If you are the inquisitive type when it comes to wigs, you always tend to look a bit deeper into how they are made and what makes them look so incredible! I have done some research into what lace front wigs are made of, and here is what I have found.
Lace front wigs are high-quality wigs, designed to be as realistic as possible. The lace frontal gives the impression of a natural hairline, as though the hair is growing from your scalp. They can be made with human or synthetic hair and last from 6-12 months. The best front lace wigs are ones made form Swiss lace as it is airy and lightweight.
There are three elements that contribute to the making of a lace front wig. These are as follows:
- The lace frontal.
- The wig base.
- The type of hair used.
To fully understand this, it’s always a great idea to go into each element and take a look at how each impacts the way a wig is made. Let’s take a deep dive into the contributing factors of how a lace front wig is really made!
The Different Types Of Lace Front Wigs
It is almost obvious that when speaking about a lace front wig, the type of lace used in making the wig is definitely going to come up.
The best type of lace front wigs are made from Swiss lace as this type of lace is both airy and lightweight, allowing your natural hair and scalp to breathe whilst being secured under the wig. Swiss lace is a lot thinner than other lace types, which makes it ideal for wig-wearers in humid climates and blends better with various skin tones.
The cool thing is that even the types of lace used in lace front wigs come in a wide variety, each with its own set of benefits. Let’s take a look:
| Type Of Lace: | Description: |
| Korean Lace (Filament Lace) | Made using plastic, commonly found in synthetic wigs. |
| French Lace | Highly durable yet cheaper in price. Also used mainly in synthetic wigs. |
| Swiss Lace | Super high-quality, highly versatile, and natural-looking. |
| HD Lace (transparent lace) | The highest quality lace available, and is almost invisible to the eye. The only downfall is that it is not too durable. |
Korean Lace (Filament Lace)
- Made predominantly using plastic.
- Very similar in character to French lace.
- Used mainly for synthetic wigs.
- Used in the making of toupees and hair systems.
- Usually attached to another layer that mimics skin to make it more durable.
French Lace
- Quite thick and known for its durability.
- A great option for newer wig wearers who want to spend less money.
- Used predominantly on synthetic wigs.
- Occasionally used on low-quality human hair wigs.
- Great for the use of strong adhesives because of its durability.
- The perfect solution for those who remove their wigs daily.
- It is not the most natural in appearance, effort needs to be made to hide the lace.
Swiss Lace
- Most common lace used on the market.
- High quality.
- Very hard to detect, great for creating a really natural appearance.
- Extremely versatile.
- Known for its durability, however not as durable as French lace.
- Widely used in the film and television industries because of its natural aesthetic.
- Used for all types of lace wigs.
- Easily repaired.
HD Lace (transparent lace)
- The best lace currently on the market.
- Almost invisible to the natural eye.
- Extremely thin and fine.
- An upgrade to Swiss lace because of its transparency.
- Disappears into the wearer’s skin tone almost effortlessly.
- Not very durable and definitely not recommended for everyday removal.
- Not easily repaired.
The Most Common Types Of Lace Front Wig Bases
An interesting fact about lace front wigs is that they are made using both lace and a wig base. Because a lace front wig only contains lace along the front of the wig base, from ear to ear, the rest of the wig is made using a wig base.
Here is a little breakdown of the main type of base that is used when making a lace front wig:
Basic Wig Base
A basic wig base is the most common type of base used in the production of many types of wigs. The crown of this base contains lace and there is lace containing open spaces between the wefted hair that is sewn vertically onto the cap. The wefts of hair are sewn in using an open weft method to allow better airflow to the scalp.
This form of wig base is the most durable and tends to give the hair added volume, especially around the crown. It is also the most affordable wig base on the market and the wig hair is teased during production to hide the wig cap for a more natural look.
Do you think lace front wigs are the best out of all the other types? Check out our article here for a full, comprehensive explanation and comparison of the different wig types!
Hair Types: Variations Used In Lace Front Wigs
Lace front wigs are made from human hair or synthetic hair. There are 3 types of human hair used. There is virgin hair(hair that has never been chemically treated), Remy hair( hair that has all the cuticles aligned to replicate how actual hair is on a scalp), and then there’s non-Remy hair(hair collected from various donors and made into one wig).
Hair type is such a broad category when it comes to lace front wigs. This can be split into three key areas:
- Hair Type – Human or synthetic.
- Hair Texture – Where is the hair sourced from?
- Hair Style – The condition of the hair when purchased.
We are going to go into each of these categories and take a look at the different variations of wig hair that is used in the production of lace front wigs.
Hair Type – Human or synthetic
Human Hair
Human hair is exactly what it sounds like, it is hair that is sourced from humans. This hair is collected using various methods. Some of these include hair cut for religious pilgrimage; sponsored hair; hair sourced from salons including hair from trims and collected in brushes. The human hair market is extremely popular and majorly unregulated!
The great thing about human hair is that it can be cared for and styled the way you would your natural hair. It is heat-friendly and extremely durable and flexible. It is also quite easy to restore after multiple uses.
Human hair is also split into three further categories:
- Virgin Hair. This is hair that still has the cuticle attached and all the hair running in the same direction. It has not gone through any chemical processing. It is the best and most expensive human hair on the market.
- Remy Human Hair. This is hair that is a lot like virgin hair as it still has the cuticle attached, but it has gone through chemical processing for color and styling. This hair is usually sourced from religious pilgrimages that require participants to shave the heads.
- Non-Remy Hair. Non-Remy human hair is basically the opposite of Remy hair. It is the collection of human hair, often from multiple sources, put together often using chemical processing. This hair is sourced primarily from salons and sponsored hair.
Synthetic Hair
Synthetic hair is man-manufactured hair. It is made consisting of thin fibers that are made predominantly using plastic. These fibers are quite thin and are really fragile and not the most durable. Lace front wigs using synthetic hair, are, however, much cheaper than human hair lace frontal wigs due to their lack of durability.
Synthetic hair is also not heat-friendly and does not have the styling flexibility offered by human hair wigs. This means that extra effort is required to keep the style that the wig is bought with, although synthetic hair is known for its ability to effectively retain styles.
Hair Texture – Where is the hair sourced from?
This is referred to as the texture of the hair that is used and what it has to offer.
The most versatile hair texture when it comes to lace front wigs is Indian hair, specifically virgin Indian hair. This is because Indian hair is the thickest hair texture whilst still being light and voluminous. It suits women of all ethnic groups as it can be textured or silky smooth with a natural sheen.
Here is a brief description of the most common textures used in lace front wigs:
| Type Of Hair: | Texture: |
| Peruvian Hair | Blend of Brazilian and India, with a soft yet thick texture. |
| Brazilian Hair | Very shiny and thick. |
| Indian Hair | Very thick and shiny, yet lightweight. |
| Malaysian Hair | Excellent body and volume, while also bouncy and soft. |
Peruvian Hair
- Appears as a blend of Brazilian and Indian hair.
- Quite Soft.
- Thicker hair.
- Has a course aesthetic while maintaining it’s silkiness.
Brazilian Hair
- Extremely Durable.
- Has a naturally shiny appearance.
- Thick
Indian Hair
- Extremely light.
- Also known for it’s thickness as it is the thickest texture hair on the market.
- Shiny
- Most popular on the market.
Malaysian Hair
- Bouncy
- Airy
- Softest on the market
- Has great body and volume
Hair Style – The Condition Of The Hair When Purchased
This, in the most basic terms, just refers to the color and style of the wig when you purchase it. Certain lace front wigs go through extensive chemical processing to create a certain look or color of the hair, while others remain true to the source.
Your wig style includes the cut and whether the hair is curly, wavy, or straight. This is all catered to when a lace front wig is made!