Frontal weave in South Africa: frontals, closures and prices
A frontal weave is a sew-in with a lace frontal across the hairline, and the frontal is bought as a separate piece with your bundles. On 6 Oct 2026 we found 87 loose frontals at 14 SA stores. The table below shows the 12 cheapest 10 to 16 inch ones, at most two per store, from R299 to R787.93 per piece. Leaving out Takealot, the median start across all lengths is R1,034, and half of them start between R788 and R2,200.
Four things to decide before you buy a frontal or closure
Where the lace sits
The standard frontal: lace from ear to ear, 4 inches deep. Enough for a natural hairline and side or middle parts.
How long is 14 inches?
14 inches falls to about the shoulders when straight. Curly and wavy hair hangs shorter.
Frontal prices across SA stores
The 12 cheapest 10 to 16 inch frontal pieces, at most two per store, cheapest first. Checked 6 Oct 2026. Prices change, so confirm on the store's page.
Installing and protecting your hairline
- 1Book a professional
The AAD says to get a weave or extensions done by a professional, so ask the stylist what they have fitted before. - 2Check for tightness
The AAD says that if you feel pain or have a headache, the hairstyle is too tight. Ask the stylist to loosen it. - 3Take it out in time
The AAD says to wear these styles for two or three months at most, then give your hair a break. - 4Look after your edges
The AAD advises water-based styling gels and conditioner on the delicate hair at the hairline.
Stylists who install frontals and closures, by city
City pages go live once three stylists there are verified.
Frontals and closures, explained
What a frontal weave is
A frontal weave is a sew-in install with a lace frontal across the front of your hairline. Glamour South Africa describes a frontal as a lace piece that extends from ear to ear across the entire hairline, typically 13x4 or 13x6 inches, and says it lets you switch between different part placements. It also says frontals generally require more installation skill and more maintenance than a closure, with a bit of trial and error for beginners. A closure is the smaller lace section, typically 4x4, 5x5 or 6x6 inches, at the crown.
This page covers the loose pieces you buy for a sew-in or for a custom wig. If you want a finished wig, see our frontal wigs and closure wigs pages.
13x4 or 13x6
Kes Wigs puts the lace area of a 13x4 at 52 square inches and a 13x6 at 78, which is 50% more. It says on a 13x4 you can part up to 2 inches from the centre, while a 13x6 allows a deep side part up to 4 inches from the centre, and that a 13x4 is the easier, more beginner-friendly install, while a 13x6 gives a more natural scalp look. Beauty Forever adds that a larger lace area allows a stronger bond.
In South African stores the choice is made for you. We found no 13x6 frontal piece in stock on 6 Oct 2026. Pieces are sold as 13x4 or as a generic frontal closure, and The San Hair, Virgin Human Hair and Clicks all list 13x4 pieces. If you want 13x6, ask the store whether it can order one, and what the lead time is.
What a frontal costs
Counting each piece at its lowest price and leaving out Takealot, we found 71 frontal pieces at 13 stores on 6 Oct 2026, from R300 to R5,665. The median start was R1,034, and half started between R788 and R2,200. Pieces labelled 13x4 were cheaper, with a median of R699 across 23 pieces. Takealot lists more 13x4 pieces: including it, the 13x4 median falls to R617 across 34 pieces. We could not check who sells them or what they promise, so read the product page.
Length drives the price. By length, the median start across listings (leaving out Takealot) was R800 at 8 inch, R922 at 10 inch, R1,148 at 12 inch, R1,248 at 14 inch, R1,348 at 16 inch, R1,500 at 18 inch, R2,200 at 20 inch and R2,875 at 22 inch. Only 13 of the 208 frontal and closure pieces we found say HD in the title, so HD lace is the exception at this end of the market.
What a closure costs
Closure pieces are cheaper. Leaving out Takealot, 60 pieces at specialist stores started at a median of R599. Including Takealot, 65 pieces at 14 stores had half of them between R399 and R950. By length, the median start was R500 at 8 inch, R580 at 10 inch, R650 at 12 inch, R760 at 14 inch, R945 at 16 inch and R1,040 at 18 inch. The 4x4 pieces had a median of R479 across 21 pieces, and the 5x5 pieces R1,100 across 4. Luvme says a 4x4 gives a compact area for a clean middle or modest side part and a 5x5 adds more room around the part.
How many bundles you need
Mayvenn says 2 bundles cover installs up to 14 inches and 3 bundles cover 16 inches and longer, with a closure or frontal, and that each bundle is 100 g. It says the count is the same for every closure and frontal size: a bigger piece buys more parting room, not fewer bundles. So a 16 inch frontal weave is three bundles plus the frontal. Ask the stylist before you shop, since they may want more for a fuller look.
What the install costs
Salon prices on Fresha, read on 6 Oct 2026, vary a lot. Lavage Aesthetic Clinic in Sandton lists a sew-in with a closure (5x5, 4x4 or 2x6) at R550 for two hours, marked special, and a sew-in with a glueless or glued closure (5x5 or 13x4) at R600 for 2 hours 15 minutes. Hairddict in Woodmead lists a sew-in with a frontal at R950 for one hour. Redifine Beauty Studios in Wendywood lists a closure sew-in with no leave-out, using your own bundles, at R800 for 1 hour 50 minutes, and from R3,200 for two hours if the salon supplies the bundles and the closure. Zoteya Beauty Salon lists a sew-in with leave-out at R950 for labour only, or R1,200 with a wash and treatment. These are each salon's own prices, so ask what the quote includes.
Protecting your hairline
The American Academy of Dermatology says you should get a weave or extensions done by a professional, that pain or a headache means the style is too tight, and that these styles should stay in for two or three months at most before a break. It also warns that tight hairstyles can cause traction alopecia, which can be permanent. The British Association of Dermatologists lists weaves and hair extensions among the causes, with itching, scalp soreness or increased flaking as early signs, and says hair can completely regrow if the problem is caught early and the tight style is stopped, while longstanding cases can be permanent.
Or make a wig
A loose frontal or closure can also be made into a wig. Wig-making caps are cheap in the stores we checked: R15 at Silky Hair, R26.04 at The Wig Factory and R73 and R85 at Takealot. Check the cap size against your head before you buy. Headcovers gives 20 to 21.5 inches for petite, 21.5 to 22.5 for average and 22.5 or more for large.
Frontals and closures: questions
What is a frontal weave?
A frontal weave is a sew-in with a lace frontal across the hairline. Glamour South Africa describes a frontal as a lace piece, typically 13x4 or 13x6 inches, that runs from ear to ear across the hairline and allows several part placements. It generally takes more installation skill and maintenance than a closure.
What is the difference between a frontal and a closure?
A frontal runs ear to ear across the hairline, typically 13x4 or 13x6 inches. A closure is a smaller lace square at the crown, typically 4x4, 5x5 or 6x6. Glamour South Africa says closures need little to no glue and suit beginners, while frontals give more parting flexibility but need more skill.
How much does a frontal cost in South Africa?
On 6 Oct 2026, leaving out Takealot, the median start was R1,034 across 71 pieces, with half between R788 and R2,200. A 10 inch piece started at a median of R922 and a 16 inch at R1,348. The cheapest 10 to 16 inch pieces ran from R299 at Takealot to R787.93 at Clicks.
How many bundles do I need for a frontal or closure install?
Mayvenn says 2 bundles for installs up to 14 inches and 3 bundles for 16 inches and longer, each bundle 100 g, whatever the size of the closure or frontal. A bigger piece gives more parting room, not fewer bundles. Your stylist may want more for a fuller look, so ask before you buy.
Is 13x4 or 13x6 better?
Kes Wigs says a 13x4 has 52 square inches of lace and allows a part up to 2 inches from the centre, while a 13x6 has 78 and allows up to 4 inches. The 13x4 is easier to install and the 13x6 looks more natural at the scalp. We found no 13x6 piece in stock at South African stores on 6 Oct 2026.
How much does a frontal sew-in cost in South Africa?
Fresha listings read on 6 Oct 2026 show Hairddict in Woodmead at R950 for a sew-in with a frontal. Lavage Aesthetic Clinic in Sandton lists a glueless or glued 5x5 or 13x4 closure sew-in at R600. Redifine Beauty Studios in Wendywood lists R800 if you bring your own bundles. Each salon sets its own prices.
How long can I keep a weave in?
The American Academy of Dermatology says to wear weaves and extensions for two or three months at most, then give your hair a break. It says pain or a headache means the style is too tight and that tight hairstyles can cause traction alopecia, which can be permanent. See a professional if you have soreness or itching.