diff --git a/include/stdx/ct_string.hpp b/include/stdx/ct_string.hpp
index ce9bff3..8bb42bc 100644
--- a/include/stdx/ct_string.hpp
+++ b/include/stdx/ct_string.hpp
@@ -242,5 +242,10 @@ template <std::size_t N>
 // NOLINTNEXTLINE(*-avoid-c-arrays)
 map_value_helper(char const (&)[N]) -> map_value_helper<ct_string<N>>;
 } // namespace detail
+
+template <ct_string S>
+consteval auto shrink() -> decltype(detail::shrink<S>()) {
+    return {};
+}
 } // namespace v1
 } // namespace stdx
diff --git a/include/stdx/type_traits.hpp b/include/stdx/type_traits.hpp
index e35b729..99ed0fc 100644
--- a/include/stdx/type_traits.hpp
+++ b/include/stdx/type_traits.hpp
@@ -223,8 +223,16 @@ template <typename T> struct shrinkwrap {
     using type = T;
 };
 
+template <auto V> struct shrinkwrap_value {
+    using is_shrinkwrapped_value = void;
+    constexpr static auto value = V;
+};
+
 template <typename T>
 concept is_shrinkwrapped = requires { typename T::is_shrinkwrapped; };
+template <typename T>
+concept is_shrinkwrapped_value =
+    requires { typename T::is_shrinkwrapped_value; };
 
 template <typename T,
           auto F = []()->auto (*)() -> shrinkwrap<T> { return nullptr; }>
@@ -232,11 +240,22 @@ consteval auto shrink() {
     return F;
 }
 
+template <auto T,
+          auto F = []()->auto (*)() -> shrinkwrap_value<T> { return nullptr; }>
+consteval auto shrink() {
+    return F;
+}
+
 template <typename T>
 concept is_shrunk = requires(T const &t) {
     { t()() } -> is_shrinkwrapped;
 };
 
+template <typename T>
+concept is_shrunk_value = requires(T const &t) {
+    { t()() } -> is_shrinkwrapped_value;
+};
+
 template <typename T> consteval auto maybe_expand() -> T;
 template <is_shrunk T>
 consteval auto maybe_expand() -> typename decltype(T{}()())::type;
@@ -257,6 +276,10 @@ constexpr auto maybe_expand(T &&) ->
         "object: use expand_t<T>{} instead if this is what you want");
     return R{};
 }
+template <is_shrunk_value T> constexpr auto maybe_expand(T &&) {
+    using R = decltype(std::remove_cvref_t<T>{}()());
+    return R::value;
+}
 } // namespace detail
 
 template <typename T> consteval auto shrink() -> decltype(detail::shrink<T>()) {
diff --git a/test/type_traits.cpp b/test/type_traits.cpp
index ecffbce..ab6ee4e 100644
--- a/test/type_traits.cpp
+++ b/test/type_traits.cpp
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 #include <stdx/ct_conversions.hpp>
+#include <stdx/ct_string.hpp>
 #include <stdx/type_traits.hpp>
 
 #include <catch2/catch_test_macros.hpp>
@@ -244,6 +245,12 @@ TEST_CASE("type shrinkage (by type)", "[type_traits]") {
     STATIC_CHECK(std::is_same_v<stdx::expand_t<X>, C>);
 }
 
+TEST_CASE("two shrunk types are considered the same", "[type_traits]") {
+    using X = stdx::shrink_t<C>;
+    using Y = stdx::shrink_t<C>;
+    STATIC_CHECK(std::is_same_v<X, Y>);
+}
+
 TEST_CASE("type shrinkage (by value)", "[type_traits]") {
     auto c = C{};
     auto x = stdx::shrink(c);
@@ -253,6 +260,35 @@ TEST_CASE("type shrinkage (by value)", "[type_traits]") {
     STATIC_CHECK(std::is_same_v<decltype(y), C>);
 }
 
+TEST_CASE("value shrinkage for ct_strings", "[type_traits]") {
+    using namespace stdx::literals;
+    constexpr auto x = stdx::shrink<"hello"_cts>();
+    constexpr auto y = stdx::expand(x);
+    STATIC_CHECK(y == "hello"_cts);
+}
+
+TEST_CASE("two shrunk ct_strings are considered the same type",
+          "[type_traits]") {
+    constexpr auto x = stdx::shrink<"hello">();
+    constexpr auto y = stdx::shrink<"hello">();
+    STATIC_CHECK(std::is_same_v<decltype(x), decltype(y)>);
+}
+
+namespace {
+template <auto T> consteval auto return_expanded() { return stdx::expand(T); }
+} // namespace
+
+TEST_CASE("pass shrunk ct_string as template argument", "[type_traits]") {
+    using namespace stdx::literals;
+    STATIC_CHECK(return_expanded<stdx::shrink<"hello"_cts>()>() == "hello"_cts);
+}
+
+TEST_CASE("non-shrunk value can be expanded (with no effect)",
+          "[type_traits]") {
+    constexpr auto x = stdx::expand(42);
+    STATIC_CHECK(x == 42);
+}
+
 TEST_CASE("nth type in pack", "[type_traits]") {
     STATIC_REQUIRE(
         std::is_same_v<stdx::nth_t<2, bool, char, float, int>, float>);