I wrap Tressostar or Newbaums cloth tape top to bottom and use enough coats of shellac so the tape feels smooth. I don’t use twine for finishing,,,

White cotton tape with multiple (5) coats of shellac. I use Zinssers Clear mixed 4 parts to 1 with Zinssers Pigmented white. I’d wash it with soap and water occasionally when it got dirty.
After a year of use, I applied another 2 coats this past summer and it looks good as new.

For a decorative touch I used short pieces of Red and White patterned bar tape was silicone glued into place and coated with clear polyurethane. It’s held up really well.
ThatsBetter by Matthew Pendergast, on Flickr

This wrap was a done with Off White colored “Viva” tape. The shellac coatings give it a nice light honey color.

https://www.jitensha.com/eng/tape_e.html

This is my favorite tape because it has a much softer feel to it. Coated with Zinssers Clear, maybe 6 coats originally, Ive given it an additional 2 coats to refresh it up this past summer after 8 years of solid use. Still looks and feels great.
Handlebar detail shot. Taken at Rattlesnake Lake, just up the Snoqualmie Valley Trail from my house by Matthew Pendergast, on Flickr

This wrap, done with Light Pink colored tape with 5 or 6 coats of Zinssers Clear, turned out to appear a slightly darker honey color than the example above.
Apr21 Skagit Tulip Ride by Matthew Pendergast, on Flickr

This wrap was done with Light Blue cotton tape. 5 Coats with Zinssers Clear, darkened it up a little and gave it bit of a green tint - almost Celeste to my eye.
Bike refresh by Matthew Pendergast, on Flickr