Lace Wig Sizes and Hair Extension Types, Explained
A lace front wig has lace only along the hairline, a full lace wig has lace over the whole cap, and 13x4 means a lace front 13 inches wide and 4 inches deep.
By Elliana SmithContributing writer.
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The short answer
A lace wig has hair tied by hand to a sheer lace base, so the hairline and part look like they grow from the scalp. The difference between types is how much of the cap is lace:
- Lace front: lace along the front hairline only. The rest of the cap is a sturdier material. It is the easier and cheaper choice for everyday wear.
- Full lace: lace over the whole cap. You can part it anywhere and wear it in a high ponytail or updo, but it costs more and needs gentler handling.
The numbers in a name like 13x4 give the size of the lace area in inches: width first, then depth.
Lace front vs full lace wig
| Lace front | Full lace | |
|---|---|---|
| Lace covers | The front hairline | The entire cap |
| Parting | Along the lace area | Anywhere |
| Ponytails and updos | Back of the cap shows | Possible |
| Install | Easier, quicker | Takes more care |
| Price | Usually lower | Usually higher |
| Care | Only the front lace is delicate | The whole cap is delicate |
Luvme, a wig maker, sums up the choice this way: pick a lace front for a natural hairline with less fuss, and full lace if you want to part and style the hair in any direction. As the Wikipedia entry on lace wigs notes, pulling a lace front straight back usually shows that it is a wig.
What does 13x4 lace mean
On a 13x4 lace front, the lace is 13 inches wide, running from ear to ear, and 4 inches deep, from the hairline back toward the crown. The depth is what sets how far back you can part the hair.
| Lace size | What it covers |
|---|---|
| 4x4 closure | A small patch for a middle or side part |
| 5x5 and 6x6 closure | A larger patch with more room to part |
| 13x4 frontal | Ear to ear, 4 inches deep |
| 13x6 frontal | Ear to ear, with a deeper part |
| 360 lace | The whole edge of the head |
| Full lace | The entire cap |
A closure is a square patch on top of the head; a frontal spans the whole front hairline. Larger lace areas give more styling options and usually cost more.
How long do hair extensions last
Extensions are added to your own hair instead of covering it, so how long they last depends on the method. Great Lengths, a maker of salon extensions, gives these figures for its own products:
| Method | How long it lasts |
|---|---|
| Pre-bonded (keratin bonds) | Up to 5 months with good care |
| Tape-in | About 4 to 6 weeks per fitting; the tapes can be reused up to 3 times |
Great Lengths adds that the timing also depends on the condition of your natural hair and on your lifestyle. Wikipedia's entry on extensions puts one sew-in method at about 8 weeks.
Shopping on Wiki Shopping
On October 26, 2026, Wiki Shopping listed 81 hair extensions, wigs and accessories, of which 53 were wigs, 11 hair extensions and 8 hairpieces. Browse them under beauty and personal care. For styling tools, see hot tool barrel sizes and hair dryer specs.
How we count
The counts come from a read-only query of our page data on October 26, 2026. The other 9 listings belong to smaller types or do not state one, and the counts change as listings are added or removed.