Them: “So tell us the tea on the lace SIS!”
Me: Well don't mind if I do, LOL :)
It's 2020, and by now you have most likely heard the term “lace closure”, “lace frontal”, or “lace wig”. You have probably even heard of the popular phrase “What Lace?!“ or “That Lace is Melted!” In the upcoming paragraphs, I will give you the whole tea on the “Lace”. What is it used for? How do you make them look more natural? How do you take care of them? Which one is best? These are the most commonly asked questions about our lace products, so let’s get right into it.
Lace Closure
A lace closure is an additional hairpiece that is placed on top of the braids to close off the sew-in. It also serves as a protective style because you won’t need to leave any of your natural hair out. As you probably already know, consistently using hot tools on your “leave out” will cause damage to your natural hair. But with the closure you won’t need to worry about any of that. It also gives your hairstyle a more natural looking appearance. The measurement of the closure is typically 4 x 4, but you can find bigger sizes such as a 5 x 5, even 6 x 6. The difference between the three, is the parting space. The 4 x 4 closure is typically used for a middle part, but if you want to be able to do a nice side part, a 5 x 5 closure would do the trick because it has more parting space. Same goes for the 6 x 6.
Lace Frontal
A lace frontal shares the same purpose as the closure only that its measurement is 13 x 4. This means there is way more parting space since the lace goes from ear to ear. Although frontals look very natural when applied correctly, it also requires a lot of maintenance to keep that natural looking appearance. While closures are sewn down, frontals are usually bonded with glue right below the hairline. If you get yours glued down, you might want to have a tube of glue handy at home for touch-ups. Sweating will cause the frontal to easily lift. When going to sleep, you should always tie it down to keep it in place.
Lace Wigs
Don’t feel like getting a sew-in? You can use your bundles with a closure or frontal, and get it made into a wig. Or you can just buy a lace wig as is. In Style Boutique & Hair carries frontal wigs and full lace wigs. We are adding closure wigs to our collection in early Spring 2020. Our full lace wig has our flawless lace going all over the inside of the wig making it able to be parted anywhere, unlike the closure and frontal wig that has limited parting space. This wig can be worn in a high ponytail or a half up/half down style. The wig comes with hair combs and adjustable straps included to ensure a secure fit. The wig can be installed with glue or without.
How do I make them look more natural?
The goal is to have your lace blend seamlessly into your scalp. That is also why you will hear the phrase “what lace?!”, or “that lace is melted!” Because when the lace is laid into the scalp properly, it will give it a natural appearance and people won’t even be able to detect you’re wearing lace. So let’s talk about lace customization. You can first customize your lace by bleaching the knots. Remember earlier when I mentioned that the hairs are knotted onto the lace? Well the knots, leave these visible tiny dots on the lace which will give it an unnatural appearance. By bleaching them you won’t be able to see those tiny black dots anymore. However, be careful not to over-bleach as well. It is advised to not use anything higher than a 40 developer when bleaching the lace. If you are not quite sure on how to do this, it is best to let a hair professional do it. But if you’re up to the challenge you can log onto YouTube to watch clear step-by-step instructions on how to do so. Another alternative if you don’t want to use bleach, is to tint the lace with lace tint spray or use your own foundation (makeup) to conceal the dots. Lastly, you might want to pluck the part on your lace with tweezers to give it a more natural look. Although all our lace products already come pre-plucked, additional plucking may be needed to your liking.
How do I take care of them?
Our lace products here at In Style Boutique & Hair, are handmade making them extremely delicate. Single hairs are pulled through the lace and are then knotted by hand. Not by machine! That is why it is imperative to handle them with care. Be sure to follow these care tips:
1. Do not tug on the lace aggressively when combing or brushing. This will cause the hairs to loosen out of the lace and cause balding.
2. Do not over-pluck the lace. This too will also cause shedding and result in your lace having bald spots.
3. Do not over-bleach the lace. If you want to bleach the knots on the lace, it is best to take it to a professional hairstylist. It is also imperative to deep condition the lace afterwords to prevent shedding. Note: Once chemicals are added to any hair, you should always follow up with a deep conditioner.
So which one is best?
Ultimately, it depends on the style you want to achieve and your budget. It also depends on how much time you have dedicated to styling your hair. Like we mentioned above, the lace frontal has more versatility for styling but requires more maintenance and the closure has limited versatility but doesn’t require much maintenance at all. Because closures are typically sewn down, while frontals are bonded with glue or strong hair gel to stay in place, it will require maintenance when the bond starts to loosen. This can take up some of your time to glue it back down or a small hit on your pockets if you decide to go to a stylist to fix it. A quality lace closure could cost you anywhere from $70-$100 depending on the length. A lace frontal can cost you anywhere from $100-$180 depending on the length. A lace wig can cost you anywhere from $200 to even $1000. I personally am a big fan of closures and closure wigs because it requires little to no maintenance for lazy people like me LOL!
Give Them A Try!
All in all, lace products can be a great addition in enhancing your hair extensions while keeping your natural hair protected. It might seem a little challenging at first, but with great research and a great hairstylist, you too can rock that “effortless slay!”
To shop our quality Lace Closures, Lace Frontals, or Lace Wigs, click here. Have more questions about “Lace?!” Drop a comment below, shoot us an email at info@instyleboutiquehair.com or follow us on Instagram & Facebook @instyleboutiquehair