Bonded Hair System

Guest Blog By: Angie

Does anyone out there who has begun their hair wearing journey regret their decision? Wish they’d tried harder to hang onto their bio hair? Feel they’ve done everything they can? Would do anything different? (Ok, so that’s more than one question, lol!)

At this point in my HLBS (to coin Lina’s term!) journey, I really don’t feel I have much choice but to start wearing hair. It’s getting more and more difficult to cover up, when I don’t use Toppik you can totally see my scalp, and even when I *do* use it, I still feel it looks like crap. 🙁 The thinning has REALLY accelerated the last few months for whatever reason, but I’ve been dealing with this for over a decade. At this point, even a crappy, synthetic wig I think would look better than my bio hair. 🙁

Anyhow, I made an appointment at a Hair Loss Restoration Clinic about an hour from here, this coming Tuesday. I’m looking into the Virtuesse system. I contemplated wigs, goodness knows there are beautiful ones out there – but I really want something that is “mine” – so am looking into a bonded system. I feel like if I’m going to make this leap, I might as well go all in and have something I can “own” and maybe even pass off as my own. I just feel like in a wig, I wouldn’t be able to do that….I’d be way to self concious about it falling off, being obvious, etc.

The problem in both areas is the cost. For a bonded system, I’m looking at about $360 a month, for four systems per year. That is all maintenance included, I would be going in every 4-6 weeks to have it cleaned and aligned, and would get a new system every three months. For the wigs that I like, they start off at a minimum of around $600, and need to be replaced about once a year – and I prefer the high end ones, which can run several thousand dollars. [click to continue…]

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Working Out In a Bonded Lace Topper

by MalloryT on January 27, 2012

One of the questions I see the most on the forums is the issue of working out in a bonded lace system. I was planning to do a series of tests to put my system through the straits since getting it in July but life and my recruiting obligations got in the way. However, I have my full time post-grad job lined up and have been putting some serious work into working out since December 22nd. I’m planning to write a series of posts about taking my lace system through different workouts for informational purposes.

First System: Reprieve Integration. The Reprieve Integration sits on top of your own bio hair-there are tabs around the edge of the system through which your bio hair is looped to “tie” the system to the top of your head. This can only be done by a trained technician on the system. I don’t know what the base material is…it almost felt like a hard plastic-y mesh of sorts? I used to work out in this system last year and had a lot of trouble because it gets SO HOT that I could not bear to work out for more than 30 to 35 minutes. I think I hit 45 minutes max. Sweat head also affected me in close spaces…I really think it’s having all the bio hair underneath it. The plus side is that I was never concerned about the system coming off-it is “taped” but the tape doesn’t sit against your sweating scalp, they hold together the looped hair that binds the system to your head.

Lace Systems: I wear a silk top with all lace, no poly. The silk top panel is 4 x 4. I sweat through the lace except at the point of the silk top panel. I have not had any issue of the system being too hot on my head in any situation and I only start to “notice” it on my head if I go 11/12+ days without re-bonding.

I re-bonded my lace system last Thursday. Here are the workouts I’ve done to date (I’ve worked out every day). [click to continue…]

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I am actually going for a consultation for Reprieve hair on Monday. I have also been to 2 other consultations for hair replacements. I am sooooo lost right now. I am currently using provillus (5% minoxidyl) and Toppik. I am not too thrilled with shaving my head for bonded toppers, but I am done with not having hair. Any advice for me??? Does anyone know if you have to be shaved for the Reprieve system – just curious since I haven’t had my consultation yet.~Alicia

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Hi Alicia,

Unfortunately I have so little information about wearing hair because I haven’t thoroughly researched it for myself yet. I am glad you are taking the initiative to have consultations and educating yourself so that you can possibly wear hair in the future. I know Julie has worn Reprieve Hair (here are her pictures) and absolutely loved it. She probably could answer your questions best about that system. I am going to email her to let her know this question is on the blog. But based on the little information I have read about the system I don’t think you have to shave your head for it. How did your two other consultations go? I am interested in learning about the different processes myself since that my be an option in the near future.

If anyone has experience with wearing hair, bonded toppers etc, please let us know your thoughts. Alicia, please keep us updated with how your consult goes with Reprieve and what you learn.

~Y

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