From major influencers on social media to your aunties next door, everyone is looking for a quick and easy way to change their hairstyles to fit their outfits. However, frequently styling your hair with chemicals and heat inevitably causes a lot of damage. This often results in brittle, dry, and frizzy hair. Here is where wigs come into play.
Wigs have gained a lot of popularity not only in the beauty industry but also in the everyday world beyond stardom. They protect your hair from the damage of styling and colouring, so you do not have to worry about spending too much time and money on hair care routines. You can enjoy the benefits of limitless styles without permanent commitment.
Compared to real hair, wigs do not require extensive upkeep. The time spent blow-drying, straightening. and curling for daily maintenance can add up to more than you realize. That is why many people who struggle with hair loss conditions find that wearing wings is versatile and convenient option to boost their confidence.
When it comes to finding the perfect look for you, there are so many styles and choices available. It is great to have a bunch of options, but it can be tricky to find the best match. You are looking to invest in a weave or wig, but now you are also trying to find a piece that produces a natural-looking hairline…where exactly do you start looking?
Do not be overwhelmed yet, we are here to break things down and explain everything about closures to frontals so that you will have a much easier time understanding how these hairpieces can help complete your look.
Wigs with closures and frontals are different from traditional wigs
You can easily establish your ideal look with closure or frontal hairpieces attached to your wigs, weaves, and natural hair extensions. They are made out of 100% human hair and are convenient to install. Both types include a piece of lace or silk that is sewn with hair extensions into the base of the wig. It is this piece of material that creates the illusion of a natural scalp that helps achieve a beautiful look. Silk tends to look more similar to natural scalp when viewed up close. Lace lays flat against the scalp and is more breathable. These hairpieces are often attached onto the scalp with paste or tape glue, but can also be sewn in if needed.
Compared to traditional wigs or sew-in extensions, wigs that include frontal or closure pieces are more comfortable to wear and allow for more flow of air to your scalp and hair, especially with lace material. They are definitely your go-to choices for hot summers.
Frontals wigsand closures are relatively easy to install and require little installation time than sew-in natural hair extensions. For example, sew-in natural hair extensions usually take about 2 to 4 hours depending on the desired hairstyle. Frontals and closures require less than one hour for installation. They are great options if you are looking for something simple and less time-consuming.
What is a closure wigs?
Closure wigs typically has a 4x4-inch patch placed on the middle, front portion of the hairpiece. This type of weave does not mask your head but only covers the specific “horseshoe” zone in the centre of your head. The patch material that creates the illusion of a scalp can be made of lace or silk. Note that closures alone are usually used to close off an install. This means you may need to purchase additional hair bundles to obtain a full, voluminous wig since closures only cover a small portion of the head. For example, a 4x4-inch lace closure is often bought along with 3 or 4 bundles of hair to complete a seamless look.
Closures are available in many different styles, including three-part, middle part and free part. Three-part closures allow you to part your hair in three different ways. Middle part closures only give you one styling option as you can only part the hair in the middle. Free part closures let you part your hair however you please; this type is often more preferred because of its versatility.
Although closures normally come in 4x4-inch size, you can find 5x5-inch, 6x6-inch and 7x7-inch closure wigs that cover more of the head. You can choose the most suitable option depending on your head size, so it is important to measure your head size before making a purchase. Larger sizes sometimes are a little more expensive.
What is a frontal?
A frontal has a strip of lace or silk piece typically sized 13x4 inches that covers your full hairline from ear to ear. This reproduces a soft, natural hairline. Hair bundles are sewn onto the strip, making it a “half wig”. Again, you may need to purchase additional hair bundles to complete a full wig. Note that because frontals go from ear-to-ear, they are especially helpful for people who want to cover up receding hairlines. This type of hairpiece covers more of your head so you can part your hair in the front nearly every way, allowing for a range of different hairstyles. From ponytails to hair buns, it is all up to you.
Frontals also come in different sizes. You can find sizes ranging from 13x3 inches to 13x6 inches.
A 360° frontal is a variant of regular frontals and involves a 2-to-4-inch strip covering the entire perimeter of your head, hence the name “360°. This type of hairpiece offers even more versatility as the underlying material covers an even larger area on the head, creating a 360° natural scalp look. With this piece, you can part your hair anywhere around the band around your head and achieve certain hairstyles such as a high ponytail and side braids that cannot be done with regular frontals without exposing the tracks underneath.
What is the difference between a closure and a frontal?
Size and shape:
This is the most obvious difference. Closure has a square patch (typically 4x4 inches) as its base and only covers the central front portion of the head.
A frontal covers your head from ear-to-ear and has an elongated shape base (typically 13x4 inches). A 360° frontal goes around your head to form a full circle.
Versatility:
Because there is less material on a closure, there is a smaller amount of working space within the piece. This translates into less hairstyle flexibility since you can only work with a smaller amount of hair, making it impossible to pull back the sides without exposing tracks. It is possible to wear bangs with a closure, but it is difficult to create up-dos or half ponytails with closure wigs because you cannot see a natural scalp like you would with natural hair. Although this type of weave does not offer much versatility when it comes to styling, closure wigs can be a good option for you if you are the type who only likes specific styles. After all, if you know your preferences, there is no need to change them every day.
The biggest perks of wearing a frontal are its versatility. Frontals cover the entire hairline so you can personally style your wigs or extensions with more freedom. It is very similar to styling your own natural hair. 360° frontals offer even more hairstyling versatility. From high ponytails to side braids, feel free to pick whichever you desire!
Comfort:
Frontals are often bonded in place using glue or tape. If you have sensitive skin, you may experience irritation and redness so there is a small risk of damaging your hairline. However, when installed properly, Frontals tend to fit snugly and are generally comfortable to wear.
Closures are often sewn into place and may not fit properly if you fail to measure your head size accurately.
Convenience:
Frontals require a lot of tweaking to achieve a natural look at the first installation. You may need to do things like tweezing, tinting, plucking, or trimming baby hairs to create a realistic hairline. Frontals last approximately 2 to 3 weeks; after that, they tend to lose their glue and pull off gradually around the edges.
Closures require little maintenance and last longer with proper maintenance. They are more suited for hot weather because they do not need that much gluing and customizing. However, as your hair grows over time, your wig may be pushed up or to the side. You may have to go back to the hairstylist to readjust your weave every month or so.
Cost:
Since closure wigs are manufactured with less material, they tend to be cheaper than frontal wigs. This can help you maintain simple looks at an affordable cost.
Frontals offer more versatility and are made with more material; therefore, they tend to be more costly. Although more expensive, frontals often require fewer hair bundles to complete a full wig. 360° frontals often require only 2 hair bundles.
Closure wig VS frontal wig: which one is best for you?
At the end of the day, deciding which type of wig is better really comes down to personal preference. Both wigs can display gorgeous, natural-looking hairlines. The major factors that can impact your decision are how often you would like to switch up your hairstyle and what your budget is. If you appreciate more versatility and hairstyles that involve pulling your hair back, then a frontal wig may be a better choice. If you are just looking for a hairpiece to close your install with a natural-looking scalp and prefer only a couple of hairstyles, then a closure would meet your needs at a lower cost.
Now that you have learned all about closures and frontals, it is time to pick out the perfect one for you and get ready to show off your new hairstyle!
