What Is a Frontal Explained: A Practical Guide
A frontal is an ear-to-ear lace hairpiece worn across the front of a sew-in or wig to recreate a natural hairline. It allows ponytails, side parts, and other off-the-face styles that a small closure cannot. This guide covers what buyers should check before ordering.
What does a frontal actually do?
A frontal is usually 13 inches wide and 4 or 6 inches deep, with hair hand-tied into lace. The 13×4 size supports natural partings, while 13×6 gives more space behind the hairline. An installer trims the lace, secures it, and tints or bleaches the knots to match the scalp. Because it runs temple to temple, it supports more pulled-back styles than a closure. The downside is simple: more lace means more install skill and upkeep.
Frontal vs closure: what’s the difference?
A closure is a smaller 4×4, 5×5, or 6×6 piece that covers only the parting area. A frontal covers the full hairline and costs more, but gives far more styling room. Closures lift less often and are easier for newer stylists to manage. Frontals usually need edge touch-ups every 2 to 4 weeks, depending on glue and body oils. If your clients prefer ready-made units, our closure wig vs frontal wig guide compares both.
How do you pair a frontal with bundles?
The frontal covers the hairline, while weft hair—hair sewn onto tracks—fills the rest. Use two to three bundles for 10 to 16 inches, three for 18 to 24, and four beyond 24 inches. Match texture, color, and batch; even virgin hair can differ between donor lots. A short frontal often weighs 55 to 75 grams; longer ones can reach 90 grams or more. For a full look, choose density, the hair amount in the lace, around 130 to 150 percent.
What quality details matter most?
Cuticle aligned hair means strands run root to tip, reducing tangling and shedding. Virgin hair is unprocessed human hair, while Remy hair has cuticles facing one direction but may still be processed. Our Remy hair guide explains why that label alone doesn’t guarantee better donor hair. Swiss lace is more durable; HD lace blends closer to skin but tears more easily. Pay more for HD lace or pre-plucked edges, but reject overbleached knots, which shed fast.
What ordering mistakes hurt margins?
Ordering from photos alone is risky because lace color and density look different under salon light. Sample first: test shedding, wet tangling, and fit before buying a full batch. Stock items often ship in 3 to 7 days; custom colors or labels can add 10 to 20 business days and require MOQs, or minimum order quantities, of 10 to 50 pieces. Start with 12 to 18 inch frontals; they move faster and have fewer damage claims than 26 inch HD pieces. As you shop all hair extensions, track lace type, grams, density, and return rules.
Can a frontal be reused?
Yes. A clean removal and regular wash can keep one usable for several installs over 6 to 12 months. Glue buildup, rough combing, and overbleached knots shorten that life, especially with HD lace.
Is a frontal hard for beginners?
A frontal has a steeper learning curve because lace must lie flat across the whole hairline. New stylists should start with a 4×4 closure, then move to a 13×4 after practice. Stock both, but sell frontals to stylists who know tinting and gluing.
Before you order, check our FAQ for stock and MOQ details, or send us your usual lengths, textures, and monthly volume for sample help. A few test pieces now means fewer returns and steadier reorders later.
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