English
Español
Português
Deutsch
Français
Italiano
Nederlands
Polski
Svenska
العربية
中文Lace types explained: HD, transparent and Swiss
Lace is named by how it looks against skin, and the three terms buyers use most — HD, transparent and Swiss — describe the mesh, not a grade of hair. Here is what each one means when you specify it.
What lace actually is
Lace is the fine mesh across the front of the cap that the hair is knotted into. It is what makes a front hairline look as though the hair grows from the scalp, and it is separate from the hair and the colour.
HD, transparent and Swiss, in plain terms
HD lace is a very fine, sheer mesh made to disappear against skin. Transparent lace is a clear-toned mesh, lighter than a classic beige, that suits a range of skin tones. Swiss lace is the long-standing name for a fine, delicate knotting lace. All three describe the mesh and its tone, not the hair.
What this catalogue uses
The lace line is built on an HD lace front, and every lace page states the lace size — 4*5*8.5 on the models published here — alongside the length, weight and colour code, so the mesh is part of the written specification rather than a marketing word.
The term is not a certification
No body certifies a lace type. What you can rely on is the specification: the lace size, the construction it sits on and the colour code. Ask any supplier to put those in writing, and judge the front on a sample piece in daylight.
How to specify lace in one line
Name the construction, the lace size, the length, the colour code and the weight, and ask for all five back in writing. If a supplier cannot return those five, the price is not yet a specification, whichever lace name is used.
Questions buyers ask
Is HD lace always more expensive?
A finer mesh carries its own construction cost, but price is set by length and construction first. Compare the whole specification, not the lace name alone.
Can I move the parting with a lace front?
The front hairline sits on the mesh, so the parting can be moved across that front section. How far depends on the lace size, which is why the lace size belongs in the written specification.
How do I check lace quality?
Order one piece and look at the front in daylight, against your own skin tone, before you order a line. A single piece is quoted at the lowest listed price for that model, with the freight at your cost.
Keep reading
See the lace line
The HD lace front models, with the lace size and the full specification, are on the wholesale lace front page.