Skin or Lace...whats your favourite?

[grincher]

I have been wearing lace for a few years now. I started with French lace, but now Im on Swiss Lace.

I have had one skin piece before.

I was just wondering whether people preferred lace or skin or if you have both?

[Baldasmaul]

I'm looking at NWL for my first piece so I was wondering what your thoughts were?

[grincher]

overall a good supplier for north america. they have had problems in the past but Eric works to resolve them and thats all you can ask.

[Baldasmaul]

sorry I should have been clearer. I was wondering which you ultimately you preferred between the french lace, swiss lace and skin piece?

[grincher]

I have tried both swiss lace and skin. each has their merits depending on the occasion. as a first piece try swiss lace. if you want to go short or have you hair under close scrutiny then skin is almost invisible, but more fragile

[doutee]

I have tried both swiss lace and skin. each has their merits depending on the occasion. as a first piece try swiss lace. if you want to go short or have you hair under close scrutiny then skin is almost invisible, but more fragile

great info thanks

[lasereast]

Good sharing.

[HBK007]

I get mine from my friend who is a hair dresser for really cheap. I don’t ask here where she gets it from since she is very fair with me and gives be great hair cuts.


NAT

[AnnaM11]

I prefer Swiss lace over French one. It is more natural looking to match the skin. My friend, who wears Swiss lace, also ranks it better as she find it softer and finer.
I find it difficult to apply and I constantly need someone else to do it for me in initial days. You can make it by yourself with little practice though. But may be durability wise French one is more preferable. Also applying them is quite easy compared to Swiss one. What is your opinion about silk tops?

[grincher]

I find Swiss Lace (or at least the ones I have) are as durable as French lace. In fact, I can make a piece last 12-months.

Silk tops are supposed to give the most natural looking appearance by making the knots invisible. The ones I have seen are very convincing. Worth a try.

[lvlace]

After years of reading posts on various hp forums I do not recall ever reading a post by a male who wears a silk top. Perhaps I was not paying close attention. I suspect silk tops are more commonly worn by women.
A silk top is a lace hp to which is attached on the scalp side of the lace a piece of silk that presumably matches the color of the wearers scalp. If a color mismatch occurs it likely will look odd.
The attachment of the silk to the lace is done during the ventilation process. During lace ventilation a ventilating needle passes through the "hole" (interstice) in the lace, under the adjacent lace fiber, up through the adjacent "hole." The barb on the inside of the needle (Korean style or German) catches a strand(s) of looped hair held between the ventilator's forefinger and thumb. The direction is then reversed and finally a knot (single, double or split) is tied. The knot is on the scalp side of the silk. Presumably the silk is opaque thus rendering the knot invisible from the top of the hp.
However, based on my understanding of the process, the silk is not applied to the edge of the lace at the hairline. I believe the lace ends approximatey 1/2" from the edge. The reason is twofold:
1. Lace and silk at the hairline forms two layers of thickness. Thin at the hairline is better for undetectibility.
2. The strand(s) of hair actually hold the silk to the lace. No thread is used. Break the hair or loose the knot and a gap between silk and lace results. Anyone who wears a lace hairpiece with an exposed hairline knows what happens if the lace lifts from the scalp. It becomes very visible. As long as the lace remains "melted" into the tape and/or liquid adhesive it remains invisible..
If the poster asking about silk tops likes the idea of this type of hp they are readiiy available on domestic hp websites for about $300. Or go to aliexpress (a Chinese version of amazon) and order one at a reduced price. But, if you are buying a hp for the first time, go with lace or uts. Forget silk tops. You are likely searching for a solution to a non existent problem. Do not complicate the process. If you are already a wearer who perceives that they have a problem then give it a try.