Complete and accurate measurements ensure your cranial prosthetic fits perfectly from day one. Take your time with this — every detail matters.
How you measure depends on how much hair you currently have. Select your situation below for the right technique — measuring incorrectly is the most common reason for an ill-fitting unit.
Prepare your hair first. Your measurements must be taken with your hair exactly as it will be worn under the unit. Pull all hair back and lay it as flat against your head as possible — use a stocking cap or wig cap to compress it.
Secure everything down. Bobby pins, a stocking cap, or a thin nylon cap all work. The goal is a smooth, flat surface. Any volume left in your hair will cause the unit to sit higher and fit looser than your measurements suggest.
Measure over the cap — not bare skin. All measurements should be taken over your flattened, capped hair. This accounts for the space your compressed hair takes up.
Use a flexible tape measure. A cloth sewing tape is ideal. Keep the tape snug but not tight — you should be able to slide one finger underneath comfortably.
Assess your pattern. With moderate loss, you may have hair in some areas and none in others. Focus your preparation on areas where hair remains — these areas need to be flattened before measuring.
Flatten remaining hair. Use a thin stocking cap to compress whatever hair you have. On bald areas, the tape will rest directly on your scalp — that's correct.
Measure across both zones. Your tape measure will travel over compressed hair in some spots and directly on your scalp in others. That's normal and gives the most accurate measurement for your actual head shape.
Note your loss pattern below. Knowing where you have loss (top, crown, sides, full) helps us recommend the right cap construction to give the most natural look in the areas that matter most to you.
No preparation needed. With significant or total hair loss, you measure directly on your scalp. This gives the cleanest, most accurate numbers.
Measure directly on clean, dry skin. Do not lotion your scalp immediately before measuring — products can cause the tape to slip. Dry skin gives the most consistent measurement.
Use a flexible tape measure. Keep the tape snug but not tight against your scalp. For circumference, keep the tape level all the way around — do not let it dip at the back.
Measure twice, record once. Take each measurement two times and use the average if they differ. A half-inch discrepancy is common and normal — averaging gives you the most accurate number.