How to measure your head for the right size silk bonnet
Quick answer: Measure around your head along the hairline — forehead, around the ears, down to the nape. LS Silk bonnets come in three sizes: Small–Medium fits 48–52cm, Medium fits 52–56cm, and Medium–Large fits 56–62cm. If you have very long or very thick hair, or protective styles such as box braids, locs or twists, size up to Medium–Large regardless of your measurement — the extra room stops the bonnet flattening your style.
Two minutes with a tape measure, and the one exception that catches most people out.
Fit is what makes a bonnet work. Too loose and it is on the floor by 1am, protecting the carpet. Too tight and you wake with a line across your forehead — and tension at the hairline is exactly where fragile hair breaks, which rather defeats the purpose.
How do you measure your head for a bonnet?
Take a soft tape measure around your head along the hairline: across the forehead, around the ears, and down to the nape of the neck. Whether you go over or under the ears is personal preference — just be consistent, and note which you did.
Which size should you choose?
Every LS Silk bonnet has soft elastic at the back or around the opening, so each size covers a range rather than a single measurement.
| Size | Relaxed | Stretches to | Fits head measurement |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small–Medium | 48cm | 52cm | 48–52cm |
| Medium (most popular) | 52cm | 56cm | 52–56cm |
| Medium–Large | 56cm | 60cm | 56–62cm |
The exception worth knowing
Head measurement is not the only variable — hair volume is the other, and it is the one people forget.
If your hair falls below the bra strap, is very thick, or you wear protective styles such as box braids, locs or twists, choose Medium–Large even if your head measures under 56cm. The bonnet has to accommodate the hair as well as the head, and a bonnet that fits your skull but compresses your style will leave you with creases rather than protection.
How should it feel once it is on?
Snug enough that it is still there at 3am. Loose enough that it leaves no mark when you take it off.
If you wake with an indent at the hairline, size up. A bonnet should hold position through its shape and fit rather than through compression — the elastic is there to keep it on, not to grip.
If you are between sizes or want more control over tension, an adjustable silk hair wrap may suit you better than a fixed bonnet.
Frequently asked questions
How do I measure my head for a silk bonnet?
Use a soft tape measure around the hairline — across the forehead, around the ears, down to the nape. Be consistent about whether you include the ears.
What size silk bonnet do most people need?
Medium, which fits head measurements of 52–56cm, is the most commonly ordered size.
What size bonnet do I need for braids or locs?
Medium–Large, regardless of your head measurement. Protective styles need room, and a bonnet that compresses them causes the creasing you were trying to avoid.
What size do I need for very long or thick hair?
Medium–Large. Hair below the bra strap needs space to coil without folding hard against itself.
My bonnet leaves a mark on my forehead — what should I do?
Size up. Hairline tension is where fragile hair breaks, and a mark means the elastic is doing work the fit should be doing.
What if I am between two sizes?
Size up if you have any hair volume to accommodate. Otherwise consider an adjustable wrap, which lets you set the tension yourself.
Start here: The complete guide to silk bonnets — everything in one place.
Related reading: How to put your hair in a silk bonnet · Do silk bonnets really work? · How often to wash a silk bonnet
Browse the full range of LS Silk mulberry silk bonnets.
A few seconds with a tape measure is the difference between a bonnet you wear every night and one that spends its life on the bedroom floor.