One of the tips for achieving a flawless, natural look with a frontal means installation, but there are very common mistakes made by most people that result in an unnatural appearance or discomfort in addition to damaging your natural hair. Therefore, it is very key not to commit these mistakes in order for your frontal to last even longer and look seamless. Here, we discuss the 5 mistakes to avoid installing a perfect look every time.
1. Not Preparing The Scalp Properly
This is one of the major no-nos of installing a frontal-not preparing the scalp properly. And as beautiful as painting on a canvas, a proper, clean, smooth base is crucial to that flawless finish.
Failure to clean the scalp completely results in discomforting symptoms such as itchy, irritated scalps and even loss of hair. Oils, dirt, and product residue clog pores or create barriers between the adhesive and the skin, weakening the bond.
How To Prepare Your Scalp?
- Cleanse: Using a sulfate-free shampoo, clean the scalp well, and then use a light conditioner. This removes oils and debris.
- Exfoliate And tone: A mild scalp exfoliator and astringent will help remove dead cells and excessive oil.
- Moisturize, But Not Too Much: At this point, lightly moisturize the scalp to prevent dryness, but not too much—this might clog the scalp hair and prevent the adhesive from sticking perfectly.
2. Wrong Adhesive
Choosing the wrong adhesive for your frontal is one of the major mistakes. Not all adhesives are created equal, and selecting the wrong one will have you going through embarrassing situations when your frontal lifts or even damage your natural hairline worse still.
Key Things To Consider:
- Skin type: If you have sensitive skin, then go for a hypoallergenic adhesive. For oily skin, you will require a stronger hold adhesive as oils break down the glue.
- Climate: In hot or moist climates, you are likely going to require a water-proof adhesive when attaching your frontal as moisture and sweat will weaken the hold.
- Application Tips: Avoid applying the glue directly to your hairline. Applying it below is recommended in order not to damage your natural hair.
3. Non-Personalization Of The Hairline
One very huge giveaway of a frontal is when your hairline looks unnatural. Most people end up putting on their frontal unaltered from the packet without trying to personalize the hairline according to the shape of the face or even the pattern of their natural hair. Customized hairlines make one look more natural and smooth. An undetailed hairline can appear very square or even too square, thus telling people that you’re wearing a frontal.
How To Customize The Hairline?
- Plucking: You will need tweezers to pluck some hairs along the hairline for areas that appear too thick or too straight. This gives the hairline a natural and uneven look.
- Bleach Knots: They may appear if the tiny knots in the frontal were not adequately bleached. Bleaching generally makes your hair appear to grow straight out from your scalp.
- Baby Hairs: With proper application, you will have wonderful additional natural baby hairs that accompany your frontal. Just make sure the baby hairs are soft and light so it does not end up in an overly styled look.
4. Incorrect Placement Of The Frontals
Actually, the natural look of the frontals depends much on their positioning. One of the common mistakes that people make is to place it a bit too forward or too backward on the forehead.
Why This Is Problematic?
Too forward, the frontal will give a too unnatural and unnatural-looking forehead with too much tension on your natural hairline. Too far, the frontal fails to attach itself to the natural hairline, creating an unnatural-looking transition.
Achieve Perfect Placement
- Measure Before Applying: Try on the frontal on your head and mark it. Your frontal should sit right where your natural hairline starts, not over or behind it.
- Secure The Sides: Tuck the frontal all around the perimeter, near the temples and ears, so that it does not lift.
5. Neglecting Maintenance And Aftercare
Now that you’ve got your frontal installed, however, the work’s far from over. Neglecting aftercare means tangling, shedding, and a face-lift-avoiding look that drives most of us crazy. Properly taking care of your front will keep it looking fresh and lasting longer.
Common Mistakes In Aftercare
- Sleeping Without Protection: Friction from your pillow causes tangles and mats. You should always sleep in a silk or satin scarf or bonnet, simply to cover up your hair.
- Using Heavy Products: Heaving oils, gels, or alcohol-based products weigh down your hair and break down the adhesive.
- Not Cleaning The Lace: Product buildup and makeup settle on your lace, making it visible. So clean your lace with a gentle cleanser often to keep it transparent.
- Hair Moisturizing: Use a small amount of leave-in conditioner to moisturize the hair without it touching the roots in order not to break the adhesive.
Final Thoughts
Touch-ups are usually done on how long you wear the frontal lace frontals. Often, they need to be freshened up to update the hairline and adhesive.
Installing a frontal is an art of detail. If we avoid five common mistakes here in scalloped preparation: wrong adhesive, unwearying customization of the hairline, placement of the frontal, and aftercare, the flawless, long-lasting look will appear smooth and easy for a natural blend into your hair.
