Kristen - Hair Showw?

Ive only used the prostyles for streaks too. And what I still have on hand is several years old. At least 3, so Im not sure if there has been any changes in technology that may have changed the look, feel or texture of it. And I only have bright funky colors. The only other monofiber that I can compare it to is PH, which I really like the looks of but havent used yet! So I dont really know!

Sherrie sent me some in blue, which I used for streaks in my boyfriend's hair. It seemed fine, but he didn't keep them in for very long, and streaks aren't like having a whole head of them in anyway. Sherrie could probably give you a better idea of how it compares.

I was actually quite interested in ordering Prohair, but it's only available to licensed stylists in the U.S. (anyone can get it in the U.K.), so I ordered PlastikHaar and Dome instead. Based on everyone's commentary, I got the impression there wasn't a whole lot of difference between the brands (not like there is with human, anyway), but I imagine people who've used them extensively can identify the differences. :)

Hey Kristin,

I was grilling BoogieMama about the same thing! Here's what she said she uses:

"I started out with Dome in the 80's, then I used Trimco when I worked for them, back to Dome and now I use Prohair."

I wonder if she thinks there's a big difference in quality between the brands; I forgot to ask...

:)

Kristin, I have every faith that you can do a job using synthetic that looks every bit as good as those pictures. I know you can do it.

Next question: have you used shrinkies? Or more like, would you use shrinkies?!

Right now I'm experimenting with different synths I can get quickly (just got a bag of Trimco) to see what it acts like, looks like, etc. as I wait for my Plastikhaar color ring to arrive. Also, in a vain attempt to replicate AMM's amazing 'do but in browns, I have some bss pretipped human hair in my hair using shrinkies and some extendtubes and am not having much success. I can pull out a handful of shrinkie hair on command. I have a feeling that a really great installation with fantastic hair is not something I'll be able to do myself...
Soooo.....when the time comes, I'd like to talk to you about putting mine in! Woohoo! The pictures on your website are fabulous. Who knows...maybe you will become the future Synth Hair Queen of Southern California! God knows we need one.

p.s. HOLY ****!!! Take a look at the before and the AFTER on the last link in Rae's post - whoooo!
That girl needs to go directly to that bar where redheads drink for free - she'd be the smokingest redhead in the place.

Kristin: Bridget really is awesome at blending in synthetic to short hair. I wanna be her someday. :) Here's some examples:

http://www.boogiemama.com/album/displayimage.php?album=lastup&cat=7&pos=2
http://www.boogiemama.com/album/displayimage.php?album=1&pos=44
(hit Next for the after of that one)
http://www.boogiemama.com/album/displayimage.php?album=1&pos=51
(hit Next for the after)
http://www.boogiemama.com/album/displayimage.php?album=1&pos=78

Basically, her natural-looking heads (as opposed ot the bright, punky ones) are very similar to the ones you do, 'cept she uses synthetic instead of human.

-Rae

maybe not those but theres lots of others like them that have the befores too

there's lots of before shots in the boogiemama gallery, next to the finished ones

OMG that system sounds aweful! Eek!

Syren123: I took a look at that BoogieMama's site from the above post and I was amazed that the hair was synthetic. Mind you I haven't ventured into the synthetic side of things. The one thing I'm skepticle about is that I didn't see any before shots, only after shots.... Their hair looks gorgeous but who knows what it could have looked like before.... Heck, for all I know they could have just added a little thickness with synthetic hair therefor barely changing the persons look.... who knows.... anyways, If I somehow missed the before picture I would love your help directing me to it.

WOW....that's not a good thing.

Thanks you just saved me alot of bucks!!

My hubby wears a hair piece, which was made by JA Alternatives in New York. I just remove it, clean off the bond with C22 remover and glue back on. You would never know he was wearing a system. He says he only feels itchy on a hot day but other than that no problems at all. Sometimes the corners may lift after a few weeks but we just touch it up with a dab of glue.

I once went to an evening at the Holiday Inn, which was held by Hair Systems Of Long Island. They had all their models there to show you the hair systems, which were all bonded on. They looked really good. One of the ladies was right up next to me and let me touch the attachment. You would never have known that she was wearing one. I was very impressed!!
So my hubby got one from them but it didn't look as good as the ladies did.
That's when we found JA Alternatives, which I think has more men clients and the hair system was made a little better.

I would love to learn more about these systems. I know bonding isn't for everyone, although if it's done correctly it can look really good.

We still have to find a good place in CA. I have heard Farrell is one of the better hair replacement companies out here. It may be a little on the pricey side though.

I guess the search continues.........

The Invisible Hair extension method is a method where the hair extension pieces are really hair pieces that are bonded onto the scalp.

It's a polyurathane base with the hair injected into it. They are about 12" long by 1"wide (hair length is 18")

I won't go into all the detail, but here are the basic steps:
*To apply you put red liner hair piece tape on the back of extension piece.
*part hair where you want to place extension
*hold extension piece on head where you want it, and trace around it with a marker, eye liner, etc.
* set down extension piece for now. You now have an outline on the head of where you want to put the extension. You basically slather (in a systematic way) that area with hair piece glue called Max bond
*also put Max bond on to back of extension piece
* bond the extension onto the glue slathered area of the head

Why I didn't like it:

* I wore it for two weeks myself. The extension pieces are just basically 'hair grafts' like the thin skin grafts they use for men's hair pieces. The extension strips are curved and supposed to conform better to the shape of the head.

You need to get these pieces bonded down perfectly flat on the head or else you'll have moisture get in there and the bacteria will cause mad itching.

After a few days, my extension 'grafts' lifted, and my whole head itched like crazy, 24/7 so much that I couldn't sleep at night. It did not let up. It's the bacteria trapped under the moist extension that causes the itching. I called Dawn (the inventor) at Invisible Hair to ask about this. She said it was a common problem, and I should soak my head in vinegar to stop the itching. She assured me that with practice, you could apply these pieces so they won't lift and cause all that itching.
(vinegar did not help itching, by the way...)

I put these god aweful things of 2 clients who also had mad itching and the hair shed a lot too.

I followed her technique for removal, but on myself as well as my two clients, it ripped out hair like crazy when I tried to remove them. With my one client in particular, during the removal, I was actually hiding the hair that was ripped from her head in my pockets because I was panicking and shocked at so much hair loss. Fortunately this client loves me, and didn't get mad.

There's way too much glue to get out of hair, and trust me, this stuff is strong and gummy. It's what they use to bond on men's hair pieces.

This method was basically just like bonding a wig directly onto your scalp. And just like when you are wearing a wig, it was hot underneath all that too.