Styling your hair can be challenging when it does not want to cooperate with you or is too thin to be styled. Luckily, wigs and hair extensions, such as hair closures, can help you with your desired look. However, you need to know different types, sizes, and lengths first.
What is a closure?
Closures are a type of wig or hair extension wherein you place them on the middle of the scalp. People primarily use these hair extensions to have a middle or side part. Some people wear closures rather than wigs or other types of hair extensions because this is easier to maintain and wear. However, it is commonly added to a sew-in or woven hair.
Closures can either be bought separately or come in a bundle with a sew-in wig or hair extension. People can sew in this hairpiece to their hair or wig, glue them, or even use a strong double-sided tape to place it. Closures can be confused with another hair extension, the frontals.
Frontals are almost similar with closure in terms of use, application, and bases. Rather than covering the middle of the scalp, frontals go around your forehead and hairline. Frontals are more versatile, and the wearer can make more hairstyles with this. However, they are more challenging to wear, especially by oneself.
What are lace and silk bases?
There are two main types of closure, lace and silk base. Silk base closure is more popular than lace-based since it gives a more realistic look. It also makes the parting of your hair more natural-looking. You may choose from a lighter or darker base to mimic your scalp tone. However, it is thicker than the lace base, making it not fit everyone.
Laced closures are more flexible and will fit any head easily. The strands of hair closure are attached to a lace base, which has a woven grid line. They are not as thick as the silk base, which means there is less heat in your head, and the lace closure will not trap hair products in it.
The downside is if you do not know how to wear it, the grid lines will be noticeable, and you will have to bleach it. To see the differences between silk and lace bases, you may check out this video for an authentic look.
How long is the base of the closure?
Traditionally, length closures reach from temple to temple of the person wearing it. The 4 inches x 4 inches and 2 inches x 4 inches are suitable sizes for a closure. However, other measures, such as 2.5 inches x 3.5 inches, 3.5 inches x 4 inches, and so on, are now made. But if it already goes from ear to ear, that is already a frontal lace rather than a closure.
| Size | Length | Remarks |
Closure Mini | 1 inch x 3.5 inches | 12 inches | This closure is a good choice if the wearer wants to cover a parting. |
Closure Small | 2.5 inches x 3.5 inches | 12 inches | This closure is also great for covering a parting but has a broader width to give more volume to both sides. |
Closure Medium | 3.5 inches x 4 inches Or 4 inches x 4 inches | 10 inches to 22 inches | This closure is the standard size closure, which allows the wearer to choose from middle parting or side parting. |
Closure Large | 8 inches x 8 inches | 10 inches to 16 inches | The width goes from temple to temple of the wearer, and the length covers the crown. |
Crown Closure | 1.5 inches in diameter | 10 inches and 12 inches | Instead of the usual rectangle base cut, this closure has circular, making it great for bob cuts, pixie cuts, and other short hairstyles. |
Lace Frontal | 13 inches x 4 inches | 12 inches or 14 inches | This hair extension is like closure but goes from ear to ear and around the forehead, giving the wearer a new hairline. |
Lace Back | 10 inches x 1.5 inches | 16 inches | This hair extension is like a frontal because it goes from ear to ear. However, instead of going around the forehead, it goes at the back of the head. |
There are two reasons for the length and width of the closures. The size matters so that you may make your parting further back of your head. Meanwhile, the width gives you more space to place your parting aside from the middle. So, before you start buying a closure, make sure to measure your head to know where the closure will fall.
What closure size should I get?
Now that you know how the length closure works, ask yourself whether you want your partings longer to your back, or do you want to keep it short, and where do you want to part your hair. The advantage of the more extended length closure, such as 8 inches x 8 inches, is that it allows you to go further back, which is excellent if you want to make some pigtails.
However, if you want your partings to be shorter, do not go for a more extended length closure. The longer your parting is, the more realistic it would look. And so, if you bought a closure with long length, but you do not intend to part it up to the back of your head, it will look like a wig. But what you think is just suitable for the parting you would want.
If you are still unsure about the closure size that you have or want to get, this tutorial might help to guide you with purchasing your closure.
What is length closure?
After deciding which closure size you want, it is time to determine the closure length or how long you want your closure to be. There are also different lengths you may choose from. Closures may be sold from 8 inches to 22 inches long, while some are bought with bundles. The closure length you might want depends on how you want it to look once you wear it.
Mostly, if you have a bundle of 12 inches, 14 inches, and 16 inches bundles, go for the shortest inches for closure, which is 12 inches. The same goes for other bundles. Buying the shortest length for closure will give you that flowing effect. However, you can also make your hair look like a layered hairstyle. You might want to buy 2 inches shorter than usual.
What length of closure should I buy?
Now that you know the different closure lengths, it is time to decide what to buy. You must always consider how long your hair is or consider the length of the bundle you want to buy. You might already be wearing a wig or hair extension but then decide that you want to add a closure or frontal. You may use a tape measure to measure the length of your hair. As much as possible, partner the material to the hair of the wig you are wearing to blend. The same goes for wearing the closure on top of your natural hair. Measure your hair and compare it with the chart for closures. Find natural hair rather than synthetic to match your hair quality. Consider if your hair is straight or curly since the length might differ if your hair is curly.
If you are unsure of what works for you, you may ask some professionals to help you choose. If you are planning to wear a wig, they might give you a perfect idea that will go with your closure. Salons offer services like this, and they may also install them for you.
Frequently Asked Questions:
1. Should I buy a closure or a frontal?
Think of what you want to achieve. Are you okay with just a natural parting on your hair, or are you more adventurous with hairstyles? Also, consider how well you think you can install it and maintain the hair extension. The bigger the size, the harder it is to apply.
2. What is better, silk or lace base?
Go with the silk base if you want a more natural scalp look. However, it might make some head shape look like a hump. The lace base is more flexible and more excellent for all hairstyles. You have to bleach the roots to make them more natural.
3. How to choose the correct closure size for my head?
It is essential to measure your head to know where a specific closure size will fall. You want the closure to reach the temple to temple as a standard size. You may go more comprehensive if you wish to have more parting options and extended.
Summary
We do things to improve ourselves and how we appear to people. One of the features that people often notice is our hair. We must take care of and enhance it to how we like it. If you are having trouble styling it, you may wear hair extensions.
