How to measure your head for a wig
Measure around your head along the hairline to check how a one-size wig cap will fit you.
Step by step
- Use a soft measuring tape.
- Start at the front hairline, go above the ear, around the nape and back.
- Keep the tape flat and snug, not tight.
- Write the number down in inches or centimeters.
- Our wigs are one size (about 22.5 inches) with an adjustable anti-slip band that tightens or loosens the fit.
How to measure for a wig: where the tape goes
Measure over the hair you will wear under the wig, braided or pinned flat, with a soft sewing tape. Take each measurement twice; if the numbers differ, use the average.
- Circumference: start at the center of your front hairline, run the tape just above one ear, around the nape where the hair ends, above the other ear and back to the start. This number decides the fit.
- Front to nape: from the front hairline straight over the top of the head to the nape; it shows how far back the cap reaches.
- Ear to ear over the top: from where one ear meets the head, across the crown, to the other.
- Temple to temple around the back: from one temple, around the back of the head, to the other.
- With our one-size cap, circumference is what counts, because the band adjusts the fit. Keep the other three numbers: they help you compare caps or ask us about a head outside the usual range.
What if your head is smaller or larger than the cap?
Our wigs are one size, about 22.5 inches (57 cm) around, like most wigs on the market, and every wig has an adjustable anti-slip band that tightens or loosens the fit. Most adult heads are close enough to that number for the band to do the work.
- Slightly smaller head: tighten the band until the wig stays put when you shake your head. A velvet wig grip underneath adds hold, and the paid drawstring add-on on standard wigs pulls the cap in further.
- Slightly larger head: set the band to its loosest, wear a thin stocking cap instead of a thick mesh one, and keep your braids flat so they add no bulk.
- In between: judge the fit after an hour of wear, not in the first minute. Snug without pressure at the temples is right; marks on the forehead or a headache mean it is too tight.
- Well outside the usual range: send us your measurements before you order, and we tell you honestly whether the cap will fit.
How to put a wig cap on long hair
Long hair has to lie flat before the cap goes on and before you measure: braids and buns add bulk that the wig has to fit over.
- Start with dry, detangled hair; damp hair under a cap stays damp all day.
- Braid it in cornrows straight back, or in two to four flat braids, and wrap the ends around the head or pin them flat at the nape.
- Stretch the cap open, place its front edge along your hairline and roll it back over the braids until it covers the nape.
- Tuck stray hairs under the edge with the tail of a comb, and pin the cap to the braids at the sides and back if it slides.
- Measure your head again with the cap on: with very thick or long hair the braids add bulk, and that is the number the wig has to fit.
Stocking cap, mesh cap or wig grip: what to wear under a wig
The layer between your hair and the wig changes the grip, the warmth and how the part looks.
- Stocking (nylon) cap: thin and smooth, it keeps braids flat and is the usual choice under lace wigs. Pick it close to your skin tone, since it can show through the part.
- Mesh cap: open and breathable, cooler in warm weather and grippier on silky hair; its texture can show under very thin lace.
- Wig grip: a velvet band around the hairline rather than a cap. It stops the wig from sliding on short hair or a bare scalp and cushions the band of the wig.
- Two caps: for very thick hair, one stocking cap to hold the braids and a second one to smooth the surface.
- Replace a cap once it loses its stretch: a loose cap slides back and takes the wig with it.
Questions
How do you measure for a wig?
Take two numbers: the size of your head and the length you want. For the head, run a soft tape over the hair you will wear underneath, from the center of your front hairline, above one ear, around the nape and back. Compare it with our one-size cap, about 22.5 inches (57 cm), adjustable with an anti-slip band. For length, decide where the ends should fall: wig length is measured from the crown with the hair stretched straight.
How do you measure wig length?
From the crown to the ends, with the hair pulled straight. Lay the wig on a flat surface or hold it on a stand, take a section from the crown, stretch it gently and measure to the tips in inches. Curly and wavy wigs are measured the same way, stretched, which is why they look shorter on the head than their listed length: tight curls can sit several inches higher.
What color wig cap should I get?
One close to your skin or scalp tone, because the cap can show through the part and the lace. Fair skin: nude or beige. Medium and brown skin: tan, caramel or medium brown. Deep skin: dark brown or cocoa. Under a blonde or light wig, wear a cap in your skin tone, never black, which shadows through the part. If no shade matches exactly, take the closer one and even out the part with concealer or powder.
What cap size are your wigs?
One size, about 22.5 inches, like most wigs on the market; every wig comes with an adjustable anti-slip band, so it fits most adults. If your head is much smaller or larger, ask us before you order.