Lace, closure and frontal are constantly confused, even by people who have worn wigs for a long time. The words mean three different things, and the difference determines both how you can wear the hair and what a repair costs.
Lace is a material
Lace is the thin, transparent mesh that the hair strands are hand-tied into. It is the mesh that lies against the skin and creates the illusion that the hair is growing from your own scalp.
Transparent lace is the standard option and works for most skin tones. HD-lace is thinner and blends in better, but is also more delicate and tears more easily.
Lace is therefore not a product you buy, but the material the product is made from.
Closure is a smaller section
A closure is a hand-tied hairpiece that covers a limited area at the front centre, typically 10 x 12 or 13 x 13 centimetres. It closes off the hair at the forehead and provides a natural parting. Our Luxury HD Lace Closure is 5x5 inches and is available in straight, wavy and curly.
The parting stays where it is. You can move it slightly, but not beyond the section's limits, and you cannot put the hair up without the edge showing.
Frontal goes from ear to ear
A frontal covers the entire front hairline, from temple to temple. It gives you freedom: you can place the parting wherever you want, pull the hair back, put it up and wear it away from your face. Our Luxury HD Lace Frontal is 13x4 inches and is available in straight and wavy.
The price of that freedom is more material, more work and a larger area that wears out. A frontal costs more to both buy and replace than a closure.
Half lace and full lace
When we talk about full wigs, these terms describe how much of the cap is made of lace. A half-lace wig has lace at the front and machine-sewn wefts at the back, making it sturdier and less expensive. A full-lace wig is hand-tied across the entire head and can be styled in any way, but is more expensive and delicate.
For most people, half lace is more than sufficient.
How to choose
Base your choice on how you wear your hair, not on the price. If you wear your hair down with the same parting every day, a closure is enough. If you put your hair up, change the parting or pull it back, you need a frontal, and if you buy a closure, you will regret it.
If you are getting hair extensions instead of a wig, the same applies. The rest of the installation is then done with hair weft all around, and everything about the method itself can be found on the page weave with closure and frontal.
When the section is worn out
This is the point of knowing the difference: when the front edge is worn, you only replace that section, not the entire wig. We replace the closure or frontal for SEK 690 in labour, plus the cost of the hairpiece itself.
If the damage is smaller - a tear, a hole - a repair is often enough. If it is only the knots that look too dark or the hairline that looks too straight, you need Hairline Perfect, not a new section.
Read more
Want to compare HD lace with silk base specifically for closures? We have a guide with video: Lace Closure vs Silkbase Closure. Also see our full selection of lace closures and lace frontals.
Frequently asked questions
What do the measurements 13x4 and 5x5 in the product names mean?
The numbers are the lace measurements in inches. 13x4 means 13 inches wide and 4 inches deep, meaning a frontal from temple to temple. 5x5 is a square closure at the front centre. A larger first number means a wider hairline and more styling freedom.
Does lace always have to be glued down?
No. Many people wear wigs with only a band and combs, in which case the lace rests freely against the skin. Glue or tape is used when the edge needs to lie completely flat or when you want to be able to move around without thinking about it. If you use glue, always dissolve the residue - never scrub it off.
Can lace be coloured to match my skin tone?
Yes, it is common to tint the lace slightly with foundation or a product intended for this purpose. Use a little at a time and let it dry between layers, and keep the product away from the knots - too much product clogs the mesh and makes the edge more visible, not less visible.