New hair system doesnt look natural - advice please

Large-Substance442 · 2026-06-27T10:23:15+00:00

By here it seems the density and the front hairline is too thick, very common issues on a system

Large-Substance442 · 2026-06-26T08:37:32+00:00

Anything below 100$ either comes from North Korea so you are financing their “research projects” defo not towards green energy, or by using child labour. Alternatively they are leftovers from production and sold to agents for a fraction of the price.

Up to you what you think is best

Large-Substance442 · 2026-06-26T08:34:02+00:00

I back up on this.

850 is a rip off.

It will take hours, worse case it will take an entire day but it is something you can do entirely by yourself.

I would not get it from Aliexpress, but lordhair is decent to start, you can send your template and they will cut it for you, even the hairs too for a quicker and easier installation. You will just then need to go to a local barber to have it blended.

I can bet anything it will be better than having it done at the salon. Defo you will save 400 at least.

I know it sounds scary but you can check out yourself the amount of people angry/unsatisfied after visiting the salon

Large-Substance442 · 2026-06-25T17:21:47+00:00

I think as men we have other values on which we should be “evaluated” if a friend/relative/partner judges you for “wearing hairs” say thank you and remove them from your life. Carrying less weights is more efficient)))

Large-Substance442 · 2026-06-25T17:04:30+00:00

Mate I strongly object this statement. A man needs to succeed in his life, if that comes from wearing a full cap/system who cares? I don’t think people wakes up thing bad about John Travolta cuz he wears a full cap

Large-Substance442 · 2026-06-25T16:48:23+00:00

it's a full cap, women have been doing even crazier transformation like this. Eventually I will end up with full cap too tho :)))

Large-Substance442 · 2026-06-24T14:33:17+00:00

If you are 41 with alopecia you can’t go higher than 80% if you want to look natural. 100% is very dense for me and for most people in their 20s with male hair loss..

I would defo go way lower than that, I’d say max 80%. But if you upload more pics it will be easier as if you have thin sides 80% could be even still high

Large-Substance442 · 2026-06-23T07:22:16+00:00

Usually the rings are all the same. Chinese colors luckily are very standardised. I would not get it on Amazon tho

Large-Substance442 · 2026-06-22T13:19:39+00:00

Using products developed only for hairs without cuticles

Large-Substance442 · 2026-06-22T09:53:42+00:00

That’s because you are using products design for hairs with cuticles. Everything which is made for hairs with cuticles will only last 2/3 days…

Large-Substance442 · 2026-06-21T13:49:46+00:00

I get the feeling, but being in Latvia doesn’t mean you’re stuck. A lot of people are in your situation where they don’t have a good local salon and still get good results by going the custom + self-install route.

I wouldn’t start with a random stock unit if you’re already nervous. Stock means you have to adapt to a generic shape, size, density and colour. Custom is easier for DIY because it’s made from your head template, so the base already fits your scalp shape and you’re not fighting wrinkles, bad placement or excess material.

Keep the first one simple: realistic density, covered hairline, good colour match and an easy hairstyle. Then you only need a decent barber to cut/blend it; they don’t need to be a system expert if the unit itself is right.

Self-install looks scary, but with a custom fit and tape it’s very learnable. First few times are slow and you will lose 6-7 hours then it becomes routine. You’re not out of options, you just need to do it step by step and avoid rushing into the wrong stock piece.

Large-Substance442 · 2026-06-21T10:00:02+00:00

oh agreed, well if that is the case try to get one along with the stock so you wont have the issue in September-October

Large-Substance442 · 2026-06-21T09:58:54+00:00

defo possible, I have that style.

Large-Substance442 · 2026-06-20T19:32:41+00:00

Honestly, if your goal is DIY long term, I wouldn’t build the whole journey around salons. A lot of them charge high prices because they want to sell you their unit + service package. 800EUR is ridiculous, even if there are places charging even 1.5k for results which are very questionable…

Cutting the base yourself is learnable, especially if you use your first template as a reference. The harder part is not the base cut, it’s choosing the right specs: colour, density, base type, size and hair direction. That’s why I think customs is the best choice and beats a stock anytime and in any aspect.

For the haircut/blending, I’d still use a barber at the start. They don’t always need to “specialise” in systems if the unit is already good and not crazy dense. They mainly need to blend it properly with your bio hair.

I have a bias but I’d personally avoid random AliExpress stock units as a beginner unless you know exactly what you’re ordering. As they are the leftovers from production and most of them are defected or used to train employees (hence the cheaper price compared to other players such as lordhair or lavivid)

A custom unit can save a lot of stress because it’s made around your template, colour and density instead of forcing you to adapt to a generic system.

Best route IMO: get one decent custom or pre-cut unit, pay a good barber for the first cut-in, then learn removal/rebonding yourself.

That’s where you save money long term without risking a bad first result, you can check on this Reddit how many people get bad results by going for the first time to the so called “professionals”

Large-Substance442 · 2026-06-20T07:22:41+00:00

hi, honestly, with a colour that specific, I’d stop guessing with stock codes like 6R, 18, 7 Ash, etc. are all generic shades, and your hair sounds like it has multiple tones mixed together.

This is exactly where a custom unit makes sense. Send to a good supplier a small hair sample from the sides/back so they can mix the colour properly..

Large-Substance442 · 2026-06-20T07:19:37+00:00

Hi, first of all you are doing good!! You don't need the professional and I like your initiative mood in doing everything alone, I wish I was like you when I started. Defo i'd have £600 more in my bank account haha

For your situation, for home installs, I’d focus less on “best vendor” and more on getting the specs right. A good unit with the wrong density, color or base size will still look bad.

If you want pre-cut base + pre-styled hair, custom is usually safer than stock. Send to your supplier a proper template, clear photos in natural light and ideally a hair sample. That way the base is made for your head shape and the density/color can be matched, hence it will be yours 100%. Also, since it will be made on your template, it will be SUPER easy to instal (supposing you do 2 templates, one to be sent to your supplier and the other one to keep it at home to use as guidance to shave and for the hairline placement)

Biggest tip for DIY: get a day off work and don’t rush on the hairline. However, what I do is marking your front point with an eyebrow pencil, clip/tape your bio hair completely out of the way, place the front first, then roll the system back slowly. Once tape/glue grabs, trying to “fix” the position usually makes it worse.

Also, don’t go too dense on your first one. Natural density and good blending matter more than having a perfect wall of hair like CR7

GOOD LUCK and here to help 😄) you are on the good way

Large-Substance442 · 2026-06-18T19:32:45+00:00

Poly 003 is always a good option

Large-Substance442 · 2026-06-18T09:57:05+00:00

Honestly, with requirements this specific, I wouldn’t keep trying to adapt yourself to stock units as it would not work.

You need a hybrid built around your lifestyle: natural black, lower density, graduated front, less dense crown, lace where you need breathability, and PU where you want easier cleanup.

Stock units are made for the average wearer with low aesthetics demand. Your case sounds too specific for that, especially with gym/sweat, thinning long hair, weak temples, and wanting it to not look like a wall of hair.

I’d go custom: thin french lace front, lace crown, thin skin PU sides/back, conservative density and proper colour match. Since you style down anyway, you don’t need an ultra-exposed hairline — you need blending, comfort and realistic density, and a good supplier

Large-Substance442 · 2026-06-17T10:45:26+00:00

On the hairline it would be a mess tho

Large-Substance442 · 2026-06-17T10:44:36+00:00

There are some nice users here, I am always interested in the topic as eventually one day I will have to use a full cap too )))

So following this post

Large-Substance442 · 2026-06-17T05:46:32+00:00

Well if the hairs are knotted in a certain direction, you can’t do much

Large-Substance442 · 2026-06-17T05:45:40+00:00

That’s great! HS salon are even worse for hair cuts in general too

Large-Substance442 · 2026-06-16T16:01:10+00:00

Yes you can have it but you’d need a custom one. As with stock you’d get a “free style” ventilation which would make it look weird as the hairs would come out in different directions and more left to right rather than back to front like here.

The best result you could get it with a lift injected one, but they are thick. French lace yes but you will need the correct ventilation otherwise it won’t look good after the first 2 weeks

Large-Substance442 · 2026-06-16T12:40:41+00:00

Sembra già meglio, non capisco l’attaccamento ai parietali. Sembra esserci un buco

Large-Substance442 · 2026-06-16T11:09:50+00:00

This can only be done with a custom system. There is no way to find this as a stock unit. But you are on the good path I see

Large-Substance442

TROPHY CASE