How To Achieve The Most Undetectable Hair Extensions Ever

I’m obsessed with frontals; and with good reason. When properly installed they can create the most natural-looking extensions* not to mention that they provide full-coverage protection for our natural hair. I get a range of hairstyles to play with, and Lord knows I need variety in my life.

I’m the girl who changes her clothes at least three times a day, according to her mood. The thought of being stuck in a single-style sew-in is one of my worst nightmares.

Due to this, I’m constantly looking for new weave options that will allow me to achieve flexible styling without sacrificing the health of my hair. There are, however, some very clear do’s and don’ts when it comes to achieving this.

It’s both a blessing and a curse: Knowing so much about hair means that I can no longer live in the blissful ignorance of a hair travesty. In my former naivete I admit there are pictures of me with a box-shaped hairline, frizzy leave-out to match my silky sew-in, and even the dreaded “slipping” closure.

At the time I was happily clueless, and thought I looked like a diva even while rocking these atrocities. Now, I can smell a weave from across the room. The ladies that impress me now are the ones who don hair extensions* that I know are weaves, yet they still look flawless.

Nevertheless, I personally set my bar higher because there exists something that can only be referred to as the “unicorn” weave. Though rarely glimpsed in real life, it is the weave that makes a weavologist, like myself, go back and forth in her head wondering, Is it real? Could it be real? It could be real. I want unicorn status; and I don’t think I am alone.

Silk base* frontals and closures are better

Now, there are differing opinions on this, but in my quest, I have found that as cute and popular as lace fronts and frontals are, everybody can still see those little squares. I don’t care how well you bleached your knots, when a man is up close staring, there’s no denying the weave.

Ladies who are hip to this fact already prefer silk base closures, or silk base frontals. These will give you a much more natural look even when up close and personal, assuring that your man won’t be scratching his head wondering why you’ve got a tic-tac-toe scalp missing some x’s and o’s.

However, closures* are still limited in styling and silk base* frontals are often just silk closures* with some lace wings on either side. Once you side part that frontal, you face the same problem as any lace front: tiny, visible squares. There is a “unicorn” frontal, near impossible to find, but it does exist, which is completely silk based from ear to ear.

This allows for maximum flexibility in styling as well as guaranteeing a natural look. Most of these are pretty pricey, but there are some which are reasonably priced, although they take some searching. If you are as determined as I am* to achieve unicorn status (and on a budget), this shouldn’t discourage you.

Avoid the wiggy look with hairline shaping

There is another thing besides base texture which must be considered when tracking down the perfect frontal, and that is the shaping. Cheap frontals* generally look “wiggy” because they are often cut straight across, creating a “perfect”, boxy hairline when installed, which ultimately looks fake.

The type of frontal* that you should be on the look out for is one with dips and curves that mimic the natural irregularity of our hairlines. These frontals* can be further customized by skilled DIYers, weavologists, or wigmakers to match your hairlines exactly, giving the impression that the hair is growing directly out of your scalp.

Application is key

The last thing to consider is how the frontal will be applied. Now, it can be debated whether or not a wig or a sew-in is the most natural look, but honestly both techniques when executed by expert stylists can create a flawless, natural result.

The key is to find that stylist. I have found some of the best hands in my area by hunting them down on Instagram where their pages feature a litany of their work for close-up scrutiny. Word of mouth recommendations are great and all, but I prefer to decide for myself. I am pretty detailed and picky when it comes to these things, so having the ability to shop virtually for the best stylists in my area is like a godsend.

One word of caution: I would strongly advise against attempting to achieve a natural looking frontal by gluing or taping it down. This often results in hair loss, hairline damage, and is often only a temporary a solution.

Believe it or not, there are stylists who can sew down a frontal* so well that it looks like sorcery; I follow several of them on IG. There are also wigmakers who can create frontal wigs* with custom hairlines that look breathtakingly real that I also follow on IG.

Pick the best quality hair

Personally, I prefer wigs* because I purchase expensive hair, and one-time use is just not in my budget. When I buy hair I create a wig that gives me the flexibility of a perfect style that I can wear on and off for years.

So, as you embark on your own quest for the perfect weave*, don’t sell yourself short or settle for anything less than excellent. We spend way too much money on our hair for that! Achieving “unicorn” status begins with garnering the knowledge that it takes to make the right buying decisions and then placing that hair in the right hands.