Wig Guide
Measuring for a wig: head circumference, forehead to nape, ear to ear, step by step
In short: for a custom-made wig you need three measurements that the configurator asks for: the head circumference once around the hairline (typically 52 to 60 cm), forehead to nape over the crown (32 to 40 cm), and ear to ear over the top of the head (28 to 36 cm). Use a soft measuring tape, held snug without pulling, ideally with a second person helping. For a topper, you instead measure the thinning area in width and length and add one to two centimeters per side. EchtHaar Direkt makes every wig, topper and ponytail to these measurements, in lengths from 40 to 130 cm, from 243,45 € for 40 cm and 100 g.
Three measurements decide whether a wig sits well without glue. Here is how to take them in five minutes, what the usual values are, and which mistakes most people make.
What you need
- A soft measuring tape (tailor’s tape), not a folding ruler.
- A second person to measure while you sit upright. Measuring alone works with a mirror, but it is less precise.
- Dry, smoothly brushed hair; thick, pinned-up hair distorts the circumference.
- A note for three numbers in centimeters.
The three measurements for a wig
The measuring tape lies snug, neither pulling tight nor sagging. A head circumference measured too loosely is the most common reason a wig slips.
1. Head circumference
Place the measuring tape once around your head along the hairline: across the forehead at the hair edge, behind the ears, and along the bottom of the nape. Read the value in centimeters. Typical is 52 to 60 cm.
2. Forehead to nape
Start the tape at the hairline in the center of the forehead and guide it centrally over the crown to the hairline at the nape. Typical is 32 to 40 cm.
3. Ear to ear
Guide the tape over the top of your head from one ear attachment to the other, where the ears meet the head. Typical is 28 to 36 cm.
4. Enter the values
Enter the three numbers in the configurator in the fields Head circumference, Forehead to nape and Ear to ear. Not sure? Send them to us in advance via WhatsApp at +49 1522 3002246, and we will check them before production.
Measuring a topper: the thinning area
A topper is not chosen by head measurements but by its base size. Place the measuring tape over the area where the scalp shows through, once across the width and once along the length, and add one to two centimeters on each side, no more. The base sizes are given in inches: 3×5 (approx. 7.5 × 12.5 cm), 4×4 (10 × 10 cm), 5×5 (12.5 × 12.5 cm) and 5×6 (12.5 × 15 cm). A base that is too large sits visibly at the edges and stands out; measure precisely rather than rounding up. More in Human Hair Toppers: Size, Hair Volume and Attachment.
Length: from the hair root, not from the parting
The length of a wig, a topper or extensions is measured from the attachment point. To be sure, hold the measuring tape at the hair root and measure down your body. At a height of about 165 cm, 60 cm ends around the waist, 80 cm at the hips, 90 cm at the bottom, 100 cm at the thigh, and 130 cm reaches mid-thigh. All 19 lengths from 40 to 130 cm are shown in the Length Overview, with a preview by body height.
The most common measuring mistakes
- Measured too loosely: The tape sagged or lay over thick hair. The wig then sits loosely and slips. Measure again, snug.
- Measured too tightly: The tape cut in. The wig pinches. Snug means without tension.
- Wrong line for head circumference: The tape must run along the hairline, across the forehead, behind the ears and along the bottom of the nape, not across the center of the forehead like a hat.
- Topper base too large: Rounded up “to be safe”. The base then sits visibly at the edges. Only one to two centimeters of allowance per side.
- Measurements missing from the order: We will then ask, and production only starts afterwards. Enter all three values.
How the wig stays in place without glue, with adjustable straps and clips, is explained in How Does a Wig Stay On?; which lace suits which hairline is covered in Lace Closure, Lace Frontal or HD Lace.
Not sure? Send us your values
Write the three numbers or a photo to us via WhatsApp at +49 1522 3002246, and we will check them before production. After that, a custom-made wig takes 10 to 14 working days, or 12 to 16 working days with a requested color; for a requested color you receive a photo for approval before shipping. All options and prices by length and quantity are listed in Human Hair Wig Made to Measure.
Frequently asked questions
Which measurements do I need for a wig?
Head circumference (typically 52 to 60 cm), forehead to nape (32 to 40 cm) and ear to ear (28 to 36 cm). The configurator asks for all three.
How do I measure head circumference correctly?
Once around the hairline: across the forehead at the hair edge, behind the ears, and along the bottom of the nape. Tape snug, without tension, without sagging.
What if my head circumference is below 52 or above 60 cm?
Enter the measured value; the wig is made to your numbers. If you are unsure, send us the values in advance via WhatsApp.
How do I measure for a topper?
The thinning area in width and length, plus one to two centimeters per side, then choose the matching base size: 3×5, 4×4, 5×5 or 5×6 inches.
How do I measure the desired hair length?
From the hair root, with the measuring tape held down the body. At a height of about 165 cm, 80 cm ends at the hips and 100 cm at the thigh.
Does the wig need glue afterwards?
No. With the right measurements it stays in place through fit, adjustable straps and clips. Glue is only common for lace fronts on special occasions.
Conclusion
Three numbers, five minutes, one soft measuring tape: head circumference, forehead to nape, ear to ear. If you measure snugly and do not round up for a topper, you get a wig that sits without glue.
