Cleaning Your Hair System
STEP BY STEP INSTRUCTIONS
Tips & Instructions for Proper Hair System Clean-up
Below are instructions for removal of adhesive build up on both polyurethane (skin) as well as mesh-fabric (lace) bases. This process will also get the adhesive residue out of the hair.
ATTENTION! Do not use this process if your system is made from silicone!
WHAT YOU WILL NEED
- Adhesive Remover
- Hand/Dish Washing Liquid
- Fingernail Brush
- Mild Shampoo
- Running Water
- Plastic/Metal Container
FOR THE BEST RESULTS USE…
A Styrofoam head can be a useful tool once you’re done cleaning your hairpiece. Not only does it provide a head-shaped place for your unit to air dry, it also gives you an easy, convenient way to comb, brush or pre-style your hair.
STEP ONE
Start by removing the hairpiece tape from the polyurethane areas of your system. Use your fingernail to gently “flick” or scrape up the very edge of the hairpiece tape to start the peeling.
Quick Tip: Having problems getting the tape off? Try soaking your hair system in the adhesive remover first (step 2) for several hours before peeling it off. If you do soak it first, use a piece of toilet paper to get a better grip on the tape because it may be slippery.
Warning: Do not attempt to peel away or remove any tape from lace areas otherwise you could damage the unit.
step two
Soaking the hair system: Next, hop into the shower and wash your entire head, hair and scalp thoroughly at least two times.
Soak the hair system in a plastic or stainless steel container capable of holding liquid solvent.
Soaking times may vary greatly depending on the type of hair system and adhesive you’re using. Some will only need their unit to soak for 20 minutes while others may need to keep it in the solvent for up to 24 hours!
Quick Tip: If you have tape on the lace areas of your system, they should naturally release after about 5-30 minutes of soaking and float to the top of the solvent. (Again, you may need to adjust the soak time if using a higher tack tape) Simply scrap the strips of tape from the container as they’re released.
Step three
Cleaning the hair system: Remove your hair system from the solution and lay it in a sink face up (the hair will be on the bottom).
To clean the lace areas gently brush the swollen adhesive residue with a fingernail brush to loosen and break it free.
To clean the skin areas use a teaspoon by scraping any excess residue off with gentle, short vertical strokes.
After getting most of the excess residue off, place your unit back into the container full of solvent for 2-3 more minutes.
step four
Rinsing the hair system: Moving your system from the solvent back into the sink, squirt a liberal amount of hand dishwashing liquid onto the base while it is still dripping wet with solvent. At this point, any remaining adhesive residue will have lost all tack.
Gently glide the fingernail brush across the edge of the base and out through the hair — all the remaining adhesive residue should slide off easily. After a few minutes of brushing, rinse your system with high-pressure, lukewarm water down through the base. (Repeat this step a second time)
If there is still adhesive residue in your hair system, you probably didn’t soak it in the solvent long enough. Go back and repeat step 2.
Step five
Shampoo and condition: Finally, after rinsing thoroughly wash the unit again, this time using a mild shampoo to balance the acid level and lastly condition.
Your unit should now be clean and clear of any old adhesive residue. You’re now ready to reattach and begin wearing the fresh (like new) system!