom wig.  I understand a stock wig not being exact but I don't understand it not covering all of my hair?  When I told her the wig didn't cover all of my hair, she told me that my hair line in the back came down very far so that's why it didn't cover it and I would have to shave my hairline to get it to cover it?  Ok, if I did that, that would have my hair line at the middle of my ear?  That doesn't make sense.

I've looked at some videos and pics online and all of the lace front installs I see look very natural to where you can not tell it is a wig - that is what I expected but not at all what I got.

Has anyone else ever experienced this?  She said she would take it off and try reinstalling it.  It seems to me that I need a wig with a larger cap. If it was large enough, wouldn't it cover all of my hair - including the back of my hair?  I spent $300 on the wig + $100 on the install which is not chump change.  I just want my hair done right before I go to work Monday.  I don't feel right when my hair is a mess, and I don't have money to waste.

She also told me that you don't know for sure how the lace front is going to lay until you cut the lace off.  But if it didn't cover all of my hair (including the back), wouldn't see have seen that before she cut the lace?  I'm thinking that she just wanted the money and sold me a wig that clearly was not a good fit for me.

One of the other 7 places I called - called me back later in the day after I had already gotten my hair done and left a message.  This is an actual salon so I'm thinking I'll have better results.  Their prices are much higher though.  Their website says their wigs start at $400 and go up to $700 for their starter category and the celebrity grade wigs are $800+.  So I could spend twice as much at this salon which I really don't have.  I don't know what to do.

I am going to go back to the lady today because I spent a lot of money so I feel it should be done correctly or I should get my money back or at least the wig money back and she can keep the install money since she serviced me.  I just don't know what else I can do.  I have to get my hair done this weekend before work Monday.  My hair is so broke off and thin that I can't wear my own hair.  I know an alternative is a regular wig but I never got along with those.  I've actually had one fall off before.  Plus, I don't like that they are not natural looking - that makes me self-conscious.  I know the lace front wig is the best option for me but I can't seem to find anyone reasonable around here that does good work.

Advice/opinions/suggestions would be appreciated.

Thank you ladies