Ensuring a Proper Fit: How to measure for a Lace Wig

Finding a proper fitting lace wig can leave you feeling like Goldie Locks and the Three Bears, this one's too big, the next one's too small. How do you find the fit that is just right?

I know a million sites have information on how to measure your head, but it is such a basic and important element of lace wig satisfaction, that I figured that it is a topic that we need to explore here. Miscalculations in measurements is one of the biggest mistakes made by novice lace wig wearers.

Biggest Error: Measurements too small

If your measurements are too small, then you will run into big problems immediately when you try to apply your unit. This applies even more so if you are doing a full perimeter application. As soon as you get one side of the unit secured with the adhesive and you try to pull the other side into place, the original side that you already had secured is tugged out of place. If you are having these kinds of problems, then unfortunately, your unit is too small. And unfortunately, there isn't much than be done to fix a unit that is too small. You can always try using bobby pins or clips to make your application more secure. But if you really want to get a flawless full perimeter application you will need to purchase another full lace wig with new, accurate measurements.

Slightly Larger can be Just Right

If your measurements are too large, then the cap will be looser on your head and you will probably end up having to trim off quite a bit of lace and hair in order to get a proper fit. Many lace wig wearers find that a slightly larger unit is more comfortable for them to wear and also holds applications longer because there is less pulling at the hairline and adhesive than there is with a tight fitting unit. I usually advise my customers to always add and extra 1/4 inch to allo of their measurements to allow for a little extra "give" to their unit. The extra space can also help when applying because you will not have to be so precise withyour unit placement. Say for instance you are having an off day and you accidentally place your unit 1/4 inch too far forward or too far back or right or whatever. You get the picture. If you have the extra room in your unit then you will still be able to apply it successfully. However, please be careful not to get your unit far too large as this will result in a baggy unit that will look wiggy and unnatural.

So, now that we have that out of the way. Here are the how to measure instructions. This is pretty standard stuff and is consistent across vendors, so once you get your measurements correct, you can save them and use them over and over again.

Lace Wig & Frontal Measurement Info

Please remember that you must measure your head in the same condition as you will wear it under the lace wig and you want to get your hair as flat as possible. That means if you plan to prepare your hair in cornrows or braids to wear the wig, you must take your measurements with your hair prepared in braids. You will also need a cloth or plastic tailoring tape measure that is flexible in order to take your measurements in inches. Do not pull the tape too tight, but it should be a snug fit. We recommend measuring at least 3 times to assure accuracy, as your wig will be constructed based only on the measurements you provide. We also recommend to start & end the measurements approximately 1/4 inch beyond your hairline to ensure that when glued, your wig will adhere to your skin and not directly on your hairline. Take your measurements based upon where you plan to place the adhesive, not where your hairline actually begins and ends.




1) Measure your head Circumference around your hairline.Place the tape flat against your forehead at your hairline and wrap around your head. The tape should rest behind your ears and also sit on the nape of your neck.
Average circumference measurement is 21-22 inches.

2) Measure Front to NapeLooking downward, center the tape measure on your front hairline. Place the tape measure about a 1/2 inch in front of your hairline and measure back to the nape of your neck going over the crown of your head. If you are unsure where your nape is, bend your head backwards and note where your skin folds- this is your nape. Keep in mind that you want to adhere glue to the outside perimeter of your natural hairline, so if you have some hair below your nape area that you want to cover, measure up to that point. The measurement should be taken with your head held down.
Average front to nape measurement is 13-14 inches.

3)Measure from Ear to Ear Across ForeheadPlace tape just in front of your ear at your hairline (at sideburns), and measure to your opposite sideburn bringing the tape across your front hairline. Average Ear to Ear Across Forehead measurement is 11-12 inches.

4) Measure from Ear to Ear Over Top of HeadPlace tape at your hairline at the top of your ears and measure over the top of your head over to your opposite ear. If your hairline falls under your ear, start the tape measure there and position as stated above.
Average Ear to Ear over top of Head measurement is 13 inches.

5) Measure from Temple to Temple Around the Back of HeadPlace the tape measure at your hairline from your temple going around the back of your head to the opposite temple.

Average Temple to Temple around Back measurement is 14 inches.

6) Measure the Nape of Your Neck. Measure the width of your hairline across the nape of the neck.

Average Nape measurement is 5 inches.