Heya-
I have been limping along using an i-lace piece over the top of my bio hair (what there is of it).

I have done the following to attach the system-got2b w/tape, braiding bio hair and sewing system to braid, just got2b, and liquid gold. The liquid gold was a pretty dumb idea. It held the system pretty good to my hair, but OMG, trying to get it out of my bio hair is a nightmare.

After spending close to two hours trying to clean the liquid gold out of my hair (without much success), I realized that it would be WAY simpler to just do what I should have done to start and shave the top of my head.

Problem is, I am SO scared to do it. My bio hair is about 16 inches long. The extra hair that drapes down helps to disguise the thinness of the sides of my head. If I shave it, it will take a helluva long time to ever grow it back.

I keep thinking I should just get it over with and actually have a really, good, secure, non-lumpy (ala braids) application; but then my tummy gets really sick feeling.

Guess I just need some "you can do it"s and "this is how I dealt with the fear."

Thanks

Obviously you are not happy with your "bio" hair or you wouldn't be wearing an ilace piece on top of it. If you're wearing a piece on top of it, then the bio hair is essentialy useless anyhow.

This is a perfect time for you to go to a shorter style. People will think you just decided to get rid of the long hair. That is all they will notice.

In the pic you posted with the I-lace on top of your head your temples don't look too bad.

Post a pic of your bio hair. I'm guessing you've got 16" of scraggly frizzy hair and would look so much better with a shorter style

Sassy,

Before you shave your head, make sure you have at least one back up piece, that you are happy with .

Hi Sassy;
This is a big step and one that many of my personal salon clients have taken also. Some start out clipping over their own hair, or we weave a track around the thinning area and sew the piece on...it works for a while...but I will tell you with 100% certainty that I have not had a salon customer (that has been through all the weaving, glueing, clipping etc) regret for one second shaving the top of their head and wearing a system that NOW looks 100% natural, feels more like their own hair.
I've spoken on the phone with you before and have seen pictures of you so I know what a beautiful young woman you are.....I can say that it is my professional opinion that you will be happier with the result if you shave some off the top. But forget about my "professional" opinion...and take it as my opinion as a woman who has seen this same scene play out in my salon time after time. I honestly think you will be more comfortable with your look.
My clients tell me that they never look back. You will feel more like your normal self with a more secure, more natual looking head of hair.
remember, nobody needs to see you when you take it off to do your changes....its your own hour of private time that is just for you to see. I tell my clients to think of it as "treating themselves" to an hour by themselves and you are doing something that will make you look better which in turn makes you feel better.
Good Luck Sassy Girl!!! I wish you the very best.
and as the above poster said, make sure you have 2 pieces to work with before taking this step.
DebbieS.

Sassy, sorry I didn't know you were a woman. I was picturing some aging rock star type guy clinging to his last few natural long hairs!

I was thinking like sudds too Sassy. Sorry

Hey- no problems about thinking I was a guy. It doesn't really change the fact that if my bio hair looked good, I wouldn't be here on Toplace.

Well, I took the plunge before reading the VERY good advice to have a back up . Gulp. I do have a back up, but it was one that is ill fitting and the hair is totally over processed. Oh well. Too late now.

Since there is less hair draping down, my 'real' hair looks even thinner. So, I guess I'll need to put a row or two of extensions in to help fluff things up.

As I stared at myself in the mirror with my scraggly hair, I said to myself "Are you ever EVER going out in public with this hair?" and the answer was clearly "no way in hell". So I took my wahl shaver and made the first swipe. What a relief to get all the hair that was matted together with liquid gold off my head.

Thanks everyone for the good thoughts. I guess I better get another system ordered!

debbie, god bless you! you are a saint when it comes to helping us out there , be it man or woman,and a personal (thank you from me),the guy with the extreamly sensitive scalp) sugguesting me to try basebond,it's been a (god send) for me, allowing me to wear a lace/poly perimiter,without any infection/rash or discompfort.

If not too late, keep in mind it might be better to not use an actual razor blade and instead just buzz it down close to the head-bone. This avoids a lot of nicks and scratches. If you have a lot of matted glued up hair the razor may pull and rip your tender noggin skin. Buzzed down is close enough for glue/tape to attach well.

Hi,

I had long hair too before I started wearing three months ago. Now I don't wear anymore because my piece was too big and too much work. long hairpiece hair is hard to keep in condition.

So now I shaved everything off and going bald through life at age 21. I'll probably wear again but it sucks that I can't have long hair all at once again or people will know I'm wearing....

just thought I'd share this with ya.
My advice: trim your piece down to what is absolutely necessary not more, and shave only that area that is VERY thin. then get a shorter hair cut because long hair is difficult with hairpieces.

Good luck!!!!!!!!