Category: Alopecia

Posted on by

Hair System Knot Sealer Top-Loc Knot Sealer by Walker Tape

Image of Walker Tapes Top–Loc Knot Sealer for Hair Systems

Holistique recommends Top-Loc Hair System Knot Sealer from Walker Tape Co. as it is brilliant at reducing the shedding of hair that sometimes occurs on your lace front wig as it ages.

Use between applications and simply spray on the inside of mesh units to seal and protect the delicate knots. This will reduce shedding and extend the life of your hair system. Top-Loc Knot Sealer is an alcohol-based formula and is low odor so you can use indoors. Its also great to use to seal tape tabs.

WATCH TOP LOC HAIR SYSTEM KNOT SEALER PRODUCT VIDEO:

(please note that this products labelling has updated since this video was made)

CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION OR TO BUY TOP LOC HAIR SYSTEM KNOT SEALER >

Maufacturer information

Posted on by — 1 Comment

Which hair tape is best for me?

Let’s Cut the Red Tape

One of the most frequently asked questions is “Which hair tape is best for me?” and the answer is as tricky to answer as “How long is a piece of string?”

It depends on a myriad of circumstances such as your lifestyle, how long you wear your hair system, climate, scalp condition and a raft of others in-between. However, the main criteria for choosing your hair tape is to decide the length of time you want to wear your hair system and this will determine whether you need a short, medium or extended wear tape.

If you choose to bond your hair system but remove it daily (or every 1-3 days) then you will want to choose a low-tack tape that is still secure but designed for short term use so you can safely remove it from your scalp without damaging the base. Hi Tack tape from Walker Tape is a great hypoallergenic tape that provides relief for sensitive scalps and is the lowest tack tape in the range and will provide a good bond for 1-5 days.

Extended wear tapes are designed to last approximately 1-4 weeks depending on the tape but the length of hold will depend on body chemistry, lifestyle and maintenance routine and so a 4+ week hold is not guaranteed in every case – typical hold times vary and are about 2-3 weeks on average. When considering an extended wear tape it is recommended that you take into consideration other factors such as:

Oily skin: if you have very oily skin, chances are that any tape will break down much faster. For example, a four-week tape might only last you three days! Some tapes might not necessarily be designed for oily skin, but are known to work well such as Ultra Hold and Supertape

Sensitive skin: if you know yourself to have sensitive scalp skin or are having a reaction to another adhesive, you may want to consider tapes which are manufactured to medical grade or hypoallergenic standards. Good examples of these tapes are Pro Flex and No Shine. This is in no way to be considered medical advice. If you have a skin reaction, please discontinue the product and contact a physician immediately.

Shine free: if you wear a light density hair system or you want to bond to a delicate lace base then choose a tape designed to have no or low shine such as No Shine or Lace Front Support (also known as Blue Liner)

Another consideration is what type of hair system you wear. It is highly recommended that you use Sensi-Tak directly on poly edges or traditional skin bases prior to attaching your extended-wear tape to your hair system base. Sensi-Tak (also known as Red Liner) tape is clear with a disposable red liner. It will securely adhere to the poly, but greatly diminish the amount of time and effort needed to clean the base since it doesnt break down like an extended-wear tape. Red liner tape will not compromise the length of your bond provided you use a second extended-wear tape on top of it to attach to your scalp.

Hair tapes come in various sizes, widths and strips. Contour tape strips are mostly commonly used at the front hairline or back of the hair system. Tapes also come in rolls that vary in both length and width. The rolls allow you to customize the area of your hair system that is taped – they also allow you to purchase a hairpiece tape that will fit the exact width of your polyurethane perimeter. Rolls of hairpiece tape normally sell in widths of 3/4″ and 1″ and in lengths of 3 yards or 12 yards so you will have plenty to work with before you run out and need to re-order.

No matter where you buy your toupee tape or what type or size you prefer to use, its important to know how to best apply and wear it, which we will look at in a future blog post.

Posted on by

Hair today – gone tomorrow

We often hear of a woman’s hair being described as her “crowning glory” and there is no doubt that a glorious head of hair can transform a woman – not only in terms of her looks, but her whole persona.

There is so much about a woman’s confidence that is bound up in her hair (no pun intended!) but if your hair looks good, you feel good.

Ever had a bad hair day? We have all been there. You get up in the morning and no amount of teasing, blowing, straightening, styling, moussing and gelling will make your hair look good. Imagine then, waking up every day of your life with a bad hair day. That is the prospect facing many tens of thousands of women in the UK; those women who suffer from alopecia or genetic hair thinning or who simply have very fine hair. For these women, not only do they feel the loss of their hair, they also a feel a loss of confidence, of attractiveness, of worthiness. Hardly seems fair does it?

I know first hand what this feels like. For the last 25 years I have been fighting a losing battle with genetically thinning hair (also known as androgentic alopecia). I could have gone on battling against the inevitable (or blaming my mother, or grandmother – it is genetic after all, right?) but finally I decided enough was enough. Having tried every type of hair treatment known to woman – transplants, extensions, integration systems, wigs, pills, lotions, sprays, hanging upside down like a bat to get more blood to the scalp (oh yes, I have tried it all!) – I finally found the solution that is right for me. Five years ago I found a hair replacement system that gives me amazing hair every day. It has changed my life dramatically – no more staring in the mirror every morning in despair. Now I spend the obligatory 10 minutes perfecting my already perfect hair (I am a woman after all!) and then voila, a quick flick of my gorgeous mane and I head off into my day, not only looking good but feeling good too!

I know that a hair replacement system may not be the solution to every woman’s hair loss problem but for me, it worked. It really did. If you are one of the many thousands of women out there needing practical hair help then I am ready, willing and able to help and advise you.

Related: Hair Loss in Women article from the NHS

Contact Eileen Colborne or visit our shop pages now to view our range of Hair Care Products

Useful Links about Hair Loss:

Treatment for hair loss
Alopecia UK
Alopecia Awareness
BeBold

Posted on by

A Close Shave

To shave or not to shave, that is the question. But what is the answer?

For many women suffering from hair loss, there is a very real prospect that one day they may have to address the thorny issue of whether or not to shave their head and bare all.

It is a sad fact that more than 1 in 10 women will have suffered from hair loss at one stage or another and this can have a devastating impact on their lives. Women hair loss can be triggered by any number of contributory factors but the truth is that no-one is entirely sure why it should happen. Anything from hormone imbalances, dietary deficiencies, stress, weight loss, cancer treatment or simple hereditary factors can start the hair loss process and in many cases it does not stop.

Whatever the cause of hair loss, the solution is just as unclear. There is an abundance of hair loss remedies out there, some more noteworthy than others, but for many women there may come a time when they realise that there is very little that can be done to reverse their hair loss and a decision needs to be made. Should I go bald and beautiful or should I cover up?

Celebrities like Demi Moore and Natalie Portman chose to shave their heads for the sake of their art; Jessie J chose to shave for the sake of charity, but the thing these women have in common – apart from the fact that they are beautiful – is that their hair loss is temporary.

What happens when your hair loss is permanent?
The brave amongst us may well decide to shave and be done. I applaud those women who face their fear and do it anyway, and are happy in their own skin (or scalp!). What about the less brave, which let’s face it, is the majority of female hair loss sufferers. Covering up hair loss with a wig, hair system or hairpiece is a simple and popular solution. Wigs are worn by young and old alike for many reasons other than hair loss. Some women choose to wear a wig for no other reason than they fancy a change or that it compliments an outfit. There is no longer any stigma associated with wig wearing, and there are thousands of stunning wigs available to choose from.

Whatever the decision about shaving, the one thing that is of paramount importance is to be comfortable with your decision. It may not be an easy road getting there, but once you reach the crossroads and have chosen your path, just rejoice in the decision and trust it is the right one for you.

If you are one of the many thousands of women out there needing practical hair help then I am ready, willing and able to help and advise you. You can get in touch by calling 01494 523834 or filling-in the contact form below. I hope to hear from you soon. Eileen.