A 20 inch bundle measures 20 inches when the hair is pulled straight, not when it hangs naturally. On straight raw Indian hair, 20 inches falls close to the natural waist on someone around 5 feet 5 inches tall. On wavy hair it sits a few inches higher, and on curly hair it can sit considerably higher, because the curl pattern takes up length that the tape measure removed when the hair was stretched. This single measurement rule is the most common reason buyers feel their order arrived shorter than expected.
How Hair Length Is Measured
Every reputable supplier measures hair the same way. The bundle is held at the weft, the hair is pulled taut until it is straight, and the distance from weft to tip is recorded.
That number is the stretched length.
On genuinely straight hair, stretched length and hanging length are almost the same, so what you see is what you get. On textured hair they are not the same at all, and the gap widens as the pattern gets tighter.
This is not a trick, and it is not specific to any one supplier. Stretched measurement is the industry standard because it is the only way to compare bundles consistently. A wavy bundle and a curly bundle measured by their natural fall would be impossible to compare, since every donor's pattern differs.
The problem is that most buyers are never told this before they order.
Where Each Length Falls on Your Body
These positions assume straight or lightly wavy raw Indian hair installed at the crown. Adjust higher for tighter textures using the section below.
For someone around 5 feet 0 inches to 5 feet 3 inches: 12 inch sits at the collarbone. 14 inch sits just below it. 16 inch reaches the chest. 18 inch reaches mid chest. 20 inch approaches the natural waist. 22 inch reaches the waist. 24 inch sits below the waist. 26 inch and beyond moves toward the hip.
For someone around 5 feet 4 inches to 5 feet 7 inches: 12 inch sits above the collarbone. 14 inch reaches the collarbone. 16 inch sits just below it. 18 inch reaches the chest. 20 inch reaches mid chest to upper waist. 22 inch approaches the natural waist. 24 inch reaches the waist. 26 inch sits below the waist. 28 inch and beyond moves toward the hip.
For someone around 5 feet 8 inches and above: Every length sits roughly two inches higher than the range above. 20 inch typically reaches the chest rather than the waist, and 24 inch reaches around the mid to upper waist.
These are guides, not guarantees. Torso proportion varies between people of the same height, and where the bundles are placed on the head changes the result. Hair installed higher on the crown will hang lower than hair installed at the nape.
How Texture Changes Everything
This is the part that decides whether you are happy with your order.
Straight
Stretched and natural length are effectively the same. A 20 inch straight bundle hangs at close to 20 inches. Order the length you want.
Wavy
Wavy raw Indian hair loses a small amount of length to its S pattern. A 20 inch wavy bundle typically hangs a little shorter than a 20 inch straight bundle. The difference is modest but noticeable if you are targeting a specific point.
Deep Wave
Deeper wave patterns take up more length. The gap between stretched and hanging length is more significant here than with standard wavy hair.
Curly
Curly raw Indian hair shows the largest difference of any texture. A 20 inch curly bundle can hang several inches shorter than its stretched measurement, and tighter curl patterns lose more.
There is a further point specific to raw hair. Because every bundle is single donor, the curl pattern is that individual person's natural pattern, not a uniform pattern set by a steam machine. Two 20 inch curly bundles from two different donors can hang slightly differently. This is normal for genuinely raw hair and is one of the reasons it looks realistic when installed.
How Much Extra to Order
The practical rule our team gives customers in the USA, UK and UAE.
If you want straight hair to fall at a specific point, order that length.
If you want wavy hair to fall at a specific point, order slightly longer than that point.
If you want deep wave or curly hair to fall at a specific point, order noticeably longer, and the tighter the pattern the more you add.
The most reliable way to get this right is to tell us where you want the hair to fall rather than which number to send. Give our team your height, your texture, and the point on your body you are aiming for. Our sorting team in Andhra Pradesh handles these bundles daily and can advise on the length that actually produces that result.
Length Affects Fullness, Not Just Where It Falls
This is the second half of the length question and it is frequently missed.
Our bundles weigh 100g regardless of length. That means a 14 inch bundle concentrates 100g into a short span, while a 28 inch bundle spreads the same 100g across nearly twice the distance.
Density per inch drops as length increases. It is simple arithmetic, not a quality difference.
The practical consequence is that longer installs need more bundles to maintain fullness through the ends. This is why stylists recommend additional bundles for long lengths. It is not an upsell, it is compensating for a real physical effect.
There is also a natural taper in genuine raw hair. Every strand is finer at the tip than at the root, exactly as hair is on the head. Over a longer bundle that taper is more visible. Bundles that stay uniformly thick right to the very tip have usually been cut or processed to appear that way.
Why Raw Hair Length Behaves Differently to Processed Hair
Processed hair is often steam textured, which sets a uniform curl pattern across an entire batch. That uniformity makes length behaviour predictable, but it also means the pattern is artificial and relaxes over time as the hair is washed. Buyers frequently find that processed curly hair gradually loosens and appears to gain length over several months, because the set pattern is falling out.
Raw Indian temple hair does not do this. The pattern is the donor's own, so it returns to itself after every wash. The length you see after the first install is the length you will see two years later.
That consistency is an advantage, but it means you need to get the length right at the point of ordering rather than expecting the hair to relax into something longer.
What to Check When Your Bundles Arrive
Practical steps before you install.
Measure stretched, the same way the supplier did. Hold at the weft, pull the hair taut, measure to the tip. Comparing a hanging measurement against a stretched claim will always look short.
Measure to the tip of the longest strands, not to where the bulk of the hair ends. Natural taper means the very ends are finer, and that is correct for raw hair.
Check all bundles in an order together. Bundles for one install should be consistent with each other. Slight variation is normal in single donor hair, but a dramatic difference is not.
If something genuinely looks wrong, tell us. Our team reviews these directly and Kashesh Agarwaal personally reviews quality complaints, because the sorting standard is hers.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long is 20 inch hair?
A 20 inch bundle measures 20 inches when stretched straight. On straight hair it hangs at close to 20 inches, reaching around the mid chest to waist depending on your height. On curly hair it hangs noticeably shorter, because the curl pattern takes up length that was removed when the hair was measured stretched.
Why does my curly hair look shorter than the length I ordered?
Because all hair is measured stretched, and curly patterns compress that length when the hair hangs naturally. This is standard across the industry and is not specific to any supplier. To reach a specific point with curly hair, order longer than that point.
What length should I order for my height?
Position depends on height, torso proportion and where the bundles sit on your head. As a general guide, 20 inch reaches around mid chest to waist on someone 5 feet 4 to 5 feet 7. Tell us your height, texture and target point and our team will advise the length that produces it.
Do I need more bundles for longer lengths?
Yes. Every bundle weighs 100g regardless of length, so a longer bundle spreads that weight across more inches and has lower density per inch. Longer installs need additional bundles to maintain fullness through the ends.
Will my curly raw hair loosen and get longer over time?
No. Steam textured processed hair loosens as its artificial pattern falls out, which can make it appear longer over months. Raw Indian temple hair keeps the donor's natural pattern permanently, so it returns to the same length after every wash.
Author Bio:
Written with the sorting team at our Andhra Pradesh facility and reviewed by Kashesh Agarwaal, Founder and CEO of Adorable Raw Indian Hair. Kashesh has over six years of hands on experience sourcing raw Indian temple hair directly at South Indian temples including the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams, and sets the measurement and sorting standards every bundle is checked against. She has met stylists and salon owners across Atlanta, Philadelphia and Los Angeles to understand how raw hair performs after install. Listen to her podcast interview at https://youtu.be/evzdt2FAqn0