How to Deal With Hair System Wearers With Tricky Skin Conditions

Occasionally, our partnered salons and local hair distributors drop us a line, highlighting concerns about their clients dealing with itchy scalps or rashes. As hair experts, it’s our responsibility to pay special attention to these unique cases. This post goes deeper into scalp conditions, providing practical insights into addressing each individual situation. Consider it your essential guide to navigating the intricacies of client care.

1. Wearers with Oily or Heavy Sweating Scalp

Getting to know clients’ lifestyles and living conditions is very important during the consultant period. For example, oily and heavy sweating scalp is commonly seen in those who live an active lifestyle or in hot climates. You have to pay special attention to those types of skin conditions during the installation. Otherwise, you may get messages from your client several days later after the installation complaining about scalp itchiness, bad smells, or even the hair system falling off.

Ensuring a durable, firm hold, and comfortable wearing experience is important for this type of skin condition. Here are a few tips.

✍Clean the Scalp Nicely Before Attaching

Tapes and glue don’t adhere firmly to only scalp. When installing hair systems for these clients, we must ensure their scalp is thoroughly dry and clean. Before applying tape or adhesive, cleanse the wearer’s scalp and the underside of the base using 99% alcohol. A clean scalp enables the hair system to stay securely attached for an extended period before requiring reattachment.

✍Use Strong, Long-Lasting, Comfortable Bonds for Attachment

To keep the hair system on the scalp for an extended period; a firm-holding, long-lasting, and comfortable bond is necessary.

Walker Extenda Bond Plus tape, as its name suggests, is crafted for extensive holding. It can keep the hair system in place for over 4 weeks and is breathable and very comfortable to wear for wearers with oily or heavily sweating scalps.

Walker Tape Ultra Hold is a waterproof adhesive that is resistant to humidity, sweat, and water.  It is built with a stretchy carrier, a dull finish, and skin-safe gentleness. It provides a comfortable, maximum wear (4+ weeks) hold for wearers.

✍Go for Lace Hair Systems

A scalp prone to oiliness often experiences increased sweating. Opting for a breathable hair system effectively facilitates heat evaporation, providing the scalp with a refreshing and cool sensation.

As our ultimate best-selling piece, HS7 full Swiss lace hair system, crafted with soothing breathability, seamlessly blends 100% human hair with your client’s natural locks, achieving an utterly authentic appearance and unmatched comfort.

2. Clients With a Sensitive Scalp or Prone to Allergy

Clients with sensitive scalp usually have symptoms such as burning, tingling, pain, itching, and redness. Your client might also experience tightness and any other general discomfort. You could be dealing with a hyperreactive or hypersensitive scalp for more severe symptoms.

✍Sensitive Scalps Call for Patch Tests

Individuals with a sensitive scalp often exhibit sensitivity throughout the entire body. Since most sensitive scalps primarily react to adhesive or tape, conducting a patch test before installation is advisable.

To start a patch test, apply a small amount of adhesive or tape intended for the client’s hair system installation, typically on the skin behind the ear or inner forearm. Allow it to remain for 24-48 hours, monitoring for adverse reactions such as redness, itching, or swelling.

This fundamental, yet critical step serves to identify potential allergies or sensitivities before the hair system installation, ensuring a safer and more enjoyable experience for the client.

✍Use Scalp Protectors Before Bonding

A scalp protector is a specialized liquid product similar to a hair spray. It creates a protective barrier between the scalp and adhesive or tape, blocking the scalp from all hair system side effects. It’s like applying primer before the final paint with house painting.

Scalp protector helps prevent potential irritation and enhances comfort, particularly for clients with sensitive scalps prone to reactions. Applying the scalp protector is crucial after thoroughly shaving and cleaning the scalp. It ensures a seamless and irritation-free experience during hair system or wig installation.

These protectors shield the scalp, providing a robust barrier between sensitive skin and adhesives.

Extra benefits of scalp protectors: In response to client feedback, applying a scalp protector has been shown to extend the attachment duration of the hair system by an additional 30% compared to its standard adherence period.

✍Hypoallergenic Adhesive and Tape

Using hypoallergenic tapes or water-based glue for any hair system, the client can effectively minimize or avoid scalp irritation. These products have reduced allergens, with gentle ingredients and skin-friendly formulations, and in turn, keep the hair healthy and hydrated.

Lace FX is a clear, double-sided tape with a high adhesive mass on the sticking sides, efficiently filling gaps and blending perfectly into the hairline. It has been medically tested and proven to be hypoallergenic.

Ghost Bond is widely regarded as the ultimate bonding solution. With no harmful ingredients, it has long been used in Europe and America. It resists oil and water, providing a firm and long-lasting hold.

✍Recommend Soft, Breathable Hair Systems to Clients

Recommend breathable hair systems to clients with sensitive scalps, such as lace hair systems. These hairpieces are designed for better air circulation through the scalp, preventing excess heat and moisture buildup, potentially leading to bacteria breeding and itching.

Breathable hair systems are usually soft, with Swiss lace toupees as an example, reducing friction, the risk of chafing or discomfort, and allergic reactions or irritation for wearers with sensitive scalps.

The New Australia men’s toupee combines the best of both lace and poly. The extensive poly perimeter facilitates easy attachment and remains undetectable around the edges. The lace top ensures effective heat dissipation.

Sunny from our collection of top lace hair systems is an ideal choice. With a base of ultra-breathable Swiss lace, Sunny promises unmatched comfort and a cool escape from the heat. Seamlessly attached, the lace elegantly disappears into the scalp, offering an undetectable, effortless style.

3. How Do You Deal With Contagious Clients?

Contagious skin conditions, including ringworm, scabies, impetigo, etc., are transmitted through direct or indirect contact. As a salon owner, considering practical measures to curb the spread of contagions is beneficial for providing the best possible hair system installation service.

✍Get Contagious Clients to See a Doctor Before Consultation

Recommending an initial consultation with a medical professional will effectively mitigate the risk of contagions. It’s beneficial to proactively address these concerns to prevent any potential spread within the salon environment or negative mentions in salon reviews.

✍ Patch Test Still Applicable for Contagious Clients

A hair system client with a contagious scalp also implies sensitivity. When they visit your salon for a consultation, it is highly advisable to conduct a patch test. A patch test will help identify the suitable adhesive or product that caters to the client’s sensitivity and mitigates the risk of contagion spread.

✍Soft and Breathable Hair Systems

Similar to clients with sensitive scalps, it is advisable to have contagious clients use breathable and soft hair systems, too. They reduce heat and promote a more hygienic wearing experience.

4. How About the Client Has Open Wounds on Their Scalp?

Open wounds on the scalp refer to breaks or injuries in the skin that expose the underlying tissues. These wounds can result from various causes, such as cuts, abrasions, lacerations, or infections. It could lead to further skin boiling or ailments if not treated properly.

✍ Can Clients With Open Wounds Wear Hair Systems?

Clients with an open wound on their scalp can still wear hair systems. Yet, the wound must be treated appropriately before hair system installation. The most practical way is to avoid the wounds when applying tape and adhesive, working around it so that it may heal. At the same time, opt for the most breathable hair systems, wound-friendly and medical-grade tapes, and adhesives.

✍It’s All About Avoiding the Wounds and Let it Grow

Take this full-cap medical wig, for example. On the underside of the base are silicone strips that grip the scalp without slipping, requiring minimal or no adhesive for attachment. This minimizes the chance of the wound being enlarged or chemically worsened. The medical wig covers the entire scalp, allowing the client’s scalp to be fully shaved, reducing the chance of infection.

Conclusion

Clients may sometimes experience skin discomfort or rashes when wearing hair systems due to product allergies, sensitive skin, climate change, etc. For salon owners or hair system distributors, implementing proactive measures is crucial to prevent such issues. This approach ensures a seamless wearing experience, promoting client satisfaction and benefiting your business in the long run.