Hair unit maintenance in Atlanta, every 2 to 4 weeks.

What a maintenance visit includes

Every visit is private and one-on-one, just like your fitting. We take the unit off, look after the scalp and base, then put everything back and restyle. Maintenance visits typically run $75 to $200, and your price depends on what your unit needs on the day.

Here is what happens in the chair.

• Careful removal. The bond is released properly so the unit and your skin are not stressed.
• Cleaning. Both the scalp and the base are cleaned, which clears away product, oil and build-up.
• Re-attachment. The unit goes back on securely, with the front edge and hairline checked.
• Restyling. We recut and restyle so the unit blends with the hair you have grown since last time.
• A quick check. We look at the condition of the base and tell you honestly how much life it has left.

Why every 2 to 4 weeks

Your own hair keeps growing underneath a unit, and your scalp keeps producing oil and shedding skin. After a few weeks, the bond loosens, the edges can lift and the blend at the sides starts to show. That is when a unit looks like a unit.

The gap that suits you depends on a few things. A lace base tends to need a different rhythm to skin or hybrid bases. Men who train hard, swim or sweat a lot usually sit at the shorter end. Men with a quiet routine and a skin-friendly bond can often stretch toward four weeks. Your specialist will set a schedule at your fitting and adjust it as they see how your unit wears.

Skipping visits does not save money for long. A neglected unit wears out sooner, and most units last 3 to 6 months when they are properly maintained.

Think of a visit the way you think of a haircut. Nobody waits until a fade has completely grown out before booking. You book while it still looks good, so it never looks bad. A unit works the same way, with the added benefit that your scalp gets a proper clean each time.

Signs you are overdue

You know your head better than anyone. If you notice any of these, book in rather than wait for your next slot.

• The front edge is lifting or you can feel it catching.
• Your own hair is visibly growing out at the sides and back, and the fade has gone soft.
• The unit feels itchy, tight or greasy against the scalp.
• The bond is slipping when you sweat, train or shower.
• The hair looks dull, tangled or matted compared with fitting day.
• Your hairline no longer sits where it did.

Booking your visits

The easiest way to stay on schedule is to book your next visit before you leave the chair. Your specialist will suggest a date based on your base, your bond and how you live, and you can move it a little if your week changes. Try not to push it far.

Tell us how the unit has felt since your last visit. Itching, lifting, slipping or dullness are all useful clues, and they help us adjust the method, the products or the gap between visits. Over a few visits, we learn your scalp and your routine, and your maintenance gets quicker and more precise.

If something changes, such as a holiday, a new training plan or a new job with different hours, let us know and we will plan around it. A good schedule is one you can actually keep, and keeping it is what protects the money you have already put into your unit.

Home care between visits

What you do at home makes a visible difference. Wash gently with the products your specialist recommends, work with the grain of the hair and rinse well so nothing builds up under the base. Pat dry. Do not rub.

Avoid heavy oils and thick pomades around the bond, and keep sprays and gels light. At night, protect the unit with a satin bonnet or a satin pillowcase. Keep hands away from the edges. Picking at a lifting corner usually makes it worse.

If you swim or train, rinse off chlorine and sweat as soon as you can. You can exercise, shower and swim with the right attachment method, but the bond needs a clean surface to work with.

When it is time for a refit

No unit lasts forever. Most last 3 to 6 months depending on the base type and how well they are looked after. When the base is thinning or the hair has lost its life, a refit is a better use of your money than another repair. We offer safe removal, scalp care and a fresh unit when yours is due.

If you are new to units, start with our installation page to see how fitting day works. If you are weighing up yearly spend, our man weave cost guide puts the figures side by side.