Both frontals and closures can give you a beautiful, natural-looking finish, but they offer different looks and levels of styling flexibility. If you’re trying to decide between the two for your next install, it helps to understand what each one actually does before you book.
Here’s a simple breakdown to help you decide which one may work better for you.
What Is a Closure?
A closure is a smaller piece of lace, usually 4×4 or 5×5 inches, placed at the crown or front of the head to close off the unit and create the appearance of a natural scalp. It’s designed to sit in one main position and offers a limited parting space, so you can part your hair within that area but not move it freely from side to side.
Closures are a great option if you mostly wear your hair in one style, such as a middle or side part, and don’t need to switch things up often.
What Is a Frontal?
A frontal is a wider piece of lace that typically runs from ear to ear across the front hairline, and sometimes all the way around (a 360 frontal). This gives you a full, natural-looking hairline and the freedom to part your hair anywhere across the front, style it away from your face, or pull it back into a sleek ponytail or updo.
Frontals take a little more time to install and maintain, but they offer far more versatility if you like to switch up your styles.
Key Differences at a Glance
- Styling flexibility: frontals allow free parting and pulled-back styles, closures are more limited to one main part.
- Coverage: frontals cover the entire hairline, closures cover a smaller section at the crown or front.
- Application time: frontals generally take longer to install and customise than closures.
- Maintenance: frontals need a bit more upkeep to maintain a natural hairline over time.
- Cost: because of the extra lace and install time, frontals are usually priced higher than closures.
Which One Should You Choose?
A closure may be the better option if you:
- Usually wear your hair in the same part or style
- Want a quicker, more budget-friendly install
- Are newer to lace units and want something simpler to maintain
A frontal may be the better option if you:
- Like to switch up your parting or style often
- Want the option of sleek ponytails, updos or side-swept styles
- Are looking for the most natural-looking hairline possible
If you’re still unsure, it’s worth having a conversation with your stylist before booking. They can look at your hair goals, how often you like to switch styles, and your budget, then recommend the option that will genuinely work best for you, rather than a one-size-fits-all answer.
Ready to Book Your Install?
Whether you’ve decided on a frontal, a closure, or you’d still like some guidance, our team is happy to talk you through your options. Book an appointment or explore our lace and wig services to get started. And once your install is in, don’t forget our tips on making your wig last longer so it stays looking its best.