Hi guys
I’ve been reading this thread with a huge amount of interest as I wear an integration system presently and have worn various systems in the past, some great, some horrible.
It sounds like some of you are having great experiences with some companies and others have had some shocking experiences with other companies. Some of you experienced hair loss sufferers may already know this, but for those that don't I would like to share some of my experiences of various ‘systems’.
Hair loss companies use many different names.......hair integration system, hair replacement systems, virtual hair........it goes on. The truth is, they are all basically selling hair pieces / wigs. Depending on the extent of hair loss, the wig could be partial (from literally 50p diameter to full crown, to 3/4 wig) all the way to a full wig. But they are.........wigs! The reason that these hair companies use high tech names is that we all have a preconceived idea of what a wig / toupee is (ill fitting, density far too high so that it looks like it ‘sits’ on your head as opposed to looking natural – traditionally high density was needed to cover the course base material of the wig – unnatural hair colours, hair that does not behave like human hair, worry about whether the wig can fall off!……the list goes on. Most consultants are never allowed to use the term wig when working for a hair company, and quite rightly so, as the preconceptions people have of wigs is so bad that using the terms wig or toupee usually makes people run for the hills. So these companies started to call their products different things to differentiate themselves from our idea of what a wig is. And they are quite justified as a number of these companies are selling superior products, hair that is soft, shiny (without being excessively shiny), low density, great colour match etc
However, what these companies have also cottoned on to is that by calling their products high tech names, they can charge lots and lots of money from us hair loss sufferers. I would know. My first integration system cost over £2000, (had to go back for regrooms every 6 weeks at a cost of £60 a time) and I remember being over the moon! The wig was lovely, hair was soft, low density, it was attached around the perimeter with keratin beads which took a little getting used to when sleeping, but was fine after a few nights………I could go on about how wonderful it was. And I was more than happy to pay the initial outlay and the ongoing regroom costs, as what I was getting compared to what my preconception of a wig was much superior (after all I thought, I’m not wearing a wig i.e. something you can just whip off, this was an integration system i.e. something attached to me semi-permanently, much like hair extensions) However, the hair started to matt after about 4 weeks. Also, the regroom was only good depending on which stylist you got. One stylist was fantastic; the others were so-so, with one being particularly bad. I then moved to another company a year or so later. They were cheaper (£1500 but £75 for each regroom) and the hair was fantastic! No matting. Very happy with them and all the stylists were very good. This company used microrings to attach the perimeter of the hair piece / wig instead of keratin bonds.
From wearing these systems, I started to look further into the business and. It was then I started seeing how much these pieces actually cost and how much the salon was adding on top. Absolute top end hair piece (using French/Swiss lace integration base, *** Remy hair, 22” hair (yes I like my hair long!
) does not cost more than £500 MAX. Anything you pay over that, you are paying the hair company for their service in attaching the hair piece to you (and considering the attachment process done in regrooms are never more than £100, it means you should not be paying more than £600 (£500 for top end piece plus £100 attachment service).
My advice is to really look into what you are actually getting. Once you get your head around the fact that whatever a salon calls their products, what you are actually getting is a wig, you are able to then expand your search and look at companies that actually do just that……sell wigs! And they have the same products, but as they are not marketing to hair loss sufferers, they are charging less than £500.
Some of you might be thinking, yeah but how will I do the attachment, reattachment? Most of these hair companies will not do regrooms for wigs bought elsewhere – another money spinning concept – they tie you into buying only from them and then they will do your regrooms. I guess what you need to realise is all of these systems involve attaching around the perimeter. How it’s done is up to you. I’ve now gone for clip attachment as it means I can take off the wig whenever I want. If I want a longer attachment period, I use adhesive on the perimeter and I can wear for over a week. I’ve even adapted one wig myself and punched hole around the perimeter where my own hair can be pulled through and attached using microrings. Initially I had to have my sister help me attach it this way, but have now managed to master doing it myself. This piece is great for when I am away for longer periods of over a week.
It’s a trial and error process, and you will end up finding what works for you. What worries me is that some people have posted here that they are leaving their systems on for 12 weeks or so as they can’t afford to have it done more frequently. Apart form the anguish of you hair ‘not looking right’ for days / weeks until you have a regroom, I worry what that is doing to the health of your scalp. In reality, your scalp should be washed of dirt, skin cells, fallen hairs etc at least once a week. The 4 weeks that I was waiting to have regrooms done was pushing it………but longer than that is really worrying! By taking charge and working out your own preferred attachment methods, you take control of when you do your own hair, save tonnes of money and look after the health of your existing scalp and hair.
I’m not sure if I’m allowed to mention companies who sell integration systems direct to consumer, but a quick Google search will yield results.
For those of you very happy with the hair company you are using, I’m not saying stop. For every one bad company there are at least one good company (as posters on this thread can attest to). What I’m saying is that alopecia can affect the rich and poor, and it makes me sad that even the good companies are charging lots of money so that some people are priced out of being able to have this as a solution to their alopecia, and others have just about managed to pay for their hair piece but are struggling to pay for their regrooms and therefore stretching out the weeks between regrooms. Do not think you are getting a superior product by going to these hair companies as opposed to getting the product direct. The good companies will give you a product as good as one you can get direct, whilst the bad ones will give you inferior products (that really does make my blood boil………charge a fortune if you must, so long as you provide a good product and good service, at least the customer can say ‘well it’s business, they’re not a charity, they need to make profits’ but to charge a fortune and then give you an inferior product, that’s unforgivable!)
Hope this helps some people
xxxx
by button » Tue Feb 08, 2011 2:35 pm 