Hard bond adhesives are the strongest type of adhesives for hair systems. They’re basically a super glue for wigs, hair systems and toupees.
Spotlight on Hard Bond Adhesives and How to by Walker Tape
Unlike soft bond adhesives that are placed directly on the skin, hard bond adhesives are designed to bond to hair stubble. They never touch the skin and dry much more rigid than soft bond adhesives. Though they are rigid, they are formulated to have a little more flexibility than a super glue adhesive meaning they give you an even longer hold time. You’ll easily get four to six weeks of wear with most hard bonds. They’re not water based and therefore do not break down over time. Hard Bonds will stay strong until they are removed intentionally or get looser due to hair growth. Because they stay on so strong, they can be good for those with active lifestyles or in humid climates.
Hard Bond adhesives dry VERY quickly and don’t leave time for adjustments. In emergencies, a hard bond remover may be used. However, hard bond remover is made of acetone and may cause skin irritation or damage to hair units; therefore it must be used with care by professionals only. Because of these things, hard bond adhesives in general should only be installed and removed by professionals. Do not attempt to use hard bond adhesives if you are not a professional.
Walker Tape hard bonds are available only in a 1.1 oz size which will give you from 20-25 uses. Walker Tape hard bonds are formulated to prevent crystallisation so they dry clear and won’t chip or flake. The top selling hard bond is Top Priority Bond which has a 4-6 week hold time. It’s been around for a long time and is a trusted name in hard bond adhesives throughout the industry. Walker Tape’s newest top performer in hard bond adhesives is Sure-Stick, which has a better lid for a longer storage life and also has a 4-6 week hold time. For a shorter hold time, use SensiBond which has a 2-4 week hold time.
As with any adhesive, body chemistry can affect hold times. If you have oily skin or perspire heavily, your hold times may be shorter. However, hard bonds are much less susceptible to breakdown so they may be a good option for those customers.
Who could benefit from using hard bond adhesives?
- Those with active lifestyles
- Those looking for a waterproof adhesive for swimming and other water sports
- Those in humid climates
- Those looking for a VERY strong, reliable hold
Who should not use hard bond adhesives?
- Those who may be bothered by a non-flexible hair system – hard bond adhesives are much less flexible than soft bonds
- Anyone who will be installing their hair system at home – leave hard bonds to the professionals!
- Those with particularly sensitive skin
- Lace wig wearers use caution! The delicate lace can be damaged by hard bonds unless you have a very skilled stylist who has a lot of experience with lace wigs and hard bonds. If you do use a hard bond with a lace wig, use P.A.T. Tape to protect the hair system.
Steps to install hair units with hard bond adhesives:
- For best results, you can protect the hair system by using P.A.T. Tape. If you choose this option, apply the tape around the perimeter of the hair system where it will attach to the hard bond. The slick side of the tape is made to fuse to the hard bond adhesive.
- Shave the hair around the top of the head along where the perimeter of the wig will sit. You want to be sure there is about ⅛” of hair stubble to attach the unit to.
- Apply small amounts of adhesive to the hair stubble.
- Press the wig firmly in place. It may be helpful to work on small sections at a time because the glue dries so quickly
Steps to remove hair units with hard bond adhesives:
- After about four to six weeks of wear, use small, accurate scissors to get under the unit and cut the bonded stubble.
- This should leave about ⅛” of stubble left to bond to for re-installation.
- You can remove any old, hard glue bits with Hard Bond Remover being sure to not let it touch the scalp.
- If you used P.A.T. Tape, you can then use Lace Release to remove the tape from the hair system.
Products to have on hand when using hard bonds:
Hard Bond Remover is used in emergencies to release hard bonds. It’s the closest you’ll get to a “solvent” for hard bonds but must be used with caution.
Sponge Brushes are very useful for working with hard bond remover to help avoid contact with skin.
P.A.T. Tape acts as the bond between the hard bond glue and the hair system. It has a sticky side to stick to the hair system and a slick side made to fuse to the hard bond glue. This helps to protect your hair system from the hard bond.
Lace Release is a solvent that can be used to remove P.A.T. Tape from your unit without damage.
