Before you spend hundreds of pounds on a topper, measure your hair loss area. Seriously. It takes two minutes and it will save you from ordering something that either doesn’t cover enough, peeks out past your own hair, or just sits completely wrong on your head. I can’t tell you how many people skip this step and end up disappointed.
What You Need
A soft tape measure, the sewing kind not a metal DIY one. A mirror, ideally with another one behind you so you can actually see the top of your head. Good lighting. And something to write your measurements down with because you will forget them otherwise, trust me.
No tape measure? A piece of string and a ruler does the job perfectly well.
How to Measure
Topper bases come in two measurements: front to back, and side to side. So when you see something listed as 6×6 or 7×8, the first number is front to back (in inches) and the second is side to side. Simple once you know.
Step 1: Find where your thinning starts at the front. Look in the mirror and identify the point where your hair noticeably starts to thin. It’s usually an inch or two behind your natural hairline. Put the start of your tape measure there.
Step 2: Measure front to back. Run the tape straight back along the centre of your scalp to where the thinning ends. Write it down.
Step 3: Measure side to side. Measure across the widest point of your thinning area from one side to the other. Write that down too.
Step 4: Add a little buffer. I’d add about half an inch to each measurement. This way your topper overlaps the thinning area slightly rather than meeting it exactly at the edge, which looks way more natural and means if the piece shifts a tiny bit during the day it’s not suddenly exposing a gap.
Matching Your Measurements to a Base Size
Once you’ve got your measurements (with the buffer), here’s roughly how they map to common base sizes:
4×4 or 5×5 is for smaller, more targeted coverage. Early stage thinning at the crown.
6×6 suits moderate loss that’s fairly contained to one area.
7×8 or 8×8 is for more widespread thinning across the top and crown.
8.5×9 or 9×9 is for more advanced loss that covers a larger area.
If your measurements sit between two sizes, go bigger. A slightly large base is so much more forgiving than one that doesn’t quite cover things.
One Thing to Keep in Mind with AGA
Androgenic Alopecia progresses slowly, which means your measurements now might not be your measurements in a year or two. It’s worth remeasuring every so often and keeping a note of where things are at. A lot of people find they gradually move up to a larger base size over time and that’s completely normal, it doesn’t mean you did anything wrong.
Once you’ve got your measurements sorted, my Hair Topper Base Types guide will help you figure out which base construction is right for you. And if you’re still deciding between a topper and a wig altogether, start with the Hair Topper vs Wig guide first.
