The Pros and Cons of Closure Wigs – A Detailed Guide

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Closure wigs have become an increasingly popular wig choice for many women seeking stylish, natural-looking hair. Unlike traditional wigs, closure wigs utilize a lace closure at the top instead of a lace front.

This gives women more styling options, allowing the wig to appear convincingly like their real hair. As with any wig type, closure wigs come with both advantages and disadvantages to consider.

In this comprehensive guide, we’ll explore the pros and cons of choosing closure wigs to help you determine if they are the right option for you.

Closure Wigs

What are Closure Wigs?

Closure wigs consist of a lace closure at the top rather than a full lace front. The lace closure matches the wearer’s skin tone and gives the appearance of natural hair growth along the hairline.

The rest of the wig cap then contains the wefts and tracks holding the hair bundles to provide fullness to the wig.

Closure wigs come in 6×6 closure sizes up to 5×5, with 6×6 providing the largest lace area for the most styling coverage alongside a natural hairline look.

Unlike a lace front wig featuring lace from ear to ear, closure wigs have lace just at the front hairline. This also makes closure wigs lighter in weight than full lace options.

The ear-to-ear stretch of lace is replaced by a thicker, more structured wig cap to hold the hair wefts or bundles. So you still get versatile styling with the lace closure, alongside wig security and stretch from the cap construction.

Benefits of Closure Wigs

When considering wig options like lace fronts or full lace units, closure wigs stand out for several benefits:

Cost Savings

With less lace material than 360 lace front wigs or full lace options, closure wigs come with a lower price point. You save money without sacrificing a natural-looking hairline.

This makes closure wigs ideal for those on a budget.

Easy Styling

The lace closure grants significant styling versatility not provided by basic wig caps. You can wear closure wigs in ponytails, half-up styles, parted styles, and more – the closure seamlessly blends for a realistic appearance.

Less lace also decreases styling challenges like dealing with lace lifting off the skin.

Lite Weight

Closure wigs weigh less than other lace wig types for comfortable all-day wear. The breathable cap and strategic lace placement prevent overheating and excess pressure on your head.

This makes closure wigs a top convenience choice.

Beginner Friendly

From application to styling, closure wigs offer a fast learning curve for beginners. Less lace to handle streamlines the application process.

The versatile styling options allow you to start slow with basic parting and work your way up to advanced updos.

Natural Hair Growth

The diminutive lace section at the top provides the look of natural hair growth along the hairline. This sells the illusion that the closure wig hair is growing from your own scalp for a seamless finish.

Downsides to Consider

While closure wigs boast excellent benefits, they also come with a few downsides to consider:

Limited Size Range

With less lace material than other wig types, closure wig size options remain relatively limited. Those with larger head sizes or who need extensive stretch may struggle to find well-fitting closure styles.

Less Skin Contact

Lace at the top means less of your real hair is covered by the closure. So you must take care to blend your natural hair properly underneath. Imprecise blending can risk the closure wig appearing unnatural.

Not for High Ponytails

As closure, wigs lack ear-to-ear lace, high ponytails putting tension across the entire hairline may not hold up well. The structured cap stretch doesn’t provide enough give.

So you’ll need to avoid pulling closure wigs too taut away from the lace closure.

Can’t Part Widely

You cannot part closure wigs more than an inch or so away from the closure itself. Otherwise, you risk exposing the harder wig cap edges not designed to replicate a natural scalp appearance.

As you can see, closure wigs strike an ideal balance of natural hairline illusion, comfortable wearability, and ease of use. When selecting the best closure wig for you, match your unique needs and wig skill level to the pros and cons.

What to Look for When Buying

When investing in a closure wig, keep these key buying considerations in mind:

Hair Texture

Match the texture of the closure wig hair to your natural hair for the most seamless blend. Curly closures better blend with curly natural hair, while straight closures better suit straight natural hair textures.

Hair Density

For a natural finish, ensure the wig hair density matches or is slightly denser than your natural hair. Too much density contrasts poorly with sparser natural hair. But too little leaves the wig looking too thin overall.

Closure Size

A closure that extends at least 4 inches from ear to ear suits most people’s hairlines. But consider a larger 5×5 or 6×6 closure for added styling coverage and security.

Smaller closures often require precise positioning for a natural effect.

Hair Quality

High-quality human hair stands up better to heat styling over time without shedding excessively. The lace should also appear invisible against your skin while staying intact for months. So, inspect hair and construction quality closely before purchasing any closure wig!

Following these tips helps you select the highest-performing closure wig suited to your unique needs and preferences. Only settle for subpar wigs that satisfy.

Top Tips for Getting the Best Results

Achieving a Seamless Look

Investing in a quality closure wig gets you halfway to fabulous results. But application techniques and smart styling make all the difference in perfecting your wig finish. Follow these top expert tips:

Secure with Adhesive

Proper adhesive holds the closure wig in place, preventing lifting and slippage throughout wear. Opt for skin-safe wig glues and tapes designed specifically for lace closures rather than standard hair glue.

Blend Your Hairline

Use makeup like contouring powder and powder foundation to shade the closure wig lace for a color match with your skin—also, neatly braid or slick back your natural hair along the hairline for a flush fit.

Style Strategically

Avoid over-brushing and high-tension styles that put pressure on the closure edges. Opt for loose curls, soft waves, low ponytails, half-up styling, and gently side-parted looks. Heat style only 1-2 inches from the closure hairline inward to maintain wig integrity.

Handle with Care

Gently loosen the adhesive and remove closure wigs nightly. Maintain the wig shape on foam heads when not worn while cleaning lace gently with soap and water. These measures maximize closure wig longevity through many wears.

Complementary Products

Quality closure wig care products keep human hair fibers strong and the lace intact over time. When buying additional wig essentials, look for sulfate-free shampoos, specialized wig detanglers, sheen spray, and bonding glue.

Investing in high-quality styles and properly caring for closure wigs allows beginner wig wearers to master a desirable, natural appearance.

Pair that with smart application and styling techniques for absolutely seamless results!

Julie Higgins
Author
Julie is a Staff Writer at momooze.com. She has been working in publishing houses before joining the editorial team at momooze. Julie's love and passion are topics around beauty, lifestyle, hair and nails.