The Walker Way Recap
Recently, we introduced a memorable new concept: the Walker Way!
To recap, the Walker Way is our advice on how to get the best results when using Walker Tape products.
Walker Way Perks with Returning Clients
To put it concisely, the Walker Way keeps clients returning. It does this by establishing a relationship of trust between you and your client that leads to a loyal and satisfied customer base.
In fewer words, the Walker Way turns success into the routine.
By using the Walker Way, you’re sure to have fewer rescheduled appointments due to performance failures. It also offers the best experience in the chair for both you as the stylist and their client in terms of comfort, quality, and efficiency.
Plus, the Walker Way is easily adoptable for any stylist at any point in their career from beginner to big-time.
Lastly, and perhaps most of all, the Walker Way demonstrates that you care about your clients receiving the most value out of their alternative hair experience.
Overall Product Tips for Gaining More Returning Clients to Your Salon
- Encourage at least two systems per client
- Follow the same pattern of easy steps
- Wear gloves
Why two systems? It creates the most streamlined experience for both your client and stylist. It allows your stylist to store and prepare one system in the salon for each appointment. This helps extend the life of the hair systems, and it makes for a much faster appointment.
Why follow the same pattern? There’s comfort in familiarity. As you client grows more used to your routine, the better their experience will be in your chair. The Walker Way distills the pattern down to four essential steps:
- Prep Work
- Removal
- Install
- Storage
Why wear gloves? This barrier protects your stylists from irritation when constantly using products and rinsing and so on. But it also protects the adhesive’s performance. By wearing gloves, your stylist’s dead skin and oils are less likely to end up on the hair system or adhesive area. Such oils and dead skin can hinder the ultimate bond strength of the adhesive.
Applying Hair System Tape to Returning Clients Using the Walker Way
On theme with turning success into the routine, if your returning clients like the tape you went with before, stick to it!
Prep Work: Have Your Clients Arrive with Their Stored System Ready for Install
- Clean the system’s base with 99% Alcohol to ensure the surface is ready for bonding
- (If you’re working with a mesh hair system, spray the base with Top-Loc Knot Sealer)
- Apply your client’s preferred tape to the perimeter as close to the hairline as possible (this avoids any undesired lifting)
Removal: Remove Your Client’s Hair System
- Take your pick of our great selection of skin-safe removers
- We recommend Action (our fastest skin-safe remover), Walker Signature Remover (best for sensitive-skin clients), and Lace Release (if you’re removing a mesh system)
- Set removed system aside or into a solvent soak of Rapid Release
Prep Work: Prepare Your Client’s Scalp for reinstall
- Wash your client’s scalp with Bond Breaker Shampoo to ready their scalp for the best hold times
- Clean their skin with 99% Alcohol so the area about to be bonded is free of anything that could compromise the tape bond
- Apply any of our two scalp protectors
- We recommend Max Hold Sport, which offers great protection and allows your clients to hit the gym, shower, or pool immediately after install
Install: Install Your Client’s Prepared Hair System
- Remove the liners from the tape
- Apply Just-Rite Positioning Spray to the tape to give you some wiggle room to get the placement perfect
- Press the system firmly into place
- Style the hair system
- Spray system with Leave-In Conditioner so the client can leave on the freshest note
Prep Work: Prepare Your Client’s Removed Hair System for Storage Until Their Next Appointment
- Use Your Choice of Our Removers
- If you prefer setting the system into a solvent soak, we recommend our fastest-working remover: Rapid Release
- Wash the system with Bond Breaker Shampoo to clean out any residual stickiness or leftover product
- Spray the system with Leave-In Conditioner
- Air dry
- Store the system somewhere safe, out of the light and away from dust
Applying Hair System Liquid Adhesives to Returning Clients Using the Walker Way
Like with tapes, keep the pattern of success going with the products they prefer.
Prep Work: Have Your Clients Arrive with Their Stored System Ready for Install
- Clean the system’s base with 99% Alcohol to ensure the surface is ready for bonding
- (If you’re working with a mesh hair system, spray the base with Top-Loc Knot Sealer)
Removal: Remove Your Client’s Hair System
- Take your pick of our great selection of skin-safe removers
- We recommend Action (our fastest skin-safe remover), Walker Signature Remover (best for sensitive-skin clients, and best when paired with Extreme Hold), H2GO (if you’re working with our water-based liquid adhesives), and Lace Release (if you’re removing a mesh system)
- Set removed system aside or into a solvent soak of Rapid Release
Prep Work: Prepare Your Client’s Scalp for reinstall
- Wash your client’s scalp with Bond Breaker Shampoo to ready their scalp for the best hold times
- Clean their skin with 99% Alcohol so the area about to be bonded is free of anything that could compromise the tape bond
- Apply any of our two scalp protectors
- Sponge brush thin, even layer of adhesive to client’s scalp (covering the bonding area)
- Wait for adhesive to dry (or blow dry to speed up the process)
- Sponge brush 2nd thin, even layer of adhesive to client’s scalp (covering the bonding area)
- Wait for adhesive to dry (or blow dry to speed up process)
Install: Install Your Client’s Prepared Hair System
- Apply Just-Rite Positioning Spray over the bonded area
- Press the system firmly into place for 10 seconds
- Style the hair system
- Spray system with Leave-In Conditioner to send you client home feeling their best
Prep Work: Prepare Your Client’s Removed Hair System for Storage Until Their Next Appointment
- Use Your Choice of Our Removers
- Or if you prefer setting the system into a solvent soak, we recommend our fastest-working remover: Rapid Release
- Wash the system with Bond Breaker Shampoo to clean out any residual stickiness or leftover product
- Spray the system with Leave-In Conditioner
- Air Dry
- Store the system somewhere safe, out of the light and away from dust
The Walker Way for New Clients: Track Bonding with Hard Bonds Edition
Prep Work: Have Your Clients Arrive with Their Stored System Ready for Install
- Clean the system’s base with 99% Alcohol to ensure the surface is ready for bonding
- (If you’re working with a mesh hair system, spray the base with Top-Loc Knot Sealer)
Removal: Remove Your Client’s Hair System
- Reshave the same track to remove system using trimmers set at ⅛” (often a #1 on electric trimmers)
Prep Work: Prepare Your Client’s Scalp for reinstall
- Wash your client’s scalp with Bond Breaker Shampoo to ready their scalp for the best hold times
- Clean their skin with 99% Alcohol so the area about to be bonded is free of anything that could compromise the tape bond
- Place P.A.T. Tape along system’s perimeter to match shaved track (or use our German Brown, which is an industry standard for fusing with hard bonds)
Install: Install Your Client’s Prepared Hair System
- Apply small amount of hard bond to ⅛” hair stubble (a little bit is all it takes)
- We recommend our Top Priority Bond
- Since it dries so quickly, install as you go, in small sections at a time
- Press system firmly in place
- Style the system
- Spray system with Leave-In Conditioner
Prep Work: Prepare Your Client’s Removed Hair System for Storage Until Their Next Appointment
- Use Lace Release to remove P.A.T. Tape from hair system
- Wash the system with Bond Breaker Shampoo to clean out any residual stickiness or leftover product
- Spray the system with Leave-In Conditioner
- Air dry
- Store the system somewhere safe, out of the light and away from dust
Try out the Walker Way today! Your stylists and their clients are going to love the results. Plus, conveniently shop for Walker Tape products at the best prices, and give your returning clients the products they trust most.
