QuoteReplyTopic: Pro-tac Problem Posted: November 11 2006 at 1:55pm
Ok I received my pro-tac bonding strips from Sherrie ( very fast delivery...thanks) last week. I washed my hair with suave clarifying shampoo, did not condition or add anything oily to my hair.
Alright, I'm following Sherrie's demo step-by-step. My problem came when I tried to set the tape with a flat iron (not so good). So I decided to use a REAL iron. It actually worked on the first strip I tried, but the second one... the tape would not stick to the hair (it's cheap hair and supposedly human) I've used it before with bonding glue and no problem. And I really didn't want to buy expensive hair til I tried this method successfully first.
I had all kinds of trouble trying to peel this tape off. I'd get one edge on one side up, but with every inch I attempted to peel it would lift up from the hair weft. I tried pressing it back with the scissor tip, but that didn't help either.
I got one side off ok, but the other side crawled up into a sticky ball with no way to salvage it. I was really hoping this would work, but I wanna scream right now.
What am I doing wrong???? Sherrie's tutorial makes it look so easy, but for me it's been a nightmare. Is it just hard for first timers or is it just me? Any suggestions would be appreciated. TIA.
sherrie215
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ok, its not completely necessary to use the flatiron or heat to 'set' the tapes to the hair. Just helpful. Try using the edge of a thick handled comb or brush or something flat and pressing over the taped track really well. To make SURE the tape is stuck to the weft. The heat just helps.
It the tape still wont stick to the wefted hair, I would try washing and drying the wefted hair, there may be something ON the hair, like a silicone coating preventing the tape from sticking.
And yes it is tricky getting a little edge of the backing paper started, to peel off. But once you get the trick of it it comes easier. But if your tape is stuck good to the weft the backing should peel right off without the tape lifting from the weft or wrinkling up. Just peel slow
Hi Sherrie, thanks for responding. I was thinking that the heat was necessary to seal it and never thought to try without it. I did do the comb press part as well.
Also my double weft track seemed really bulky...it didn't look as flat as your example seemed. I just can't get it right.
I will have to try washing the wefted hair first, next time. Maybe there is some sort of coating on it because my hair is as dry as straw (surprisingly it hasn't caught on fire). I guess I need another practice round. That first strip I did just came out about 30 minutes ago...it seemed tight at first, but a couple tugs and off it came.
So I decided to go back to that nasty latex glue (haven't used it in about a year). I need my hair done by tomorrow. My emergency wig is fried. I can't braid to do a sew-in so this is the only option I have at the moment. I really hate the latex and wanted the pro-tac to work.
Back to the drawing board I suppose.
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Also my double weft track seemed really bulky...it didn't look as flat as your example seemed. I just can't get it right.
The other thing is if you are using a less expensive BSS brand of hair, those tracks tend to be bulky to begin with since they are usually two machine wefts sewn together.. If this is the case you can try splitting the tracks with a razor blade or seam ripper to get only ONE weft of hair for each double weft (staggered like Sherrie suggested)
Edited by Divavocals - November 12 2006 at 8:35am
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Yeah, I think also leaving some hair and not putting the wefts at the bottom of the tape helps, I press it really good, and if I start to see the tape peeling up without the weft, I put it back down and keep pressing and heating.
I really think it just takes time and practice to get it perfect!
are you having problems with the tape sticking to the wefts? Or your hair? Or both??
I stagger my tracks. I dont but the tracks on top of each other on the tape, but one above the other on the tape.
Sherrie, I'm mainly having problems with the tape sticking to the wefts, but since it came right off my hair an hour later, then I would say both. I combed a top layer of hair over the first row I did and it seemed to stick for awhile. The second one was just a mess.
I did the stagger method as shown on the tut with the LG and half of a pro-tac strip, but it still seemed bulky when I tried folding it over. I doubled the bottom row, then for the second one I used just one track with the tape. The 2nd row with one weft of track hair seemed flat enough, but the tape wouldn't stick to it on one side.
DivaVocals, I think if I split the track of hair any further it would be super thin and not provide any coverage. I guess you're right about some of the cheaper BSS hair being bulky to begin with. I had some synth hair and the weft was really thin...maybe I should've used that for the install instead of the human hair.
NakedEye, I pressed and pressed with the sturdiest comb handle I could find...it was like trying to close an overstuffed suitcase. I guess it does just take practice.
I completed my install with the yucky latex glue last night using synthetic shake-n-go Paradise curl and a separate human hair closure for my thinning top. I had to curl the closure, but actually it all blended pretty well and the hair is very pretty. I sewed a clip onto the closure, but since I only had one clip I had to supertape the sides and back. So far it is holding up.
Thanks ladies for the suggestions with the pro-tac.
The tapes not sticking to the wefts is probably due to the sillicone coating that all vendors put on the hair. I am really getting tired of dealing with that stuff.
That sillicone coating is hurting my business because it makes hair not stay in (as Metrogirl witnessed) and it makes tips shed like crazy. I am fed up with that sillicone stuff!
I was trying to apply protac to a Bohyme weft and it would not stick either. You could feel the greasiness of the sillicone on the weft. I took my spray bottle of pure acetone and sprayed and wiped off the weft top and it did help somewhat.
Hiya Metalgirl.....at least I know it's not just me. So I need to get some acetone and hose it down good. I almost used all my pro-tac trying to get it to work. Thanks for the tip.
Hiya Metalgirl.....at least I know it's not just me. So I need to get some acetone and hose it down good. I almost used all my pro-tac trying to get it to work. Thanks for the tip.
Plenty of girls on BHM using all kinds of hair (including Bohyme) for their bonded installs.. I think the BIG difference is nearly all of us wash ANY hair before we put it on our heads regardless as to which install method we use..
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very fast delivery...thanks) last week. I washed my hair with suave clarifying shampoo, did not condition or add anything oily to my hair. 
(haven't used it in about a year). I need my hair done by tomorrow. My emergency wig is fried. I can't braid to do a sew-in so this is the only option I have at the moment. I really hate the latex and wanted the pro-tac to work. 
Metrogirl wrote:
