Frontals Vs. Closures: Your Best Guide To Frontal And Closure Hair Pieces

Are you interested in getting a weave or making a wig? Then, a natural look is an absolute must! There can be endless possibilities when it comes to styling your hair using different hair pieces. And, we understand that it’s easy to get overwhelmed. 

Let’s say you’ve already got the hair bundles, but now you have to decide if you’d like to finish your look off with a closure or a frontal. It’s great to do your research so you’ll be sure to buy the right product that suits your lifestyle. So, how do you know which one is best for you?

Don’t worry! In this blog post, we will get you started on all things closures and frontals and help make things easier for you. We’ll be talking about the following:

• What are frontals and closures?
• What is the purpose of a frontal or a closure?
• What are the differences between a frontal and a closure?
• How do you know which one is the best for you?
• Frequently asked questions about closures and frontals

What are frontals and closures?

First, let's find out what frontals and closures are. A lace frontal or a closure is a hair piece that makes your hair extensions or wig look natural. They are both used to close off an install without the need to blend your natural hair to it. To achieve a more realistic scalp, the knotting of a closure or frontal is often bleached.

Lace Frontals

Frontals are hair pieces that stretch your entire hairline (it goes from one ear to the other). They look like a half wig of some sorts. They are sewn in bundles or constructed to make a wig. A lace frontal is a frontal hair piece with a lace base. The lace material is great because it makes it more breathable for your natural hair. It also makes the base look like your real scalp.

Full Lace Wigs

Perfect Locks’ Full Lace Wigs come with a fully hand-knotted base throughout a full lace cap. They allow you to style and part your hair in any direction you want. They are great in between installs because of their versatility. They are also very durable and can last up to 3+ years with the right maintenance.

Closures

Closures don’t stretch from ear to ear, but they are hair pieces that are also meant to recreate the natural parting of your hair.

What is the purpose of a frontal or a closure?

Both frontal and closure pieces are used to eliminate the need for leaving hair out in attempts to create a natural look. This is great because they mimic your natural hairline and scalp, so you don't need to "leave out" your natural hair to blend them into your hair extensions. Both closures and frontals are considered protective styles because they help preserve your natural hair. This is especially great for people with thinning hair, receding hairline, or those with alopecia because they are able to protect their natural hair from damage. 

All of Perfect Locks' closures and frontals are hand-knotted to allow flexible parting and show a more realistic looking hairline. Both can be used as a solution to hair loss as well. If you’re experiencing some thinning at the top of your head, a closure would be great to cover that up! If you need a bit more coverage, a frontal is the perfect solution, as it completely covers your hairline.

Frontal vs. Closure: What's the difference?

Now that we know what closures and frontals are, let's have a more detailed look at their differences:

1. Size

One of the biggest differences between a closure and a frontal is their size. Both come in various sizes. The standard size for a closure hair piece is 4x4 in size and typically covers the very top of the head. 

A frontal, on the other hand, comes in a range of sizes. The most common length of a frontal is from ear to ear, which covers the entire hairline. This is about 13 inches long to 4 inches wide in size. Because frontals give you ear to ear coverage of your hair extensions or hair wig, you have more freedom to part the hair however you’d like. They also give a better illusion of a more realistic hair line. 

2. Base material

Another difference is their base material. When considering which product to purchase, it’s important to understand your needs. Human hair frontals and closures are usually made with a silk or a lace base. 

Perfect Locks' natural hair closures are available in swiss lace, silk base, and skin base materials. Swiss lace is the most common base for both closures and frontals. This lace is made of a universal color that blends with most skin tones. These closures are created with a light, silk material that is meant to mimic the scalp.

Those who want a more realistic look prefer a silk base frontal or closure. A skin base closure provides the most natural look as it not only looks like a scalp but it feels like one too. To install, we highly recommend gluing down these closures instead due to the PolyFlex material, as any other installation method may damage the base of the closure.

3. Styling versatility

Since lace frontals cover your hairline from ear to ear, it gives you more versatility in styling your hair wigs or hair extensions. Because of this, many people prefer lace frontals. On the other hand, closures cover only a section of your hairline, so it will be hard not to expose the wefts at the side if you want to pull your hair back. So, if you don’t plan on bringing your hair to a ponytail or if you’d want to maintain an exact style for your hair, you may be more inclined to choose closures.

It’s also worth mentioning that closures can come in three different designs: the free part, middle part, and three part closure styles. The free part closure comes with no parting so you are free to part it at whatever point you like. The middle part closure comes with a classic parting in the middle, while the three part style comes with a parting in the middle, right, and left side, which is great if you want to easily change how you part your hair. Similarly, frontals can also come in free, middle, and three part way styles.

Interested in customizing your frontal or closure? Read our blog on How To Customize Your Frontal Or Closure.

4. Cost

Lace frontals are typically more expensive than closures because they are bigger in size, they provide more versatility in styling your hair and in parting of the hairline. In addition, they can achieve a more natural look. While lace frontals are more expensive, you will also need less hair bundles when installing them.

How do you know which one is the best for you?

Now that we know the difference between the two, let’s find out which one is best for you!

#TeamClosures

Closures are the most common and simplest answer for your unit. If you are still a beginner who is just starting off with wigs or if you want a simple, everyday hairstyle, then closures are great for you. Closures can also be your choice if you have problems with thinning hair on top of your head and want to add more volume in the area. Closures also don’t require as much maintenance, so it will work best for you if you are looking to stick to a budget and if you are interested in keeping the same style throughout your wear. 

#TeamFrontals

Frontals provide the most versatility. If you enjoy changing up your look often with different styles, frontals are your best option. For those of you who want to pull your hair back, a regular lace frontal will do just fine. But for those of you who want absolute styling freedom, the 360° frontal is the perfect solution for your hair needs. A 360° frontal has more hair, which allows you to use less bundles and have complete control over your hairline.

More About 360° Lace Frontals

The 360° Lace Frontals are the recent trend for women who want to style their hair however they want. With them, you can create styles that would allow you to pull your hair up into a ponytail, a bun, or any other hairstyle. 

To ensure a proper installation, a stylist should be able to sew it in to anchor the hair throughout the cap. With the 360° lace frontals, it’s important for your stylist to establish a good support throughout your head. The more support you have throughout your head, the less time you have to worry about your hair piece shifting or not. This extends the lifespan of your frontal and also comes in handy when it’s time for you to wash your hair piece.

Here are some looks you can achieve when using Perfect Locks’ 360° frontal pieces. This frontal will provide you with so much style flexibility, which is perfect for every time you want to switch up your look!

How long does sew-in 360° frontal last in place?

Sew-in 360 lace frontals usually last in place for a few weeks before it shifts. And even if it may come a bit loose, you can still continue wearing them if the movement is not noticeable. With 360 frontals, you can treat them like you would your natural hair. You can brush, style, and wash them like you would your normal hair.

The Do's and Don't of Closures and Frontals

To keep your lace frontals on point, avoid committing these haircare crimes and follow the do's to achieve a flawless look. 

Do Know your stuff

The first secret to shopping (and wearing) lace closure wigs is to know what you’re doing. Anyone can flip into a wig and call it a day but not everyone can pull it off like Queen Bey herself.

Before anything else, always do your research. As women, we have some serious FBI skills when it comes to the Internet and finding things out about whatever (and whoever) we want. You know it’s true, ladies. So, now is the time to use your stalking searching skills to find out everything you need to know about lace closures and lace frontals.

Don't Get suckered into online deals that are too good to be true

One common mistake is taking advantage of a what-seems-like-a-good deal for lace frontals online. There are very few things in life where the no-name version is a good alternative; your future front lace closures are not one of them. That’s not to say that you have to dish out your lifetime savings but as the saying goes, ‘If it seems too good to be true, it probably is’. So, avoid a seriously bad hair day by always shopping quality. 

Do Know the difference between lace frontals and lace closures

As mentioned, not all hair care products are created equally. It’s imperative to not only know what lace frontals and lace closures are but to also know the differences between the two because the care requirements will be different.  For example, with lace closures, your hair will grow and you’ll need to retouch it every couple of weeks. With lace frontals, you will need to touch it up with weekly maintenance and upkeep. That’s only one example and there are many more. So, know the difference and you’ll be able to determine which one is best for you – and for keeping a flawless look with the right kind of care.

Don't Treat your lace frontals and lace closures like a real scalp

If there’s one thing you should take away from this blog, let it be this tip! Lace frontals and lace closures are incredibly delicate and they need some specific TLC from time to time. You can’t treat them like you would a real scalp. You need to proceed with caution.

So, as a rule of thumb, no scratching, no intense scrubbing, combing or using poor quality hair products.

Do Get the proper haircare products

With the prior mentioned, we can’t say it enough – use proper hair care products. Forbid the junk lining the shelves at your local drugstore. Often times, they’re packed with toxins and chemicals that can ruin your front closures or lace frontals before you even get used to your new do. Always use sulfate-free hair care infused with safe and effective ingredients to keep your hair looking flawless, lush and hydrated.  

Don’t Get your Hair Extremely Hot

Listen ladies, we know you’re on fire when you get your lace closures or lace frontals. But in regards to temperature, you have to take it down a notch. Extreme heat will damage the hair and turn your flawless look into one you’ll frown upon – and that’s just never good. So, let your man do the barbecuing, don’t get too close to the fireplace and avoid hot irons.  

It can be hard to spend your hard-earned paycheck on a killer lace closures or lace frontals if you have no idea why you’re doing it. Obviously, you know you’re going to look flawless but there are many benefits to shopping quality hair care and wigs. Do your research, understand the benefits and commit to taking proper care of your hair. 

Frequently Asked Questions

• What are the methods of applying lace frontals?

  There are different methods of installing lace frontal hair pieces. The method of installation will depend on your preference. Some method examples can be through sew-in, glue, or the elastic band method. There are many lace frontals that come with an elastic band to help adjust the fit of the wig on your head. You can also apply it with glue and tape or you can even have your expert stylist sew it into place behind the hairline. Lace frontals and closures with bundles are great for a seamless installation style.

• What are the methods of installing a lace closure?

  Closures are easier to install, but they can be installed the same way as frontals. You can either use adhesives or sew them into place. For a more natural look, it’s best to use bundles when installing lace closures.

• How long does installation take?

  Installation can take anytime between a few minutes and up to a few hours. Installation will of course depend on the style you want to achieve. Generally, lace frontals and closures take less time to install than other kinds of hair extension. If you have a lace front wig and want it to be more secured, the best approach is for your stylist to sew the wig in. Sew-in may take longer for your stylist, but your wig will be more stable, which is great if you don’t want to take your hair piece off every day.

• How long does a lace frontal/closure last?

  Lace frontal installations can last for about 2 to 4 weeks or even longer depending on how good you take care of your frontal. Note that you will need weekly maintenance for them. If you’re interested in a lace frontal wig, Perfect Locks use only the finest quality 100% virgin Remy human hair which has a lifespan of up to 2 years with proper care. With Remy hair, you can be sure that your hair piece is naturally soft and silky because hair was collected with the cuticle intact.

• Can I swim with a lace frontal?

  If you are going on vacation, you can still swim with your lace frontal but only to a certain point. Keep in mind that if you are using adhesive or glue that isn’t waterproof, then getting in the water might not be a good idea. You can still enjoy yourself, but it’s probably best to avoid completely soaking your hair in the water.

• Can a frontal and closure be reused?

  Yes! You can reuse your lace frontal or closure hair piece when you want to achieve more looks. Take note of proper hair care practices and hair care products that will make your frontal or closure last longer.

• Can a lace frontal or closure damage my hair?

  This is one of the common myths about hair extensions and hair pieces. But, you’ll be happy to know that a lace frontal or closure doesn't damage your real hair, hairline, or scalp. In fact, they even protect your real hair because it’s so easy to install them. They are also designed to be breathable which keeps your real hair healthy underneath.
  
  However, understand that the issue of damaged hair can stem from the method of applying or removing your hair pieces, and how they are maintained. This is why it’s very important to practice the best methods for applying and removing your hair piece correctly. Not doing so can irritate your scalp and hair, which may lead to damage in the long term. In addition, you should also keep your natural hair healthy and clean through regular washing, brushing, and using the right hair care products.