How wig length is measured
Wig length is measured with the hair pulled straight, from the crown to the ends.
Step by step
- Curly and wavy textures look shorter than their length, because the curl takes up length.
- Longer lengths weigh more at the same density.
- The length guide on each wig shows where each length falls on the body.
Wig length chart: where each length falls
These points are for an average adult with straight hair, measured from the crown. Your height and where you set the hairline shift them by an inch or two; on a petite frame every length falls lower.
- 10 to 12 inches (25 to 30 cm): from the chin to mid-neck, the bob range.
- 14 inches (36 cm): grazes the shoulders.
- 16 inches (41 cm): just past the shoulders, at the collarbone.
- 18 to 20 inches (46 to 51 cm): from the collarbone to the chest.
- 22 to 24 inches (56 to 61 cm): below the shoulder blades, at mid-back.
- 26 to 28 inches (66 to 71 cm): the lower back, near the waist.
- 30 to 32 inches (76 to 81 cm): from the waist to the hips.
- Our lace fronts come from 16 to 32 inches (some colors from 12 inches), and our bobs from 10 to 16 inches.
Stretched length vs how long the wig looks
Wig length is always the stretched length: measured from the crown to the ends with the hair pulled straight. Straight hair looks exactly that long; every wave or curl takes up some of it.
- Straight and yaki: no shrinkage; the wig looks as long as its listed length.
- Body wave: loses about an inch or two.
- Loose deep wave, water wave and deep wave: a few inches shorter, more as the pattern tightens.
- Jerry curl, kinky curly and pixie curly: the most shrinkage; tight curls can look several inches shorter than their length.
- If the ends must reach a set point, such as the chest, go one or two lengths longer for waves and curls.
- Humidity and product change it from day to day: curls spring up more when dry and hang lower when wet or weighed down with product.
Longer wigs weigh more: length, density and comfort
Length and density together decide how much hair is on the cap. A 30 inch wig at 250% carries far more hair than an 18 inch wig at 180%, so it weighs more, feels warmer and pulls more on the band and hairline over a long day.
For daily wear, long lengths are most comfortable at 180% or 200%; keep very long, very full wigs for events. Long hair also tangles more at the nape, takes longer to wash and dry, and needs a loose braid for sleep.
The reverse is true too: a bob at 150% is the lightest wig you can wear. Every wig shows a weight table for each length and density, and before shipping we send photos or a short video of your exact wig.
Questions
What length wig should I get?
Pick by where you want the ends to fall and how much hair you want to manage. For a first or everyday wig, 16 to 20 inches, collarbone to chest on straight hair, is long enough to style and easy to live with. Choose 22 to 24 inches for mid-back length, 26 inches and up to reach toward the waist, and a 10 to 16 inch bob for the lightest option. Go longer for curls, which shrink.
What does stretched length mean for wigs?
It is the length measured with the hair pulled straight, from the crown to the ends; every wig length is given this way. On straight hair it equals what you see. On waves and curls the hair springs up, so the wig looks shorter than its stretched length: about an inch or two on body wave, several inches on tight curls. Pull one curl down and it reaches the full listed length.
How do you cut length off a wig?
Trim it on a stand, with the hair dry and combed straight. Pin the wig in place, part it as you wear it and clip the top up. Cut the nape to the new length first, then let each higher section fall and trim it to match, moving toward the face. Take off half an inch at a time and point-cut the ends so the line stays soft; cut curly hair dry, curl by curl.
How do you add length to a wig?
With extra wefts in the same texture and color. Clip-in wefts are the quick, removable way: snap them into the lower rows of the wig, under the top layer. For a lasting change, sew wefts onto the cap from the nape up with a curved needle, following the existing rows. Add enough of them, or the new length looks thin next to the rest. If you want more length for good, it is simpler to order the next length up.
How do you make a wig with different lengths?
Cut layers into it: shorter pieces on top and around the face, the full length underneath. On a stand, set the outline first, then lift sections from the crown and cut them shorter, each guided by the one before, so the hair falls in steps. Face-framing layers start around the chin and angle down toward the ends. Point-cut every layer so the steps blend. We can cut layers on request, quoted before you pay.
How do you style a shoulder length wig?
Work with the ends, since they rest right on the shoulders and flip out on their own. Bend them under with one pass of a flat iron for a polished look, or flip them out on purpose. A few loose waves with a large curling iron add movement, a deep side part adds volume, and a half-up clip keeps the hair off your collar. A 14 inch straight wig sits at the shoulders. Keep heat moderate.
Why does my curly wig look shorter than the listed length?
Length is measured straight; curls and waves spring up, so a curly wig looks several inches shorter than its straight length.