A wig that doesn’t fit right is impossible to make look natural — no amount of styling will save it. Too big and it slides. Too small and it’s tight, uncomfortable, and creates an obvious ridge at the hairline. The good news: measuring your head takes about five minutes and almost entirely eliminates the guessing game.
What You Need
A soft fabric measuring tape — the kind used for sewing. Don’t use a metal tape measure; it doesn’t flex around the curves of your head and won’t give accurate results. If you don’t have one, a piece of string and a ruler works fine.
The 5 Measurements That Matter
1. Head Circumference
This is the main measurement used to determine cap size. Place the tape measure at your hairline at the center of your forehead, run it around the perimeter of your head (just above your ears, across the nape of your neck), and back to the starting point. Average: 21.5–22.5 inches. Under 21.5 is petite, over 22.5 is large.
2. Front to Nape
Measure from the center of your hairline at the forehead, over the top of your head, down to the nape of your neck (where your hairline ends at the back). This measurement helps determine how long the wig cap needs to be front to back. Average: 14–15 inches.
3. Ear to Ear Across the Forehead
Measure from the top of one ear, across your forehead just at the hairline, to the top of the other ear. This tells you how wide the wig cap needs to be at the front. Average: 12–13 inches.
4. Ear to Ear Over the Top
Same ear-to-ear measurement, but this time go over the crown of the head rather than the forehead. Average: 13–14 inches.
5. Temple to Temple Around the Back
Measure from one temple, around the back of the head (at the nape), to the other temple. This completes the picture of how the wig will sit around the back of your head. Average: 14–15 inches.
What to Do If You’re Between Sizes
Most wigs come in average (21.5–22.5 inches circumference), petite (under 21.5), and large (over 22.5). If you’re between sizes — say, 22 inches — go with average. Most wig caps have some stretch and adjustable straps that can take in up to half an inch.
How Adjustable Straps Work
Almost all wig caps have two adjustable velcro or hook-and-eye straps at the nape. These allow you to tighten the cap circumference by about 1 inch total. If you buy a wig slightly too large, these straps can compensate. They won’t help much if the wig is significantly too big — the crown will still look loose and unnatural.
Once you have your measurements, write them down. You’ll use them every time you buy a new wig, and it’ll save you a lot of return shipping headaches.