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Short Wigs and Pixie Cuts

Short units are the lightest, coolest and cheapest way into wearing a wig, and they are also the least forgiving of a poor fit. On a long unit, hair falls over the edges of the cap and covers a multitude of problems. On a pixie there is nothing covering anything, and the fit becomes the entire question.

Cap fit is the whole thing

Measure your head before buying: around the hairline, front to nape, and ear to ear over the crown. Caps come in petite, average and large, and adjustable straps at the back cover a range rather than a mismatch. On a short unit the perimeter is visible at the temples, above the ears and across the nape, so a cap that is a size too big will lift and show. Combs sewn into the cap and a snug wig cap underneath do most of the securing work here, since there is not enough hair to hide clips or bands.

Who they suit

Anyone who wants to wear a unit through a Michigan summer, anyone in a job where long hair is inconvenient, and anyone who wants a big change without cutting. Short units also suit people who have never worn a wig, because there is so little to maintain. The one honest caution is that a pixie sits close to the face and offers no softening, so it draws attention to the hairline more than any other style, which makes the front of the cap worth spending on.

Styling a pixie

Short units respond to product in a way long ones do not. A little wax or pomade on the fingertips separates the pieces and stops the shape looking solid. Push the hair forward at the crown for volume, or slick the sides for a sharper look. Where a long unit is styled by combing, a short one is styled by pinching and placing.

Upkeep

They wash quickly, dry quickly and hold shape without effort, since the cut does the styling. Wash cool, shake out, and let it dry on a stand so the crown does not flatten. Because there is so little fiber, a short synthetic unit stays looking new far longer than a long one at the same price.

Trying one on

All four Kelly Beauty stores carry short units. If you are considering one, the cap fit is the part to check in person, and it takes thirty seconds: on with a wig cap, look at the temples and the nape, and see whether the perimeter sits flat against the skin.