How to Save Systems During the Hair Shortage

It’s no secret that there’s a shortage in just about everything right now. Labor and material shortages lead to supply chain delays that have made some things a lot harder. Like getting your hands on new hair systems.

 

This can be a real struggle, hair systems are made to be reused, but only so many times. After a while, they can start looking raggedy. So, how can you avoid this (or at least delay it), while units are precious to come by? We have a few suggestions.

 

Things That Can Wear on Systems

 

Let’s start by going over the things that can really wear on a system and cause them to look used sooner.

 

Many of them have to do with water, including:

 

• Swimming in salt or chlorinated water often

• Washing them too often

• Sweating on them constantly

 

Some of them have more to do with how we treat them. They can include:

 

• Touching the unit too much

• Over-styling the system

• Having to take them off to readjust them

 

These can cause stress on the unit in a few different ways. Some will wear on the bases; others will affect how the hair looks and how well it stays on the base.

 

Ways to Fight Wear and Tear

 

Looking at that list can be a little disheartening at first. Some of the things that can be hard on a system are difficult to avoid. So, here are some tips, tricks, and tools that can help slow down the natural wear on hair units.

 

Products That Can Help

 

Here at Walker Tape, one of our priorities is making sure that your clients are thrilled with their look. That’s why we carry products that help maintain the health and look of a hair unit. So, let’s take a look at some of these products.

 

• Top-Loc Knot Sealer

 

One of the best products you can use to help ensure that your client’s system stays looking great is Top-Loc Knot Sealer. This product is designed to be sprayed on the inside of a mesh system. It helps ensure that the knots holding the hair in place keep from loosening.

 

Simply spray Top-Loc Knot Sealer on the inside of the system and let it dry before applying it.

 

• Walker’s Leave-In Conditioner

 

When it comes to keeping the hair looking silky and soft, nothing beats Walker’s Leave-In Conditioner. Since systems can’t regrow hair, the hair may start to look a little sad and faded after a while. Using this conditioner during prep is a great way to avoid that. It can even be used by your clients at home!

 

• Max Hold Sport and Other Scalp Protectors

 

There are a lot of reasons to use scalp protectors like Max Hold Sport. Most people know them as a way to help protect your client’s skin from being irritated by the adhesive. Did you know that it can also be used to help protect the system from outside forces?

 

Scalp protectors are designed to create a thin layer between your client’s skin and the unit. It keeps the system from being exposed to the sweat and oils that are on everyone’s skin. This keeps the bases of the unit working great for longer.

 

• Just-Rite Positioning Spray

 

This is an often-underappreciated product. Just-Rite Positioning Spray is usually thought of as a product for beginner stylists only. But it can be helpful for stylists of any level or experience.

 

Just-Rite Positioning Spray briefly suspends the hold of an adhesive, giving you time to get placed exactly right. Adhesives and adhesive removers, no matter how kind to a system, can start to have an effect after a while. If you have to take off the adhesive to replace the unit, it could cause it to break down faster. This spray, when used on the system before it’s place, can help make sure you don’t have to do that.

 

Practices That Can Help

 

Those products can help you make sure that your clients’ units last longer. But once they leave your studio, there isn’t much you can do. So, here are some things to remind them of.

 

• Remind them how to shower with their systems

 

They likely already know, but a quick crash course reminding them could really help extend the life of a system. Remind them to either air or pat dry their hair after a shower. Plus, using Walker Leave-In Conditioner and brushing it into the system from the ends up is always a good idea.

 

• Make sure they know how to swim with their systems

 

Some people aren’t going to be swimming all the time, so this may not be a problem. But for those who love swimming, the article linked above has some great advice on how to protect a system while swimming.

 

• Teach them to avoid heat when styling

 

Heat tools are some of the fastest and easiest ways to get hair looking the way you want it. But exposure to excessive heat can be damaging for hair systems. Encourage your clients to use heatless styling methods.

 

 

As always, if you have any comments, questions, or concerns, please let us know! We want you and your clients to have the best experiences possible.