How To Put A Graduation Cap On: A Step-by-Step Guide To Wearing Your Mortarboard Correctly

Wearing a graduation cap correctly requires positioning the pointed skullcap at the back of your head with the flat mortarboard parallel to the floor, exactly one inch above your eyebrows. Secure the cap in place using color-matched bobby pins driven through the inner band, and position your academic tassel on the right side before the ceremony begins. Shifting the tassel to the left side occurs immediately following the conferral of your degree.

Anatomy of Academic Regalia: Essential Gear and Pre-Ceremony Preparation

Before attempting to wear your academic regalia, you must understand the physical components of the cap (traditionally called a mortarboard) and gather the necessary styling tools. Modern graduation caps consist of two primary parts: the flat, stiffened square top plate (the mortarboard) and the soft, form-fitting crown (the skullcap) that grips your head.

The crown is not symmetrical. It features a deeper, tapered pocket at the back—often containing an elastic band—and a shallower, rounded contour at the front. Preparing your hair and cap in advance ensures that the regalia remains stable throughout the processional, the presentation of diplomas, and the recessional.

Regalia Preparation and Styling Toolkit

• Essential Gear: Official academic mortarboard, color-matching tassel, and the metal tassel button (pre-installed on the center of the board).
• Securing Tools: 4 to 6 bobby pins that precisely match your hair color (e.g., black, brown, blonde, or silver) to ensure they remain invisible.
• Styling Tools: A fine-tooth comb, styling brush, and medium-hold hairspray or anti-frizz serum to manage flyaways along the hairline.
• Mandatory Prerequisite Standards: Compliance with the Intercollegiate Code on Academic Costume, which dictates that the cap must sit level on the head and must not be tilted back.
• Estimated Budget & Duration: $0 to $15 for styling accessories; 10 minutes for total setup and alignment.

Step-by-Step Instructions to Correctly Wear a Graduation Cap

Following a systematic approach prevents the most common regalia mistakes, such as wearing the cap backward, tilting it excessively, or losing the tassel during the ceremony. Use these steps to secure your cap comfortably.

Step 1: Identify the Front and Back of the Cap

Examine the interior of the skullcap. Locate the manufacturer's size tag or the elasticized band. The tag and the elastic portion are engineered to sit at the direct back of your head, cradling the occipital bone. The front of the cap features a smooth, shallow point designed to rest on your frontal bone.

If your cap does not have an elastic band or a tag, look at the shape of the crown: the deeper cutout with the most fabric depth belongs in the back, while the shallower curve belongs in the front.

Warning: Putting the graduation cap on backward is the single most common error. If the elastic band is resting on your forehead, the cap will slide off easily and will not sit level.

Step 2: Prepare Your Hair for the Fitted Crown

Your hairstyle directly dictates how securely the skullcap will grip your head. Highly voluminous hairstyles, high ponytails, top knots, and large buns will obstruct the flat seating of the cap.

If you plan to wear your hair up, opt for a low ponytail, a side braid, or a half-up style that sits below the occipital bone. If you have thick, curly, or highly textured hair, consider using a silk or satin head wrap underneath the cap, or securing the crown with structural hairpins along your natural parts.

Step 3: Align the Cap Parallel to the Ground

Place the cap onto your head, starting from the back and pulling it forward over your forehead. Position the front edge of the cap so that it rests exactly one inch above your eyebrows, which is roughly equivalent to the width of two fingers placed horizontally above your brow line.

Adjust the cap until the flat mortarboard is completely level and parallel to the ground.

Pro-Tip: Do not push the cap back to reveal your entire hairline or forehead. A tilted cap is highly susceptible to slipping off and violates standard academic dress codes.

Step 4: Secure the Cap with the Bobby Pin "X" Method

Once the cap is level, you must anchor it to your hair to prevent movement from wind or physical motion. Slide a bobby pin through the fabric of the inner sweatband and directly into your hair at a 45-degree angle.

For maximum security, insert a second bobby pin crossing over the first one to create an "X" shape. Repeat this interlocking "X" technique on both the left and right temples, and add two additional pins at the back of the cap near the elastic band if necessary.

Pro-Tip: Always insert bobby pins with the wavy side facing down against your scalp. The ridges are designed to grip the hair and lock the pin in place, while the flat side should face upward.

Step 5: Attach and Position the Tassel

Loop the main string of the tassel over the raised button in the exact center of the mortarboard. Gently tug the tassel to ensure the loop is fully seated beneath the lip of the button.

For undergraduate students, drape the tassel over the front-right temple of the cap. For master's and doctoral students, the tassel is traditionally worn on the left side from the very beginning of the ceremony, as graduate students do not participate in the symbolic "turning of the tassel."

Academic Regalia Sizing and Placement Specifications

To achieve a flawless fit, refer to the technical specifications below. This table outlines the standard measurements, angles, and protocols for wearing your cap based on your degree level.

Common Cap Alignment Failures & Emergency Ceremonial Fixes

Even with careful preparation, environmental factors like wind or personal hair texture can cause fit issues. Use these field-tested remedies to fix common problems quickly.

• Scenario 1: The Sliding Cap (Tapering Backward)

  
  
  
  • Root Cause: The cap is placed too far back on the crown of the head, or the hair is too silky to provide natural traction for the inner band.
  • Actionable Fix: Pull the front of the cap forward until it is parallel to the ground. Section a small portion of hair at the temple, backcomb it slightly with a comb to create texture, and anchor the inner sweatband directly to this textured section using crossed bobby pins.

• Scenario 2: The Cap Won't Fit Over a Voluminous Hairstyle

  
  
  
  • Root Cause: A high bun, thick braids, or natural curls are taking up space inside the skullcap, forcing the cap to sit too high on the head.
  • Actionable Fix: Do not force the cap down. Instead, use a "cap band" modification: slide a thin, flexible plastic headband through the interior loops of the skullcap, then place the headband onto your head. This allows the mortarboard to float securely above your hairstyle without requiring the skullcap to fully envelope your hair.

• Scenario 3: The Tassel Keeps Flying into Your Face

  
  
  
  • Root Cause: Static electricity or wind is causing the lightweight tassel strands to cling to your face or wrap around your glasses.
  • Actionable Fix: Lightly mist the hanging tassel with a small amount of medium-hold hairspray or anti-static spray from a distance of six inches. This weighs the individual threads down slightly and prevents static cling without making the tassel look stiff or wet.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which side does the tassel go on before you graduate?

For undergraduate candidates, the tassel must be placed on the right side of the graduation cap before the ceremony begins. It remains on the right side until the commencement speaker officially confers the degrees, at which point graduates are instructed to move the tassel to the left side.

Can you wear a graduation cap with curly hair or an afro?

Yes, you can wear a graduation cap comfortably with curly hair or an afro by securing the cap with long, heavy-duty bobby pins or by attaching a hidden headband to the inside of the crown. Many graduates with highly textured hair also use hair-matching head wraps or style their hair in flat twists or cornrows at the crown to create a flat surface for the cap.

How do you keep a graduation cap from falling off?

To keep your graduation cap from falling off, ensure it is oriented correctly with the elastic band in the back, and use the interlocking "X" bobby pin method. Insert at least four bobby pins through the inner band of the cap directly into your hair, focusing on the temples and the back of the head.

Are you supposed to tilt your graduation cap back?

No, you should not tilt your graduation cap back. According to traditional academic dress standards, the mortarboard must sit completely flat and parallel to the ground, positioned about one inch above your eyebrows. Tilting the cap back makes it unstable and increases the risk of it falling off.

Celebrate Your Academic Achievements in Perfect Style

Ensure you look polished and professional in every graduation photograph by securing your cap ahead of the processional. For more expert tips on coordinating your gown, hood, and academic accessories, browse our comprehensive regalia preparation resources.