Mannequin head & other advice please

[Kasine]

Hey! I'm going to be making my first fursuit soon, I wanted to use the balaclava method, but I can't find a decent mannequin head that's my size (and cheap). Most of the ones I can find have a circumference of about 21 or 22 inches, my head is 23 inches. I have found one that's 24 inches but it's a little more expensive (really, I'm getting stingy over paying an extra £3, but hey, I'm a student, I make cuts where I can xD).

So I was just wondering if having a head that's an inch or two too small will turn out really bad. I mean, it's all well and good saving a little money here and there but if I end up with something too small that doesn't fit I'm going to have to pay out more for more foam.

Also, probably some time in the future when I've practised a little more, I wanted to make an Umbreon and Renamon suit, but I'm not sure what kind of fur would be best to use. Neither are really fluffy so I was thinking of something that's textured more like cat hair perhaps, anyone know of anything better?