Richard Farrell Responds to "Hair Systems 305"

I was asked to respond to this post for the benefit of others who do want to find an answer to their hair loss problem. I regret that my name was not popular enough back then for you to find me. Your experience would have been entirely different. I will respond to Wigs 305: The Advanced Course point by point, leaving the original text in black font and including my response directly underneath in ORANGE text:

Wigs 305: The Advanced Course - By "Steve"

Much has been said about "Wigs 101," both pro and con. I have contributed to both the document and the debate. It now seems that certain aspects of the publication are under some sort of legal challenge and will be pulled from Deja News. I'm not sure if this is true or not. However, I feel it is important that information about hairpieces and hair replacement companies be made available to interested readers.

Richard Farrell: I don't know much about these discussion news groups but I hope that you don't experience any legal repercussions. Towards the end of this post I have noted one of your statements that deeply concerns me and I hope you can clarify who you are referring to.

I welcome debate. I have described different types of hairpieces, their attachment methods, and the business practices of hair replacement companies. I challenge anyone reading this document to dispute these facts. That being said, I realize that different people have different experiences. I invite them to write up and post their own subjective stories and conclusions. The more information that is out there, the better.

Richard Farrell: I agree that information needs to be posted. Realizing that you have had bad experiences I will make short factual responses to them.

In the winter of 1994, I was 31 years old. I had been thinning slowly over the past decade, and I was growing more and more concerned about it. My hair and balding pattern are similar to that of actor Woody Harrelson-- overall thinning, recession at the temples, and a small bald spot on the top of my head. I have the typical "island" of hair in the center of my forehead, with thinning directly behind it in a small track leading to the crown.

I had been using Minoxidyl regularly for 7 years. This had the effect of slowing down my hair loss but had not produced any significant growth. I looked at my older brother and father with envy; they too had recession at the temples but no overall thinning and bald spot (sort of like George Bush). Over and over again I wondered why I had gotten the short end of the genetic stick. It was about this time that I noticed that the thinning was beginning to accelerate, and that my bald spot on the crown had grown larger.

Richard Farrell: I haven't seen chemicals or liquids solve anyone's hair loss problem so far. I hear it happens and I guess the hair loss slows down a bit but I need to see something work before I believe it. Hundreds of my customers have tried chemicals or surgical procedures and yet they are wearing my systems.

I was determined to do something about it-- I was not going to be "the bald guy." At this time, I really knew nothing about hairpieces. I had seen the ads on TV, but of course they never really go into specifics. I made an appointment with National Hair Center (NHC), a company very similar in practice to another nationally known hair replacement company.

My initial thoughts towards a "system" were that I would just like to "add some hair in with my own" in a few key spots-- mainly the top and crown. This approach is called "weaving". Weaving is accomplished by sewing new hair in with your own. This causes constant pulling and tugging on the hair that anchors the weave and has been known to cause "traction Alopecia". This in turn can lead to the loss of even more permanent hair. For this reason and others, weaving has generally fallen out of favor with hair replacement companies.

Richard Farrell: I want to clarify the word "weaving" a little for new readers. Hair Extensions are some times sewn to a Weave Track. The technician uses either the Weave Pole method, Braid Track method or individual Weave Strand method. All work well if you only want to add length to a hair design. African-American customers have been using these methods for hundreds of years, except most prefer to shy away from the complicated Weave Pole method. Traction Alopecia can occur if the technician is inexperienced and doesn't know how much tension to apply to the track. Many companies modified the Weave Track method to attach factory made hairpieces to clients. The client was forced to go back to the hair replacement salon monthly in order to get this labor intensive service performed.

My first "consultation" was an eye opener. I noticed that there were two waiting rooms. One for "new clients" and the other for "existing clients" awaiting service appointments. I believe that things were arranged this way so that perspective clients would not see how "ratty" systems look when it came time for a service appointment. I also think it was done so that the perspective client received only information that was first filtered through the sales staff. I remember looking in the other waiting room as I passed it by and noticing how many guys were sitting there wearing baseball caps. I wondered why this was so-- wasn't wearing a hairpiece supposed to eliminate the need for a baseball cap?

Richard Farrell: The baseball caps were probably being worn because the clients probably had only one system. They were probably waiting for hair additions or coloring processes to be performed on their hairpieces. Once these services were performed they then waited to get their hairpiece reattached. I believe in making two identical hair systems which eliminates them wasting a day off waiting for a service when they could be outside enjoying life.

If a company buys a factory made system there are big profits and commissions to be paid out to salespeople. You are right about the two rooms. Especially back then, they wouldn't have wanted you to come in contact with one of their salespeople.

I attended an American Hair Loss Council Symposium and I met this highly respected lecturer who taught sales techniques to hair replacement salons. This is common in all industries but I remember telling that individual that you shouldn't use sales techniques to sway someone in to wearing a hair system. Simply show your product, let them talk to clients who happen to be in your salon at the time and have a sample to put on for then to see for themselves how undetectable a system can be. My clients have done their research, they see the product and they end up with a great system.

In any event, I was eventually "collected" by my sales guy, Jack. Jack didn't look bad in his system, but even at that stage, I could tell he was wearing a rug. I told myself that this was only natural because I knew in advance he'd be wearing one. His office was like a Hollywood stage set. There were pictures on the wall of him doing sports, water skiing, hiking, and generally enjoying the great outdoors. In the corner in plain sight was a basketball and gym bag. I know now that this was all just a marketing psychological tactic. The message was simple: your thin hair restrains and confines you; a hair system from our company will change your life, make you more outgoing, and allow you to participate in a more active and youthful lifestyle.

Jack started to talk to me about the hair system, but I noticed he never wanted to discuss any hard specifics about the way the hairpiece was constructed or how it would attach to my scalp. He finally showed me what looked a piece of screen door netting with a few strands of hair attached to it. I was still confused about how it would be attached to my own existing hair. I was a little frustrated at that point and decided that a hair piece wasn't right for me. Jack then turned his attention to my "file" on his desk. "Probably will do nothing about his hair loss," he said aloud as he wrote it. This put me off a bit, and I felt that my hair loss was a character flaw and that I was a real loser for not wanting to do something about it.

Richard Farrell: Well, you are right. Jack was a bad guy. I guess some of that still happens. I keep hoping that the industry will change but I won't hold my breath. The problem is that most of the industry doesn't have the undetectability a client really wants. There were/are some good people out there in our industry who wouldn't have put you through that sales game.

Somehow, you elected to buy from a discount company. I know of many good people that made systems on premises back then. They could have helped you in ways the discount chains couldn't. I sense your decision to purchase was based on the price of the system. 99% of them wouldn't have made you a lace front but you were opting to wear your system behind a little bit of your hairline.

After several weeks of thinking it over, I decided to go through with the process. My initial payment for the system was $1,500. I sat in the salon chair and cellophane wrapper was put over my head. Scotch tape was then applied and they used a black magic marker to outline the slightly oval pattern that would form the base of the unit. This was then cut off and I was told that my unit would arrive in 8 to 10 weeks. For an added fee of $100, I was told I could receive it in 6. I went with this option and then waited.

Richard Farrell: Jack got to you with his sales techniques. You feel that you were burnt by this one company and you feel compelled to warn others about the traps of all non surgical companies. So far, this wigs 305 is wigs 101 all over again. I am not seeing anything new here.

The 8-10 week period meant it was sent abroad to be made somewhere far away. I guess they deserved the $100 extra to rush it because that does cause a bit of pressure on the company. $1500 wasn't too bad of a price since other companies were getting $2500 -- $3500 back then. The obscene part of this is that they only paid about $75 for the hairpiece and reaped the profits. The Internet wasn't out there at the time. How were you to know the pitfalls and the tricks or the price range without doing your research? It could have been worse.

At this point, I still didn't really know how the unit was going to be attached. When it finally arrived, I was surprised that it was like a skull cap, designed to go directly over my existing hair on the top and then blend in with the back and sides. The hair on the unit was long and stringy, and looked like a mop. They attached it to my head by sewing it to my existing hair. It was done this way only as a trial to see if I liked it. They cut the unit in and I was surprised -- I had feared the worst but it didn't look bad. It was a human hair system and the color matched my own perfectly. I was very satisfied. I felt that I had somehow managed to turn the clock back 10 years.

Richard Farrell: Back then clients just wanted their hair back. They didn't care too much about the attachment method. They didn't want to do any of the major attaching themselves. The salon wanted you to come back every month for servicing. This was how they really made their money. So, they felt no reason to makes things more complicated than necessary. You wanted your hair back and they wanted you back every month ... forever. You're lucky it looked fairly decent. Many salons still work this way. Many don't. Today you have the luxury of being able to research all of this first.

It was at this point that they told me that I would need a second unit to wear while the first one was off being repaired, etc. Hair replacement companies are generally not very forthcoming with this revelation until after you have signed on the dotted line and committed yourself. They did however offer me a better price on the second unit as I was now a "client." I sighed and forked over another $900. I did know, however, that the unit would need maintenance every 4 to 6 weeks and that the service fee would cost approximately $60.

Richard Farrell: Today, having two perfect, identical systems combined with an easy attachment method, is the way to go. But ... you had two factory made hairpieces that were going to cause you tons of problems. Again, you didn't know any better. Back then, this was the norm. Today, there are salons that sell only factory units yet they can help you eliminate these monthly fees.

Anyway, after two days, I went back in. The unit was removed and the hair on the top of my head was shaved. They left a small tuft on the "island" in the front, but that was all. They left the sides and back alone. I was asked if I wanted to attach the front daily with tape or just glue it down at service appointments (this was possible because of the hair I had up front). I opted for the latter and was told this was a "scalp lock". Basically, they smeared glue on my scalp and around the "track" mark, attached tape to the base of the unit, and pasted the thing to my head. This attachment method usually lasted 3 to 4 weeks before it became really lose.

Richard Farrell: Yes. That is one way of attaching. Versions of this method are what the industry uses today. The hairpiece you bought needed to be applied with something that would adhere it to the scalp or the hairs themselves.

Let me step away from my story to tell you a little about hairpieces. There are more names for units and attachment methods than you can shake a stick at. A common sales tactic for a hair replacement company is to tout a "revolutionary" new system the likes of which the world has never seen. My advice is to take these claims with a grain of salt. ALL hairpieces, regardless of design, must be attached to your scalp in one of four ways: glue, tape, clips, or weaving (you might also have some sort of combination).

Richard Farrell: You are absolutely right. Today we have adhesives that can be applied in a thin layer around the perimeter of the system or depending on the design of the system, applied to the entire area of the scalp. It isn't as messy as it might sound to a beginner. It's more like a thin layer of skin cream a person might apply. It is true though that some companies really use a lot of "goop" underneath a base that won't let the scalp breathe but you can find some talented professionals who practice this profession with ethics and safety.

Glue is pretty self explanatory. There are various types that can be safely applied to the human scalp. However, the surface has to be smooth. Any natural hair the individual has must be shaved down to the skin. This is where the famous "track" mark comes in. With this attachment method you cannot remove the unit for some 4 to 6 weeks. If the front is secured with tape, you fan flip the front of the piece up to wash your scalp. However, you must tack it down again every day with fresh tape.

Richard Farrell: The attachments that you were subjected to back then were made for thicker based hairpieces. Times have changed even for companies who sell factory made systems. You are talking about methods that are outdated but it's true that some companies are still attaching hairpieces with these methods. The Track Mark was mainly usually used for cynoacrylates which are basically plasticized super glues. They technically last for as long as you mentioned. You had a little tuft of hair to somewhat hide you front behind and you used tape on that area. Back then you wouldn't dare pass off your hair system as having a natural hairline.

An article like this needs to be worthy of debate. You need to be aware of new technologies and techniques that are performed today by some very good people. The methods that you are describing belong in a history book.

With a straight tape attachment method you can remove the unit at will. Generally, four pieces of tape are needed and applied to the base of the unit. Two straight pieces go on either side, and two "boomerang" shaped pieces go on the front and back. You then line up the unit on your head and paste it down. Any hair must be shaved down where the tape will bond to the scalp.

Richard Farrell: There is a lot to be said about a tape method of attachment. Using tape in combination with other adhesives hold through almost any activity and it cleans up the easily by simply changing the tape. Ten to fifteen seconds every two weeks of shaving the scalp first helps the tape stick for a longer time or the system can be removed nightly.

I specialize in lace systems, I want the client to remove the system every two weeks, clean up the scalp area and then switch in to another system. There are other hair replacement practitioners who see the value of this. The hairs on a lace system needs to always look clean and free of adhesives. Four to six week attachments don't work on Lace systems so you are way out of line implying these techniques are common practice today.

Clips are pieces of metal sewn into the hair unit. They then "grab" the edges of your existing hair. You may still need tape or glue to hold down the front. Many hair replacement salons shy away from clips, as they can cause "traction Alopecia", much like weaving. However, you can take the unit off a night.

Richard Farrell: Clips are archaic but there is an occasional client that works well with them.

We have already discussed weaving. As stated, this attachment method is not widely used anymore.

Now that the various attachment methods have been described, let's look at hairpieces. There are basically only two types: thick base and lace front units. These are my terms-- as I said, there are more names for hairpieces than you can shake a stick at.

Thick base units are either made with human or synthetic hair. The are designed to last anywhere from 12-18 months with proper care. Because they are so rugged, the thick base of the front must be concealed from view. In other words, you can't have a hairstyle that is combed straight back--you'll expose the base. If you have straight hair, you'll have to part it on the side and "layer" it across your forehead. Incidentally, this is the weak link where "delectability" comes in. The place where the hair parts does not look natural. People with curly hair and curly units generally do better in this area. A good example of this is actor William Shatner. In the 70's, he generally wore "straight" hairpieces. When he started making the "Star Trek" movies in the 80's, he went with a curly unit. I think it still looks fake, but the "side part" problem was taken care of.

Richard Farrell: You are describing hairpieces from the past. Systems today are thin.

With regards to the issue of human hair vs. synthetic, human hair generally looks better at first. It's easier to style and manage. However, the hair has a tendency to become dry and brittle, and the color can fade quite easily. This area posses its' own set of problems: dry and brittle hair can easily look "ratty", no matter how much conditioner you use. Also, sometimes the treated hair on the unit can be very "balky" when it is colored, making an exact match with your own hair problematic. More on this later. Synthetic hair does not have these problems, but in my view they don't look as natural. It's a trade off.

Richard Farrell: This is a description of factory made systems form the past with decuticlized hair. A great hair system is made with healthy hair that behaves as well as your own growing hair. My clients have healthy hair experiences but then I practice Ultra Custom hair replacement as more companies should. Today, even factory units have improved their hair quality.

"Lace front" units are made with a very delicate, thin "membrane". The hair is then tied in. THE ATTACHMENT METHODS FOR THESE UNITS ARE EXACTLY THE SAME AS DESCRIBED ABOVE. Lace front units allow you to comb the hair straight back-- they give the appearance that hair is actually growing right out of your scalp. These types of units have been around for years, generally worn by actors and other "Hollywood types". The trade off is that they are very expensive and last less than 6 months. I believe 3 to 4 months is closer to the mark. Because they have to be replaced frequently, issues such as coloring and brittleness are not a factor. When you hear about a "revolutionary" new hair system or product, this is what they are talking about.

Richard Farrell: My Lace fronts will last on average 9-12 months. Some of my clients get 1 - 2 years life from a front. That's longer than most factory systems last. Most companies today give clients throw away hair systems. They eliminate the problems and costs associated with having a crew of talented hair system makers on their premises. Simply having a lace system or lace front doesn't make a system a good system. It is a combination of many other elements like the types and groupings of knots working with the right hair density, textures and growth patterns. You are very wrong. The Lace systems today are totally different from the lace systems you say Hollywood Types and actors wore for years. What state do you live in? I think that many of my Hollywood Types could be interacting with you. Are my normal cross section of America clients Hollywood Types because they wear a system? They come from Helsinki, Moscow, Dallas, etc.. ! Hair quality and color are very important factors on a lace front. I can't reply to brittleness since I only deal with hair that is very supple.

The bottom line is this: hair replacement companies have their own terms to describe their products-- "liquid skin optic", "polyfuse," "derma skin," etc. Don't be fooled by double-talk. The hairpieces they are trying to sell fall into the two categories detailed above. Period.

Richard Farrell: Only two categories? Actually there are many categories of materials used in base making. There are Vacuum type bases that attach by air, Silicone, Polyurethane, Vinyl, Polypropylene, Closed Nylons and Closed Heavy Silk bases. These are all types of Open Mesh bases made in every denier. We then need to throw in all of the Hexagon Toole materials of various materials and thickness which lace comes from. And more materials are on the horizon. What about the 50 or so Hair integration materials that I can choose from when I make a system and then what category do combinations of these materials go in to? Things have changed since your bad hair experience. You are very far from being an expert in hair replacement. Instead of working out your anger in these antiquated posts, you should have went to small claims court and demanded your money back.

With regards to cost, many hair replacement companies have "plans" they try to sell you. You pay a certain flat fee up front and then an agreed upon amount per month. This is especially common with companies that offer "lace front units". Usually, you are guaranteed two units per year, and all services are included with the monthly flat fee. However, you still have to buy hair care products, tape, and tip the stylists. Hair replacement companies favor these plans because it is a long term contract that guarantees a client for an extended time. It also makes you very dependent on them. From what I've been able to determine, a typical "plan" might cost you $2,000 up front (perhaps more) plus $100 per month (not inclusive of tip and hair care products).

Richard Farrell: We sell no maintenance plans at our salons. I make my customers two, perfect, identical systems. They will last two to four times longer than systems made by factories. The client has his or her hair back. Maintenance programs are designed to financially lock you in to a particular company. Our clients stay because of the quality systems we make. Yes, my stylists will accept a tip.

Meanwhile, back at the ranch........ :)

Richard Farrell: God help me..... home, home on the range.

I now had two thick base units made of human hair. I had invested $2,400. At first, I was very happy. I thought the unit looked good. My friends didn't say anything, but I had been away on assignment for a period of 7 months, so they hadn't seen me. It was perfect timing. I later found out that they all knew, but felt awkward about saying anything. From time to time, I would hear a comment or two (generally at the bar after having a few) but the comments were so vague and ambiguous that I dismissed them. Essentially, I was fooling myself that others couldn't tell that I was wearing a rug.

Richard Farrell: You were wearing a rug. Your friends were right. You bought based on price from a discount high volume chain. A rug is a rug is a rug. Times have changed. My clients can't get a rug from me since I have made my own systems since day one of being in business.

After a while, I began to notice things. The hair of the units became dry, even following all the instructions and taking proper care of them. This happened fairly rapidly, when the units were only a few months old. They had a tendency to look "ratty" and brittle. Anytime I was active or sweating, I was acutely aware of the rug attached to my head. It was like wearing a baseball cap that you couldn't remove. Under those conditions, the hair looked and felt unnatural. The color started to fade and I had to have the units re-colored. This added to the $60 monthly maintenance fee. On more than one occasion, I came home and discovered that I did not have an exact color match. Under the overhead lights in the salon it looked fine, but in natural light or the bathroom light I could see a difference. When this happened, I was usually stuck until the next service appointment. It is very hard to color a unit that is attached to your head. Also, the salon people would say, "Oh, it looks good, no problem" yeah right. They just wanted me to go away for another month, never mind what it looked like.

Richard Farrell: Yes. All of these things happen with factory-made systems.

The units also seemed to lose hair. A hairpiece that loses hair, you ask? Well, its true. The hair is sewn into a nylon mesh. Combing, washing, and styling can take their toll. You develop thin spots on the unit and hair must then be added. This also adds expense to the upkeep.

Richard Farrell: Take one of your own hairs and see how little it takes to break it. All hair systems will need some hair additions. Our staff shows our clients simple techniques which greatly reduce hair loss. Color fading will happen just as it does on real hair but you were meant to have human hair on your head versus synthetic.

Please bear in mind that problems such as losing hair, dry and brittle hair, and color problems only apply to human hair pieces. You might not experience these particular issues if you go with a synthetic piece. Likewise, a lace front hairpiece is designed to be thrown away every 3 months, so these issues play no role. However, you pay big money for this option.

Richard Farrell: Synthetic hair has it's own set of problems. You can't sleep in it or it will frizz. You can't wash it in hot water or goes bone straight. It breaks and I have seen it change color with age and photochemical damage. It won't style like human hair with today's hair fixatives and styling products so, it looks fake. All of my systems are made with human hair. Even suggesting that synthetic hair could possibly be better than human goes against the laws of nature.

I gradually became very dissatisfied with wearing a rug. I hated the fact that I was shelling out close to $90 a month on upkeep and service appointments. I discovered that most hairpieces come from a handful of factories located in the far east. It is not unusual for several hair replacement companies to have different names for their products yet order their hair units from the same factory. Also, the mark up is incredible. A human hairpiece has a base cost of around $200, yet they retail at some places for upwards of $1,500. Much has made of a hair replacement company that states that its hair pieces are "custom made" and do not come from the standard far east factories. What they don't tell you is that the HAIR that's used in those systems comes from the same places as all the others. In fact, the product is just another "lace front" hairpiece with a fancy marketing gimmick and a sky high price tag.

Richard Farrell: Actually most companies won't spend more than $75 for a hair system. Almost all of them are made with hair from India. Who are you referring to in the latter part of this paragraph? Are you in any way referring to my systems? I want some clarification here. Maybe it isn't me because I produce Ultra Custom systems and I don't promote a lace front marketing gimmick and my prices are in line with the discount chains. I take no shortcuts and I get my hair from many countries in order to match the hair textures of my clientele. In response to this posting I want you to be perfectly clear that you are not referring to my company. My next response to you depends on how you clear up this issue.

I also grew more and more concerned that others could tell I was wearing a hairpiece. I would be talking to people and their eyes would go up to my fake hairline and then back down. This is a sure sign that you have been discovered. Maybe to some this is no big deal. However, our society and culture is filled with examples where hairpieces are objects of scorn and ridicule. I certainly didn't want to be identified with any of that. I became aware that despite my self deception, people knew I wore a rug. Instead of the label "the bald guy" that I had so feared would be applied to me 4 years earlier, I was now "the guy with the hairpiece". Let me tell you, the former is more honest and a lot cheaper, both in monetary terms and self respect.

Richard Farrell: I agree. I would certainly rather be bald than wear what you optioned to purchase.

I decided to do without the rug. I went with a straight tape attachment and let my "track" grow out. After only a few months, the track was long enough and I cut the sides and back of my hair to match. I now sport a short haircut. I use a cover product and am a lot happier. Friends and family are relieved. I can't count how many times people have commented on how much better I look sans rug.

Richard Farrell: Good decision.

I learned some valuable lessons. As long as I felt more comfortable with the rug than without it, I didn't want to hear anything negative. I fooled myself into believing that it looked good and that "nobody could tell."

Some hairpiece wearers will always be quick to point out that if you only do your research and go with "the right system" or "the right company" or "do the upkeep" than you'll have no problems with wearing a rug. I beg to differ, but that's just my opinion. I wore a hairpiece for 4 years; it felt like 40.

Richard Farrell: Wearing a great hair system is something that you have not experienced. You are not an expert on this industry. You were simply burnt by one company and you are mad. If you had been wearing hair for 30 years and if you were still wearing hair and in touch with what's up, I would respect your words and give your views a little more credibility.

To anyone considering going the hairpiece route I leave you with one final truism that it took me several years and thousands of dollars to discover: Wearing a rug did not solve my hair problems; I merely traded one set of concerns about my hair for another.

-Steve

Richard Farrell: A rug won't solve your problems. A great hair system can.

Steve, this post of your is not an advanced post at all. It is a rewritten version of wigs 101. I will consider it advanced when you get involved with new products or technology. You simply had one bad experience and it is consuming you.

Your mind is set and no one can convince you otherwise. I say good luck and I wish you the best. I am ashamed that this industry couldn't give you your hair back. It's obvious that you are still on the quest for hair restoration.

Many people aren't clear about my mission in this industry. I am trying to change everything about hair systems that I don't like (and that you don't like). I even want to get rid of adhesives, that's my biggest challenge. I have accomplished making my systems esthetically undetectable and almost completely undetectable to the touch. I am searching high and low for materials that are even thinner and yet stronger.

I have introduced The Farrell Challenge which you can read about on many different websites. I am putting my title on the line by challenging the entire industry to make a system as good as a Farrell system in three different competitive events. All profits from The Farrell Challenge will go to charities and research companies searching for a cure for baldness. That doesn't make any sense does it? No one likes my mission except the public who will benefit from the new technology. The special interests that post in this group aren't going to like it either and I am sure to hear their wrath but they are invited to enter or attend.

My industry attacks me whenever possible. I have no industry friends. This is an uphill battle against the powerful "old guard" who want business as usual but I am trying to force them to practice Ultra Custom Hair Replacement as the only real option for hair loss sufferers.

I already see the big chains merging and reorganizing in their efforts to stay alive in a market that is dwindling due to their offering the public low quality junk. I believe that only practitioners of Ultra Custom hair replacement are able to solve the problems of hair loss sufferers and new technologies will evolve through artistic competition.

Steve, instead of rehashing this same old story about your one bad experience, try researching what nonsurgical companies are doing out there. Question companies on their beliefs and practices and ask what they are doing to better this industry. I don't know if it's legal but can't you post their responses? Nail them with questions. Let them know what you know about their practices and ask if they can do better than they are doing. Push this industry to push technological limits. You will be helping people get the results they are seeking and you will eventually earn your Ph.D. in Hair replacement.