A weave closure is one of the easiest ways to get a sew in that looks natural while protecting every strand of your own hair. If you have been wearing leave out and fighting to make it blend with your bundles, here is everything you need to know before you make the switch.
What Is a Closure?
A closure is a small hair piece, usually about four inches by four inches, with hair ventilated into a lace or silk base. It sits at the top or front of your head where your part would normally be and is sewn onto your braided foundation along with the rest of your weave. Instead of leaving out some of your own hair to cover the tracks, the closure does that job for you.
Why Wear a Closure?
The biggest reason is protection. When you wear leave out, you have to press, flat iron or even relax that section so it matches the texture of your weave. Over time, that constant heat and chemical work can leave your leave out thinner, more brittle and shorter than the rest of your hair. With a closure, all of your natural hair stays braided and tucked away.
Closures also take the stress out of matching. You no longer have to find bundles that blend with your natural texture, and you do not have to dye your own hair to match a color you love. Because the closure is real hair, you can color it right along with your bundles, so the whole look matches from root to ends.
Lace or Silk?
Lace closures are the more popular choice. The lace is thin, so it lies flat against your head and makes it easier to avoid a visible line where the closure ends and your scalp begins. The tradeoff is that the knots on most lace closures need to be bleached, and some lace needs to be tinted so it blends with your skin tone. A few companies sell closures that are already pretreated, but many do not.
Silk closures have a base that already looks like scalp, so there is no bleaching or tinting needed, and the part looks very realistic up close. Silk is thicker than lace, though, so it does not lie as flat. If the front is not secured properly, you can end up with a noticeable edge.
Installing a Closure the Right Way
Installing a closure is not as hard as it sounds, but you do need to know how to do a basic sew in. Do not place the closure right at your hairline. Leave about an inch of your natural hairline in front of it so the closure blends in. YouTube is full of step by step tutorials that can walk you through the process, and if you are still unsure, a licensed stylist can install it for you.
Glue, Tape or a Band?
There are three main ways to secure the front of your closure. Glue holds the best, but it is also the most damaging. It can pull out your edges and even leave bald spots if you are not careful. If you choose glue, protect your hair first with a bonding protector like Morning Glory Growth Protection or Salon Pro 30 Sec Weave Wrap Wonder, both available at most beauty supply stores. Let the protector dry completely before applying glue, so the glue sits on the protector instead of your hair.
Tape is gentler than glue but not as secure. If you want to skip both, the most popular glueless option is the band method. Measure a thin elastic band around your head, sew each end to opposite sides of the closure, and the band will hold the closure flat. Just make sure it is not too tight, or you will end up with headaches.
Finishing Touches
A small section of your edges will show while you wear a closure, so keep a good edge control on hand. Olive Oil Edge Control, Carol’s Daughter Macadamia Hold and Control Smoother, Creme of Nature Perfect Edges and Hicks Edges are all popular picks. To make the part look even more natural, dab a little foundation or concealer that matches your skin tone onto the lace and along your natural scalp at the front of the closure. That helps blur the line between the closure and your skin so no one can tell where your scalp ends and the closure begins.
