Armpit length hair falls where the name says: at the armpits, roughly 15–17 inches from the roots when measured straight.
That measurement matters because curl shortens the hang. An 18-inch curly wig may sit at 15 or 16 inches when worn, so the stretched length and the visible length are two different numbers.
Where Armpit Length Falls
Hair that brushes the armpits sits at the top end of medium length.
Medium runs from just past the shoulders to about armpit level, roughly 15–17 inches, and once the ends fall past the armpits, most people call it long, around 18 inches or more.
Those inch ranges are approximate, and "long" has no strict boundary in everyday use. Some people call anything past the shoulders long, while others save the word for mid-back and below.
Armpit length is where I’d draw the line between the two. If you’re showing a stylist what you want, bring a photo and a number in inches rather than relying on the label.
How Curl Changes Length
Stated length is measured with the hair pulled straight, so it isn’t always the length you see.
A 20-inch curly wig and a 20-inch straight wig have the same stretched length, but the coils and waves use up some of it.
An 18-inch curly wig may hang at 15 or 16 inches when worn, so curly and wavy hair will land higher on the body than the number suggests.
Density and layers change how the length looks too.
I’d measure with a soft tape rather than eyeball it, and I’d take two readings: one with a strand stretched, one at rest. That tells you which number a stylist or a listing is quoting.
Frequently Asked Questions
How are wig lengths measured?
Wig length runs from the crown, the top of the cap, to the tip of the longest strand.
Curly and wavy hair is pulled straight for the measurement, so an 18-inch curly wig may hang at only 15 or 16 inches when worn. Check the product details to see whether a brand quotes the stretched figure.
