Every few years there seems to be an innovative new hair trend when it comes to wearing natural hair weaves, wigs, and extensions. Hair weaves and wigs have come a long way in the last few years alone and it’s becoming harder and harder to tell the difference between natural hair and hair extensions.

A frontal hairpiece is very similar to a closure piece that is used when wearing wigs, weaves or hair extension pieces. The most obvious difference between a frontal and a traditional closure is that the frontal encloses the entire front area of your head from temple to temple right at the hairline whereas a closure only encloses about a 4x4 area at the of your head.

The purpose of wearing a frontal hairpiece is to protect the hairline from damage and provide maximum versatility when it comes to styling hair extensions. If you like wearing your hair pulled back and away from the face then a frontal hairpiece would be a far better option than a closure.

Closures vs. Frontals

The traditional closure piece is typically installed alongside your hairline or wherever the hair weave or wig is meant to be closed off to give it the illusion of being your own hair. The placement can also depend on where you want to create the illusion of a part when wearing a wig or hair extensions.

With the traditional closure, hair extensions are installed in styles that limit your ability to wear various hairstyles without the hair wefts or the lines of demarcation being embarrassingly visible. The closure piece is usually a square or rectangular piece that can be placed in one small section of the head to close off the hair extensions or a wig. The parting area also cannot be changed once the closure is installed.

Frontal hair pieces allow more versatility when styling your hair for several reasons. Frontals are made with either a silk base or a lace base to closely mimic the scalp. It also stretches from ear to ear and the hair can be parted freely to be worn in the middle, left, or right side. You can also pull your hair into a high bun, ponytail, or other pulled back hairstyles without it looking as if you are wearing a wig or weave. This is why frontals work great for women who may have thinning or balding edges because they mimic the natural hairline so well.

Lace vs. Silk Base Frontals

The lace based closure are much more popular than silk base frontals. Lace frontals closely resemble your natural scalp. Silk base frontals look a lot less like a natural scalp and require lots of work and customization to get a more natural and realistic look.

The line of demarcation is also harder to conceal with a silk base frontal. Which means that certain hairstyles such as ponytails and buns may be harder to pull off without it looking unrealistic. This is why many women choose to go with the lace frontals especially women of color because silk base frontals are usually much too light to match the skin.

Lace frontals seem to be the most popular trends in hair extensions and have begun to replace traditional sew-in methods for installing hair extensions and bundled hair. Most women prefer this method because it mimics the hairline more naturally without the hair looking like an actual wig or hair weave. Many frontals are even constructed with baby hairs to give it an even more natural appearance.

Another popular trend in frontal hair pieces is the 360 lace frontal. Instead of stretching from temple to temple like the frontal hair piece, the 360 lace frontal stretches around the entire circumference of the head giving you a complete natural hairline all the way around your head. The 360 lace frontal hairpiece is also designed to significantly cut down installation time and serves as a closure for sewn-in hair styles, or it can be worn alone.

How to Install a Frontal Hair Piece

A frontal is meant to be glued down but it can also be installed using other methods. It can be sewn onto an anchor braid in your natural hair, glued at the hairline, with an elastic band, or it can be secured across the hairline using a specialty lace wig tape. Some people even wear their frontals with no glue or product for hold.

Installing a lace frontal with hair extensions can tremendously cut down on the amount of time it takes to install a full head of extensions. The usual time it takes to install a full head of extensions with a lace closure is approximately one hour.

Using Glue to Secure the Frontal

The most popular method for installing frontals is by adhering them to the hairline with glue. This is because most frontals come with a natural hairline that is meant to cover and give the illusion of being your real hairline. The frontal should first be aligned with your natural hairline before being secured to your head. The benefits to using the glue method for securing your frontal is that it can last up to 2 weeks before needing a retouch. The downside is that it can cause your edges to become thin and even result in hair loss around the hairline. It is recommended that you discuss your hair health and styles with your hair stylist.

Securing the Frontal with Tape

Using a specialty lace or wig tape is the second most popular method for installing frontal hair pieces. It’s an easy method that you can do at home and takes just a few minutes to install. The lace or wig tape has just as much hold as the lace wig glue but the hair may not lay as flat. Also note that if the tape is not installed properly it can shine through the lace.

The Elastic Band Method

The elastic band method is a recent method used to install frontals. It secures the frontal to the hair without any product or glue and can last for quite some time. The band is measured to the size of your head and sewn onto the frontal so that is fits around the entire circumference of the head. The band allows the frontal to lay down naturally without having to worry about specific products causing damage to your hairline. The elastic band method used to install frontals is not recommended for those who are prone to headaches and migraines.

Frontal hair pieces are perfect when protective styling with wigs, weaves or extensions. They give your hair extensions a more natural appearance while giving your own hair a break from styling. Frontals enable you to create hairstyles that you normally could not achieve when using an ordinary closure. We offer frontals in each one of our six textures. For more information connect with us on chat and we can help you determine which frontal is right for you.