There are so many different styling options available, which may make it confusing at times to know what is what.
Something that is easy to confuse is the difference between a frontal and a closure. Though some may think they are one and the same, there are actually some major differences between them that are important to know.
What is the Difference Between a Frontal and a Closure?
A closure is a hair piece made with lace or silk that completes a weave on the top part of the head.
Its function is to blend the hairline and natural skin, to give the illusion of the scalp.
A closure is usually a 4X4 patch of lace attached with hair that is placed on the top middle portion of the weave.
A frontal serves the same purpose as the closure, but it is wider in length – extending from ear to ear and going about 5 inches to the back of the head.
It is also popularly made with either lace or silk, with a strip of material in the front that extends from one end to the other.
Frontal vs Closure – Which is more suitable to you?
Why should you choose a frontal
A frontal is ideal for those who want to put a little more effort into their hair and want their weave to look as natural as possible.
Frontals give the hair full coverage, so no matter the color or texture, you would not have to do anything to your own hair in the styling process.
Though it may be more time consuming, the closure is ideal for people who want to fully protect their hair and let it grow out as healthy as possible.
Why should you choose a closure
Closures are less time consuming than frontals – due to its size and sewing method.
Many people gravitate towards the convenience of its easier application, because it is less labor intensive.
Due to the size of a closure, they are also significantly less expensive than a frontal.
Closures are also easier to maintain. They are ideal for athletes and people who want a simple, less time-consuming everyday look.
Major Differences between a Frontal and Closure
#1 Size
Closures come in different sizes. There usually sizes they come in are. 4″ x 5″, 4″ x 4″, 4″ x 3.5″ or 5″ x 5″. [1]
There are other sizes that have recently been developed, such as a 6×6 and a 7×7 which are a lot larger than the usual closures.
The smaller these closures are, the less parting space and hair coverage is included with it. A larger closure gives the ability to have more coverage and scalp imitation.
Frontals also come in different sizes, however, they are a lot longer in length than closures. The general size of frontals are 13 inches in length and 4 inches in width (13×4).
Frontals are supposed to extend from ear to ear, so they can be made longer or shorter depending on the size of the head. There are also 360 degree lace frontals, which go all the way around the edge of the head – front and back. So not only can they be made to blend with the front of the forehead and scalp, but also the back of the neck.
The width of these pieces can depend on the preference of the buyer and how far they want their part to go.
#2 Installation
Methods
One of the main differences between these two hair pieces is also how they are installed.
Closures are sewn to the hair rather than glued. If a person is not fond of guling, they will usually go for a closure rather than a frontal.
Due to the closure being smaller than a frontal, a closure is usually applied to the head where the person desires to wear their part – unless the closure is made with different parting options. It is then sewn to the surrounding natural hair around it to keep it in place.
A frontal on the other hand is installed by gluing the front to the forehead.
Unlike closures, frontals require adhesive rather than sewing. Some of the popular adhesives used are Got2b Glued or a non-water based glue which lasts longer. [2]
Installing frontals can be more difficult to install, due to its larger size and the gluing process.
Maintenance
A closure does involve some styling effort, however, because it requires the natural hair to be out along the edges. One would have to style their natural hair to match the weave, which some people do not like because that part of their hair is not protected.
It could also require that some of the natural hair be straightened or colored, depending on the texture and color of the weave and closure.
For frontals, some people are not fond of the time it takes to melt the lace, which is a term used for blending the lace and the skin together using glue. It can be a time consuming process to achieve the look of a natural hairline.
A frontal requires more maintenance than a closure, and even more so if it is a 360 frontal.
#3 Price Difference
Closures are less expensive and range from $50 to over $120. These prices depend on the type or hair it is and where it comes from. Closures will usually be more expensive the longer they are and the type of lace they are made with as well.
Some of the popular kinds of lace are swiss lace, and transparent lace. Most people choose transparent lace for their closures because they mimic the scalp the best – but they are also more expensive.
Frontals tend to be pricier than closures, due to the amount of hair that is included and their width. A typical lace closure price can range from $150 to over $400 dollars.
Frontals are also made with different kinds of lace – such as 3D lace and transparent lace which blend better with any color of skin – and contribute to the price being higher. 360 degree lace frontals are going to be more expensive than a 13×4, and the cost of adhesive adds to that price.
#4 Versatility
A closure is less versatile than the frontal mainly due to its parting capabilities.
If the hair is not trained to be parted in different directions, then a person would have to wet the hair before they part it – causing more time to style the hair.
Closures do come in different sizes, which means the bigger the size the more versatility that can be achieved. For example, a 4×4 closure covers less area of the head than a 6×6 closure- which makes the 6×6 more versatile.
If someone chose a closure to complete their weave, they would have to leave out some of their own natural hair, because a closure does not provide full coverage.
If someone installed a closure that was not their natural color or texture, they would have to alter their own hair with dye and heat. If people do not want to manipulate their own hair by much, they would have to find a closure that is closest to their own hair – which limits their styling options.
Due to its larger size, the frontal is more versatile in the amount of styles you can achieve with it.
The lace or silk on the bottom enables you to part the hair wherever one would like while still giving the illusion of a scalp on the bottom.
If the frontal is 360 degrees, you can also put your weave in a ponytail or high bun, which is an option many are interested in.
Frontals also have lace around the front edges, so similar to a lace front wigs, one can style the baby hair look to make the hair piece appear even more natural. [3]
Which last longer closure or frontal?
Due to closures being sewn into the head they tend to last longer than frontals, which require glue.
It takes about 2 to 3 weeks for the glue to start to wear off and start to lift around the edges.
Longevity also depends on the weather. If it is hotter weather, then the glue for a frontal can wear out faster- increasing the maintenance.
Do a frontal and a closure damage your hair?
Both lace frontals and closure have the ability to damage the hair if they are not cared for properly.
A frontal involves gluing the lace to the forehead. If the glue is applied to the baby hairs around the head, they can be torn off by the glue – thus damaging the hairline.
If a closure is not sewn in properly it can also damage the hair. Sometimes a closure is sewn in too tight, and can excessively pull on the hair, causing hair loss in that area.
A closure also has the tendency to feel uncomfortable, especially when it is first installed, urging people to scratch. This scratching and pulling can also cause damage to the hair.
If worn too long, both the closure and the frontal can add too much stress to the scalp – negatively impacting the hair. [4]
The Final Word
The differences between a closure and a frontal mainly depend on the purpose that the buyer has for it.
Closures and frontals come in different sizes, prices, and styles. A frontal works more as a protective styling option and a closure works more as an on-the-go option.
Both are beneficial in some ways, but what works best for you depends on what your needs are for your everyday routine.
