Once again, Dino proves that with a little practice, outstanding results can be achieved with a full cap. He is a true do-it-yourselfer, and although I have recommended to him in the past that he should find a good stylist to work some magic on future full caps, seeing his latest creation I just might have to change my mind. He did an excellent job cutting this unit himself. I saw the pictures and asked if he would do a little writeup about it. Here is his post followed by a few pics-
I have been doing full caps for a few years now. It has definitely made hairwearing a better situation overall for me. With my very very thin sides (almost nonexistent), I was really struggling in my final years with a topper. I love not having to blend with my own thin hair. I order a new unit every 3 months on the average. I like to order all Swiss lace, the finest lace available. I get the 3 months with no problem. I use glue for the front edge and sideburns and Supertape for the rest of the perimeter. You need very strong tape for the nape. I usually cut in my own units. I have moved away from using the robocut to using clippers. I have attachments as long as an inch and a half. I often taper down the sideburns and nape very very short. Sideburns as short as a quarter of an inch (I use glue there). Nape as short as half an inch. Any shorter and the tape shows through too much in the nape. If only there was a super strong glue that could hold the nape, I would fade out the nape even shorter. Here are a few photos.
#1 by dave on May 11, 2010 - 4:24 pm
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Dino,
Friggin awesome man! How does it hold up for you day to day? To you maintain weekly? My sides are shit and I would like to go this route.
Thanks!
#2 by dino on May 12, 2010 - 11:07 am
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Thanks for the compliment. I am very pleased with that full cap, and it has allowed me to wear hair much more successfully than I did with my thin sides caked in concealers. Since your sides are an issue as well, you will probably be happy moving to a full cap. It’s been about 2 years that I have shaved the whole head. For most of the past several months, I have been using supertape for the nape and low profile supertape for the sides and front (except in the front quarter inch of hairline). In the front and sides hairline, I still use glue for the first quarter of an inch of hairline. The hold is great! I get some mild irritation from the strong tapes, so I am experimenting with shortening my attachment time to see if that helps.
I am also exposing more hairline since these photos were taken, as my girlfriend wasn’t as happy about the look with the front covered. She thinks it looks great now, and I have also gotten compliments from others since I started exposing hairline in the front.
I also have some ideas to further improve the look and that may help others as well with full caps, but it is likely several months before I can fully test these ideas and show the results.
#3 by dave on May 12, 2010 - 5:14 pm
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That sounds great. Do you have any pictures of the new hairline? I wear a topper now and I always feel “self conscious” of people looking at the back of my hair where the topper and thin back meet up. I am actually balding in my nape!! How do you feel when people are sitting behind you? Do you totally feel confident or does the nape make you feel “busted”?
#4 by Joe on June 17, 2010 - 2:01 pm
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Wow that looks amazingly good. I think i’m gonna give the full cap a go. Thanks for the pics. really appreciate you sharing.
#5 by JRob on June 17, 2010 - 10:34 pm
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Do it Joe, it takes a little practice but the results can be amazing. Send some pics when you get it all sorted out!
#6 by dino on June 21, 2010 - 2:22 pm
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If you have thin sides, you will probably be very happy. In my case, getting a full cap was a no brainer.
#7 by Matt Bain on August 28, 2010 - 10:29 am
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Hey Dino.
Pictures are fabulous!!
Is there a way that I could communicate and/or meet with you as I live in the general Philly area and I would love to speak with you and get your insights regarding how I should proceed. I have hair on the sides that is getting shorter and thinner and my nape has also gotten shorter and thinner, however I’m not sure I need a full cap—–yet.
I was thinking to have a 3/4 cap and get a good front hair line configured and then make sure the back of the base goes down close to where my normal hair line would end in the back but also make sure the base is filling in near to where my ears are as well so I have a “full” look in the back.
I usually wear medium lenth hair (not short and not real long). Unfortuantely, I just can’t pul off a short cut because of my head shape/neck.
Look forward to hearing from you.
Thanks.
Matt
#8 by dino on August 29, 2010 - 6:57 am
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Hi Matt,
Your plan makes sense. But you are also right that it is best to get either live feedback or at least very good photos (rather than using just words). I would be open to meeting you and giving you my feedback. Unfortunately, I am going into my busiest time of the year right about now. If you can hang on a few weeks, I should be able to make arrangements to meet. In the meantime I can always look at your photos and give you some impressions. I wouldn’t mind JRob privately giving my email address to you so we can move forward.
dino