How to Measure Your Head for a Wig

Getting the perfect fit for your wig is key to rocking it with style and confidence. If you’ve ever bought a wig and found it wasn’t the right fit, or maybe it even slipped off, then this information is an important first step in the wig buying process.

In this guide, you’ll learn how to measure your head for a wig using a fabric tape measure so that you can pick a wig cap size perfect for your head. The best part? Measuring your head just takes a few minutes–and those few minutes are worth it when you’re investing in a high-quality wig.

Wig sizes can vary depending on the manufacturer, but this wig-measuring guide will give you a great baseline, especially if the wig you choose has adjustable straps. The combination of the correct size and adjustability is sure to give you the fit you need!

How to Measure Your Head for Wig Size

Determining the right size wig for your head starts with understanding the basic measurements you’ll need. For the best fit, you want to measure your head in six different ways, being sure to pull back any loose hair first:

1) Circumference

2) Front hairline to nape of your neck

3) Ear-to-ear across hairline at forehead

4) Ear-to-ear over the top of your head

5) Temple-to-temple behind back of your head

6) Nape of neck at back hairline

Each of these measurements will come in handy when looking at a wig-sizing guide. Similar to purchasing an item of clothing, each measurement represents a different part of the wig. The more accurate those measurements, the better the fit of your unit.

Measure Head Circumference

Head circumference is probably the measurement most people are familiar with when it comes to how to measure your head for a wig. To get the measurement for head circumference, follow these steps:

1) Starting at the center of your forehead, pull the tape measure back behind one ear until it reaches the nape of your neck.

2) Pull it around the nape of your neck over your other ear.

3) Bring the ends of tape measure to meet in the center of your hairline at forehead.

4) Record measurement.

Measure Front to Back

To measure the top of your head, follow these steps:

1) Place the end of tape measure at your hairline in the middle of your forehead.

2) Pull it directly over the crown of your head, down the back of your head until you reach the nape of your neck at the base of your hairline.

3) Record measurement.

Measure Across Forehead

Measuring across your hairline at your forehead is an important step in how to measure your head for wig size. To take this measurement:

1) Place the end of tape measure just above one ear.

2) Pull tape up and across the hairline until it reaches the other ear.

3) Record measurement.

Measure Over the Top

To measure over the top of your head, follow these steps:

1) Place the end of tape measure just above one ear.

2) Pull tape up and over the top of your head until it reaches the other ear.

3) Record measurement.

Measure Around the Back

This is an important measurement that is easy to miss when you’re trying to figure out how to measure your head for a wig. To do this:

1) Place end of tape measure at one temple, next to your eyebrow.

2) Pull it straight back and wrap around the back side of your head until it reaches the other temple.

3) Make sure that the tape measure is level and not slipping up or down.

4) Record measurement.

Measure the Nape of Your Neck

The final measurement takes is for the nape of your neck. This is where the base of the wig will land. To measure:

1) Place end of tape measure behind one ear, level with the bottom of your ear lobe.

2) Pull the tape around the base of your hairline, or the nape, until it reaches below the opposite ear.

3) Record measurement.

Find Your Perfect Wig Size

You’ve done the hard part, taking all the measurements. Now it’s time to apply those measurements to different wig sizes.

While wig manufacturers may have slightly different sizing conventions, wig sizes typically fall into the following general categories:

High-quality ready-to-wear wigs, lace front wigs, and 360 lace wigs often come with adjustable straps and built-in combs to help secure the unit. Even if your measurements don’t fall exactly into these categories, you can easily adjust to achieve hair perfection.

Customized Wigs for Everyone

If you’re investing in a lace front wig or 360 lace wig, you have options like:

• Bleaching knots

• Tinting the lace

• Customizing the hairline

• Cutting the lace

These can be time-consuming tasks that are best done by a professional to make sure your unit doesn’t get damaged. Thankfully, with Mayvenn’s free wig customization, you can take your unit to a Mayvenn Certified Stylist to get these services done. Simply purchase any of our lace front or 360 lace wigs and we’ll help you find a stylist in your area.

If you’ve got questions about how to measure your head for a wig, or about Mayvenn’s wig sizes, styles, and options, we’ve got answers. Whether you’re looking for a wig, frontal, closure, clip-in, or tape-in, contact us and we can help you get the look you want.