Lace, closure and frontal get mixed up all the time, even by people who have worn wigs for years. The words mean three different things, and the difference decides both how you can wear your hair and what a repair costs.
Lace is a material
Lace is the thin, sheer mesh that the hairs are hand-tied into. It's the mesh that sits against the skin and creates the illusion that the hair is growing from your own scalp.
HD lace is our first choice. It's thinner than transparent lace and melts into the skin, so the hairline looks natural on every skin tone. Because it's so thin, the edge needs gentle handling. Transparent lace is a little sturdier but more visible against the skin.
So lace isn't a product you buy – it's the material the product is made from.
A 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 gives a natural parting. Our Luxury HD Lace Closure is 5x5 inches and comes in straight, wavy and curly.
The parting stays where it is. You can shift it slightly, but not beyond the edges of the section, and you can't wear the hair up without the edge showing.
A frontal goes from ear to ear
A frontal covers the entire front hairline, temple to temple. That gives you freedom: you can part the hair wherever you like, pull it back, put it up and wear it off your face. Our Luxury HD Lace Frontal is 13x4 inches and comes in straight and wavy.
The price of that freedom is more material, more work and a larger surface that wears. A frontal costs more than a closure both to buy and to replace.
Half lace and full lace
When we talk about whole wigs, these words describe how much of the cap is made of lace. A half lace has lace at the front and machine-sewn wefts at the back, which is sturdier and cheaper. A full lace is hand-tied over the whole head and can be styled up any way you like, but it's more expensive and more delicate.
For the vast majority, half lace is more than enough.
How to choose
Start from how you wear your hair, not from the price. If you wear it down with the same parting every day, a closure is enough. If you put it up, change your parting or pull it back, you need a frontal – and if you buy a closure, you'll regret it.
The same applies if you're getting hair extensions instead of a wig. The rest of the installation is then done with hair weft all around, and everything about the method itself is on our page weave with closure and frontal.
When the piece is worn out
This is exactly why the difference matters: when the front edge is worn, you only replace that piece, not the whole wig. We replace a closure or frontal for 690 SEK 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's just the knots showing too dark or the hairline looking too straight, what you need is Hairline Perfect, not a new piece.
Read more
If you'd like to compare HD lace with silk base specifically for closures, we have a walkthrough with video: Lace Closure vs Silkbase Closure. See also our full range 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 dimensions in inches. 13x4 means 13 inches wide and 4 inches deep – 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?
No. Many people wear their wig with just a band and combs, and the lace then rests freely against the skin. Glue or tape is used when the edge needs to lie completely flat, or when you want to move without thinking about it. If you use glue, always dissolve the residue – never scrub it off.
Can lace be tinted to match your skin tone?
Yes, it's common to tint the lace slightly with foundation or a product made for it. Use a little at a time, let each layer dry, and keep the product away from the knots – too much clogs the mesh and makes the edge more visible, not less.
Is HD lace better than transparent lace?
Yes. HD lace is thinner and melts into the skin in a way transparent lace doesn't, so the hairline looks as though it grows from your own scalp. That's why we recommend HD lace. Because it's so thin, handle the edge gently when you put the wig on and take it off.
Can you buy a closure or frontal separately?
Yes. Our Luxury HD Lace Closure and Luxury HD Lace Frontal are sold separately, both for new hair extensions and as a replacement when the front edge of your wig is worn. If you'd like us to fit it for you, we do that as part of a Wig Restoration.