Scarlett Petite by Jon Renau: The Beach Wave Wig That Finally Fits

A SmartLace® front. An open capless construction. A petite fit built for smaller heads. Here's why Scarlett Petite is the medium-length wavy wig smaller-headed women have been waiting for.


If you have a smaller head circumference and you've been wearing wigs for any length of time, you already know the problem. Average-size caps that gap at the temples. Caps that slide forward throughout the day. A front hairline that sits too low on the forehead. The constant, low-level awareness that the wig isn't quite sitting where it should be — and the mental energy that goes into managing that throughout a full day.

The Scarlett Petite by Jon Renau (Item 5986) was built to solve exactly that problem.

Part of Jon Renau's SmartLace Collection, the Scarlett Petite is a medium-length beach wave wig designed from the ground up for women with smaller head circumferences. Its petite cap construction fits properly. Its SmartLace® lace front disappears against the skin. Its open capless construction keeps the scalp cool throughout the day. And its pre-set beach wave style requires nothing more than a shake to look effortlessly beautiful.

Here's the full story of what makes it work — and why the petite fit is the detail that changes everything.


The Style: Beach Waves That Frame, Flow, and Flatter

Let's start with the look — because the Scarlett Petite's beach wave silhouette is genuinely one of the most universally flattering medium-length styles in the Jon Renau lineup.

Beach waves have a quality that few other styles match: they look effortful without requiring effort. The soft, flowing wave pattern creates natural-looking volume and movement throughout the length, frames the face with dimension at the front, and catches light from multiple angles in a way that flat or uniformly styled hair simply doesn't. The result is a style that looks like you spent time on it — while arriving pre-set and ready to wear the moment you put it on.

The Scarlett Petite's proportions are designed to maximize these qualities. A 10-inch bang creates a generous, face-softening fringe. A crown of 11.25 inches provides full, flowing coverage at the top. Sides of 9.25 inches frame the face with soft, waving layers. And a nape of 5.5 inches keeps the back close and controlled rather than heavy or overwhelming.

Together these lengths create a medium-length silhouette that sits beautifully at the shoulders — long enough to feel feminine and full, short enough to stay manageable, light, and completely comfortable for all-day everyday wear.

The style works across a broad range of face shapes. The beach waves add width and volume in all the right places for narrower face shapes, while the flowing movement creates softness that balances stronger features. Whether your face is oval, round, heart-shaped, or square, the Scarlett Petite's wavy medium-length silhouette has something to offer.


The Petite Cap: Why This Is the Most Important Feature on the Page

Before discussing the SmartLace® front or the capless construction, we need to spend real time on the feature that makes the Scarlett Petite specifically worth discussing: the petite cap sizing.

What "Petite" Actually Means

In wig construction, a petite cap is sized for head circumferences that fall below the average range — typically under 21 inches measured around the fullest part of the head. The cap is narrower at the temples, shorter from front to nape, and smaller overall in all the dimensions that determine how a wig sits on and around the head.

This sounds straightforward — but its practical impact on wearability is enormous.

What Happens When the Cap Doesn't Fit

An average-size cap worn on a smaller head creates a cascade of fit problems that no amount of adjusting fully corrects.

The cap sits too wide at the temples, leaving visible gaps or bunching on either side. The crown sits too high, creating an unnatural amount of lift above the head. The front hairline lands too far down on the forehead — below where a natural hairline would sit — making the wig look placed rather than grown. The sides may bulge or fold where there isn't enough head to fill them out. And the whole construction tends to shift throughout the day as there simply isn't enough head circumference to keep it anchored securely.

Women with smaller heads who've worn average-size caps know all of these problems intimately. They've developed workarounds — wig grip bands, more tape, constant repositioning. But workarounds are exactly that: compensations for a fit that was never quite right to begin with.

What Happens When the Cap Does Fit

The Scarlett Petite eliminates these problems by being sized correctly from the start. The temples sit where they should. The crown height is proportional to a smaller head. The front hairline lands at a natural position on the forehead. The sides lie flat rather than gapping or folding. And the whole construction sits securely and stays in place throughout the day without constant management.

For women who've spent years compensating for ill-fitting average caps, wearing a properly fitting petite cap for the first time is often described as transformative — not because the wig has changed, but because it finally fits the way a wig is supposed to fit.


SmartLace®: A Lace Front Built to Disappear

The SmartLace® front is Jon Renau's proprietary lace front technology — and its refinements over standard lace front construction are meaningful in everyday wearing conditions.

A standard lace front uses sheer lace along the front hairline to create a skin-blending effect. The quality of that effect varies significantly depending on the precision of the lace construction, how flat the panel lies against the skin, and how well the lace tone matches different skin tones.

SmartLace® addresses all three of those variables. The lace is finer and more precisely engineered than standard lace front panels. It lies flatter against the skin, reducing the chance of lifting or visible edges at the hairline. And it blends more convincingly across a wider range of skin tones — creating a consistently undetectable front hairline in natural daylight, office lighting, and close-proximity social settings.

For the Scarlett Petite's beach wave style, this matters acutely. Beachy waves naturally move away from the face and draw the eye toward the front hairline and temples. Every styling position — waves tucked behind the ear, hair swept to one side, fringe falling across the forehead — brings the lace front into direct view. SmartLace® ensures it simply doesn't show in any of those positions.

The SmartLace® front also enables the Scarlett Petite's waves to be styled away from the face without exposing an artificial hairline edge — a freedom that's as practical as it is liberating for women who want to wear their wig in multiple positions throughout the day.


Open Cap Construction: The Breathing Difference

The back and sides of the Scarlett Petite use open cap (capless) construction — and this is the feature that most directly determines how the wig feels during extended wear.

What Open Cap Construction Is

Open cap or capless construction means the hair is attached to open, spaced wefted strips rather than to a solid panel of cap material. The gaps between the wefts allow air to circulate actively through the cap and to the scalp — creating a level of ventilation that closed cap constructions fundamentally cannot match.

Why It Matters

The practical effect is immediately noticeable in warm conditions, during physical activity, or simply over the course of a long day. Closed cap wigs trap heat against the scalp — creating warmth, moisture, and the kind of cumulative discomfort that makes extended wear progressively less pleasant. Open cap wigs let the scalp breathe continuously, keeping the temperature under the wig significantly closer to ambient temperature throughout the day.

For women experiencing hair loss from chemotherapy, alopecia, or other medical causes, scalp sensitivity makes this ventilation particularly valuable. Sensitive scalps benefit enormously from reduced heat and moisture buildup, and the open cap's continuous airflow minimizes both.

For active women, women in warm climates, and anyone who wears their wig through full days of activity, the difference between a closed cap and an open cap over an eight-hour day is substantial.

The Trade-Off — and Why It Doesn't Matter Here

Open cap construction does mean the cap interior is more visible if the wig is lifted or turned inside out. For everyday wearing purposes — which is all that matters — this is completely irrelevant. What matters is what the wig looks like while being worn, and the Scarlett Petite's SmartLace® front and pre-set wave pattern ensure that looks entirely natural from every external angle.


Jon Renau Colors: Dimensional Shading That Reads as Real

The Scarlett Petite is available in Jon Renau's FS (Frosted/Shaded) color tones — a multitonal color system that blends darker root shading with lighter, highlighted mid-lengths and ends to create the naturally dimensional, grown-out color appearance of real hair.

4/33 — A rich, warm dark brunette with auburn undertones and natural-looking depth throughout. A classic, versatile shade that suits a wide range of complexions.

12FS8 — A warm medium blonde with shaded roots and golden highlights — the FS toning gives this shade a genuinely natural, lived-in look with root depth that flat blonde colors completely lack.

FS2V/31V — A deep, cool brunette with violet undertones and shaded root variation — a distinctive, sophisticated shade with real depth and visual interest.

Jon Renau's FS color system is particularly relevant for beach wave styles. Waves catch light from multiple angles simultaneously — meaning color dimension is more visible, and more impactful, in a wavy style than in a straight one. The FS tones' multidimensional character shows beautifully through the Scarlett Petite's wave pattern, giving the color the same depth and movement as the style itself.

Colors shown: 4/33 and 12FS8.


Shake and Wear: What Low-Maintenance Really Means

The Scarlett Petite is made from standard synthetic fiber — which means no heat styling, but also means something genuinely valuable: the style is pre-set at the manufacturing level and arrives ready to wear without any styling required.

This is worth understanding clearly. The beach wave pattern isn't something you need to create — it's already there. You don't need a curling iron to achieve the waves. You don't need a diffuser to enhance them. You don't need a routine to maintain them. The waves are built into the fiber, they remain consistent wash after wash, and they refresh with nothing more than a light mist of cool water and gentle finger-styling between washes.

For women who want a beautiful medium-length wavy style without a styling routine — whether because they don't have the time, the skill, or the energy for daily styling — the Scarlett Petite's pre-set construction is a genuine lifestyle advantage.

The trade-off is that the style cannot be significantly altered with heat tools. If you want heat styling flexibility in a wavy wig, Jon Renau's HD (Heat Defiant) Collection offers styles like the Heat (Item 5140) that support curling irons and flat irons within a safe temperature range. But if you want effortless beach waves that look great every day without effort — the Scarlett Petite is precisely that.


Who Is Scarlett Petite Best For?

The Scarlett Petite's specific combination of petite fit, SmartLace® front, open cap breathability, and pre-set beach wave style creates a wig that's exceptional for several distinct groups.

Women with smaller head circumferences who've struggled with average-size caps that never quite fit are the Scarlett Petite's primary audience — and for them, it represents one of the most straightforwardly impactful wig upgrades available. A properly fitting cap changes everything about the wearing experience.

Women experiencing hair loss from alopecia, chemotherapy, hormonal changes, or other causes will find the Scarlett Petite's SmartLace® hairline, open cap breathability, and lightweight 3.5 oz construction create a comfortable, natural-looking daily option. The petite cap's secure fit is particularly valuable for women with no or minimal bio hair to help anchor the wig.

Active women and women in warm climates who need a wig that stays cool and comfortable through full active days will appreciate the open cap's continuous airflow. The beach wave style also holds up beautifully through activity — the waves resettle naturally after movement rather than becoming flattened or distorted.

Women who want low-maintenance style without sacrificing quality or appearance will find the Scarlett Petite's shake-and-wear design, SmartLace® front, and dimensional FS color options deliver a consistently beautiful result with minimal daily effort.

First-time wig buyers with smaller heads will find the Scarlett Petite a particularly forgiving introduction to wig wearing. The proper fit eliminates the most common early struggles. The pre-set wave style eliminates the need for styling skill. And the SmartLace® front eliminates the hairline anxiety that comes with learning to wear a wig confidently.


Caring for the Scarlett Petite: Keeping the Waves Beautiful

A well-maintained Scarlett Petite can provide four to six months of quality daily wear — and considerably longer with less frequent use. The following practices make the biggest difference.

Wash every 8 to 12 wears using a sulfate-free shampoo and conditioner formulated for synthetic wigs. Cool water only — hot water can distort synthetic fiber and alter the wave pattern. Gently submerge, swish, and rinse without scrubbing, wringing, or rubbing.

Refresh between washes with a light mist of cool water and gentle finger-styling. The beach wave pattern will reshape naturally as the fiber dries — no products or tools required.

Air dry on a wig stand after washing. Never apply heat to a wet synthetic wig. Allow the waves to reform naturally as the fiber dries.

Store on a wig stand between wears to maintain the cap shape, protect the wave pattern from compression, and prevent tangling.

No heat tools — the Scarlett Petite's standard synthetic fiber cannot withstand heat styling. The beauty of this style is that it doesn't need heat — the waves are already there.


Scarlett Petite vs. Scarlett Average: Which One Is Right for You?

The Scarlett is available in both petite and average cap sizes — and choosing between them comes down to one measurement.

If your head circumference is approximately 21 inches or under, the Scarlett Petite is almost certainly the better choice. The petite construction is sized specifically for smaller circumferences and will provide a significantly more secure, correctly positioned, and comfortable fit than the average size.

If your head circumference is 21 to 23 inches, the Scarlett in average size is the appropriate fit.

When in doubt, measure before ordering. The difference between wearing the right cap size and the wrong one is not subtle — it determines whether the wig sits correctly, stays in place, and looks natural versus requiring constant management throughout the day.


Final Thoughts: When Fit Changes Everything

The Scarlett Petite by Jon Renau (Item 5986) is the wig that smaller-headed women have been waiting for — a genuinely beautiful beach wave style with a SmartLace® front and open cap breathability, built in a cap size that actually fits.

The waves are effortless. The hairline disappears. The cap breathes. And for the first time, the whole thing stays exactly where it's supposed to be.

For women who've spent years compensating for average caps that were never quite right, the Scarlett Petite isn't just a better wig. It's a fundamentally better experience of wearing a wig.


Explore the full Jon Renau SmartLace Collection for styles across multiple lengths and textures — each featuring SmartLace® lace front technology in both average and petite cap sizes to ensure the right fit for every head.


Quick Reference — Scarlett Petite by Jon Renau

Feature Detail
Brand Jon Renau
Item Number 5986
Style Name Scarlett Petite
Collection SmartLace Collection
Cap Construction SmartLace® lace front + open cap (capless)
Fiber Synthetic
Heat Friendly No
Texture Wavy — beach wave
Length Category Medium
Bang Length 10"
Crown Length 11.25"
Side Length 9.25"
Nape Length 5.5"
Weight 3.5 oz
Cap Size Petite (also available in Average — Item 5986P)
Colors Shown 4/33, 12FS8
Available Colors FS2V/31V, 12FS8, 4/33
June 23, 2024 — MyHairMail Team