I get by using one roll on each side with strips behind the brake levers. I then shellac the tape twice and then the end of the tape does not have to be wrapped with anything (hemp twine..electrical tape...yada..yada..). Looks super clean and it will stay in place as long as you don't pick hard at it with your fingernail. If you are wont to do that, try raising the bars and spend less time staring at them. Also, my favorite mountain bike/city bike grips is old eighties road bar foam with shellacked cotton bar tape over the top. For those using bar-end shifters or for that matter any under-the-tape cable routing, strapping tape (with the nylon threads) is very thin and doesn't stretch.
William