Lace closures and frontals may seem very similar at first glance, but they have key differences that set them apart.
What is the difference between a closure and a frontal?
Closures and frontals are made with the purpose of adding hair to the top of a wig in a way that makes a wig look more natural.
A closure is usually a 4X4 patch of lace attached with hair that is placed on the top middle portion of the weave. Its function is to blend the hairline and natural skin, to give the illusion of the scalp.
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 meant to create that illusion of the scalp on the entirety of the front portion of the head.
The main differences between a closure and a frontal deal with their size and amount of material. A closure is smaller in size, and a frontal is made with more material.
Read more: What is the Difference Between a Frontal and a Closure?
Lace Closure vs. Lace Frontal Wig
Closure
Wigs made with closures are called lace closure wigs. There are several benefits to a closure which you can consider. Closures are less time-consuming to style than frontals. Many people gravitate towards the convenience of taking less time to make it look natural.
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 people who want a simple, less time-consuming everyday look.
Size
The most popular size for a closure on a wig is a 4×4. There are also larger sizes for those who want more parting space such as a 5×5 and 6×6.
Some people do not like the disconnect that is created with a 4×4 closure between the front and back of the head. Sometimes, with a smaller closure, you can see where the hair stops on the closure, and where it begins behind it on the wig.
The smaller these closures are, the less parting space and hair coverage are included with it. A larger closure gives the ability to have more coverage and scalp imitation.
Price
Wigs made with closures are significantly less than those made with frontals. Closures that are larger will cost more than those that are smaller. For example, a 5×5 closure wig that is 20 inches with 180% density, may cost $20-$40 less than the same wig with a 6×6 closure – depending on the company.
They will also vary in price depending on what kind of lace they are made with. Popular lace options are silk lace, transparent lace, and HD lace. HD is the most transparent lace that blends with any skin tone and is the most expensive.
Versatility
One of the main reasons a person may choose a frontal over a closure is because of its versatility. When you buy a wig with a closure, the lace does not extend across the entire front portion of the wig, which restricts many to wearing a middle part or a slight side part.
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. A 6×6 allows you to make a part farther back on the wig than a 4×4.
Frontal
Wigs made with frontals are called lace front wigs. A frontal wig is ideal for those who want to put a little more effort into their hair and want their wig to look as natural as possible.
A frontal gives the wig more styling options and provides full coverage of scalp imitation along the hairline. It is the most popular type of lace wig.
Size
Frontals also come in different sizes, however, they are a lot longer in length than closures. The general size of frontals is 13 inches in length and 4 inches in width (13×4).
Frontals are supposed to extend from ear to ear so that the hairline of the wig looks natural along the entirety of the front of the head. Frontals are even made with baby hairs across the entire front of the lace to mimic a natural hairline.
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. 360-degree frontals are made for people who may want to put their hair in a bun or ponytail.
Price
Frontals tend to be pricier than closures, due to the amount of extra lace used to create them.
Frontals are also made with different kinds of lace which contributes to the price being higher. A lace front wig made with transparent lace is going to cost more than a lace front wig made with regular silk lace. Lace fronts also vary in price due to their size. A 13×4 is going to cost less than a 13×6, and a 360-degree lace front is going to cost more than both.
Versatility
Due to the increase of lace in the front, lace front wigs are more versatile in the number of styles you can achieve with it.
Depending on how far back the lace goes for a lace front, you can part the hair in any direction and in any place you would like.
If the frontal is 360 degrees, you can also put your wig in updo styles, while still making the wig look natural.
Which is better: Lace front or full lace wigs?
A full lace wig is made with lace throughout the whole cap. Full lace allows for the hair to be parted in any direction on any part of the entire wig. If someone wants optimal versatility of styles, a full lace wig would be better. However, a full lace wig requires more time and effort to style than a lace front wig. A lace front wig is also cheaper than a full lace wig. If someone wants a more affordable option and isn’t looking to style their hair in many different ways – a lace front wig would be a better option.
Does a lace frontal wig have to be glued?
A lace front wig is usually glued to make the hairline lay as flat as possible against the scalp. If glue is not used, the lace in the front may lift. You can wear a lace front wig without glue, if you have tension in the back that make s the lace lay flat. Creating the tension that can make the wig tighter can be done by using elastic bands. Styling the baby hair on the lace in a way that conceals it would also help make the wig look more natural without glue.
The Final Word
Both lace closure wigs and lace frontal wigs give you a natural looking alternative to styling your own hair, but being sure to consider their differences will help you determine which is best for you.
