A barrister wig is an important part of your court attire, helping you to feel formal and professional so you can attend court in confidence and command respect from the jury, clients and other attendants to trials and hearings.
Making sure your barrister wig fits properly is key to making sure you feel comfortable in your barrister dress. Read on for our tips on measurements and fitting to make sure you purchase the barrister wig that is right for you.
How to Measure Your Head For a Barrister Wig
Naturally, the most important part of making sure you buy the right barrister wig for your new job is to first measure your head to get the precise measurements.
The correct way to measure head size is to wind the tape around the circumference of your forehead. Place the tape measure about half an inch above your eyebrows and make sure you hold it tight for an accurate reading.
Measuring your head doesn’t always give the perfect answer however. You may find that the circumference of your head falls between two different barrister wig sizes. If this is the case, we recommend that you always go for the bigger size. With a wig that’s slightly larger, you can always use methods to tighten it later to get the perfect balance of fit and comfort.
Don’t forget to take into account the volume and thickness of your hair as this can add to the circumference of your head and affect how well the barrister wig sits
If you have thick hair and are measuring for a wig, make sure you have your hair in a low ponytail or a braid, keeping it flat so that the measurement readings are accurate and consistent.
Other measurements you’ll require for your wig measurements include:
- Front of head to nape of neck along your scalp
- Ear to ear across your forehead
- Temple to temple around the back of your head
- Ear to ear over the top of your head
- The width of your hairline across the nape of your neck
How to Put on Your Barrister Wig
Knowing how to put your barrister wig on properly is half the challenge of making sure you’ve bought a wig that’s the right size.
Whether you wear a wig cap or not underneath your barrister wig is entirely up to you. A wig cap will be able to help protect your wig from the natural oils from your hair and scalp, keeping it in optimum condition for longer.
Your head measurements for your barrister wig will also apply to your wig cap. A basic wig cap is incredibly durable, reducing the need to replace it constantly. Make sure to try and find a wig cap that matches your skin tone for a more natural and seamless look.
Tip your head forward and position the wig at the nape of your neck and pull it forward over your head. Make sure the edges of the wig cover the wig cap if you’re wearing one and your hair and aligns seamlessly with your hair line.
Before putting on your wig, make sure your hair is cleaned and tied back neatly if it is longer. The flatter your hair the better and make sure it’s completely dry as well so the wig has more grip and purchase and won’t slide around so much.
To help make sure you can put your wig on comfortably, we stock a wide range of barrister wig sizes in our store so that you can have no trouble finding the right fit for you. These sizes include:
- 54cm
- 55cm
- 56cm
- 57cm
- 58cm
- 59cm
- 60cm
- 61vcm
- 62cm
How to Secure Your Barrister Wig
You may find yourself wearing your wig for prolonged periods of time so it’s important to make sure it stays secure and doesn’t slip during your time in court. With the proper fitting, you will be able to focus on doing your job to the best of your ability without constantly having to readjust the wig.
Barrister wigs often come equipped with a drawstring hidden at the back on the nape of the neck. If you find there’s a little too much room between the wig and your head or you had to opt for a slightly larger size, you can use the drawstrings to find the best fit.
You can also use clips and hair grips to secure the wig along the backs and fronts. Natural coloured grips that match your skin tone will help to ensure that the professional look and style of your wig isn’t marred.
You should also remember to secure your wig cap if you’ve chosen to wear one. Use the same grips and clips that match your skin tone to avoid it slipping and bunching underneath your wig.
How to Know You’ve Put Your Barrister Wig on Properly
You’ll know if you’ve put your wig on properly if it feels snug but not too tight around your scalp, hairline and the nape of your neck. It will be normal for the wig to get more uncomfortable as your court session goes on because it will start to feel hot and sweaty and the added weight may start to weigh on you.
If you feel a headache while you’re wearing your wig, it’s likely that you’re either wearing a wig that’s too small for you or your adjustments have made the wig too tight. Experiment with loosening the drawstring or rearranging the clips. If that does not work, you might need to remeasure your head or look at getting the next size up.
Make sure it’s covering your hairline and isn’t sitting too far forward or too far back on your head.
After putting it on, check to make sure there are no loose hairs peeking out from beneath the wig. If you’re wearing a wig cap, examine yourself in a mirror to ensure that the fabric of the wig cap isn’t visible.
If you are wearing both items properly, your barrister wig should look like a seamless extension of your barrister outfit and comfort will be maximised, helping you to avoid itchiness and fiddling.
With the perfect fit for your barrister wig, you can attend your court sessions in style and comfort, commanding respect and professionalism and helping you to uphold the values and authority of the court.
Check out our barrister wig collection in the Tailor de Jure section of our online store and begin your journey of finding the right wig for court today.
