The correct way to measure for a helmet is to use a cloth tape measure, the kind seamstresses use. It should wrap around your head just above the eyebrows and rest behind the tops of your ear lobes next to you skull. Get a measurement there and use that to determine which manufacturers' sizes fall within that measurement range..

http://www.harley-performance.com/helmet-measuring.html

http://ezinearticles.com/?Motorcycle-Helmet---Proper-Fitting&id=452317