My Best Bond In Record Setting Heat

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   So we've been having a major heat wave with record setting temps for the past week where I live. Near my house and in the cities where I work the temps have ranged from 98 degrees to 108 degrees all week. I have been dreading this time of year because of all the horror stories I've read about napes lifting and units sliding back off of people's heads when it gets really hot  I was really scared and thought I might end up having to do  a new app every 2-3 days  

I decided to experiment with a new combo of adhesives this week and hit the jackpot! Instead of putting tape around the perimeter of my lace and 1 layer of Vapon or Davlyn on my skin this week I did a nearly tape free application. The reason I decided to lose the tape is because it was seeming to me like the smooth surface of the tape against the smooth surface of the adhesive made it easier for the unit to slip and slide in higher temps. Soooooo, I figured if I put extra layers of adhesive on my skin and left the tape off my lace it would allow the grids of my lace to sink down into the adhesive and get a good grip. 

It's Friday and normally I would be removing my unit tonight but I'm not because my app is still VERY tight even after 5 days of temps in the 100's and I want to see how long it will actually last if I don't remove it. I only had to do 1 touch up behind my right ear 2 nights ago and I think that's because I hadn't been wearing a scarf or anything when I went to bed at night. 

Here is what I did:

1. cleaned my skin with regular alcohol
2. used q-tips to apply 1 thick layer of Top Guard skin protector then let dry
3. used q-tips to apply 1 layer of Vapon No-Tape from the blue tube and let dry for 15-20 minutes
4. applied 1 layer of HD Bond with applicator brush in bottle and let dry for 15 minutes
5. used q-tips to apply 1 thick layer of Invisibond and let dry for 10 minutes or until completely clear. 
6. put 1 piece of Proflex No-Shine tape at edge of lace where part would be
7. put one long piece of Super Tape on underside of lace where hair was parted

Note: Don't use the cheap brand of q-tips cuz they'll leave a mess in your adhesive. Also, Invisibond alone won't even hold for 2 hours on me so the only reason I put it on top of the Vapon NT and HD Bond was to take away some of the shine and to add an extra layer of adhesive for the grids of the lace to sink down into.

Once I applied the unit I used the back of my comb to push the lace down on my skin so the grids could sink down into the dried adhesive and get a solid grip. I then wrapped my perimeter with a scarf and went to bed so the bond could cure overnight. After wrapping it with a scarf that 1st night I haven't been wrapping it at night. I just pull it up into lobster claw clip or a high pony tail and go to bed.

Before I tried this I  thought for sure I would be doing endless touch-ups once the weather got hot cuz my tape usually starts to lift and slide on my oily skin when I get too hot for too long. Despite the crazy heat out here my app is still holding strong on day 5 and my nape is more comfortable and secure than it normally is with my normal tape and adhesive combo.

 I hope this helps somebody else and saves them from giving up on lf's for the summer or from having to reapply every few days.  