Shag haircuts for women have always been super edgy and funâand clearly, they’re not going anywhere. The vintage, rock-n-roll vibe of this layered cut is an obvious nod to icons like Jane Fonda and â70s rockstars, but it’s taken a modern turn in recent years and been reinvented in new ways like the wolf cut and the shaggy lob. Call them modern shag haircuts.
It makes sense why this choppy look is so popular: Itâs super flattering and extremely cool, without trying too hard. Often times, youâll see shags paired with curtain bangs, which give face-framing layers that look work with any face shape.
To get a shag haircut, you can usually expect three things: choppy, close-cropped layers, bangs, and a center part. That said, hairdressers say the style has evolved over the years and now has a looser definition. âI would say the most modern version is focused on movement just around your hairline,â says Amber Maynard Bolt, master stylist at Nine Zero One salon in Los Angeles. âYou donât need a ton of layers all over your head if you donât want to lose the density of your hair.â
That means there’s even more versatility with a shag cut than ever before. âDepending on your hair texture, the shag is a cut that can be worn extremely messy or seamlessly straight,â says stylist Anh Co Tran, though Bolt adds that you get the most effortless look if you have some natural texture to your hair. Then there’s this bonus: âThe face-framing aspect brings out or hides various points of the face.â
Want to try one? We rounded up some of the best shag haircuts for women out there, whether you want something edgy like Miley Cyrus, full and bouncy like Zendaya, or long and flowing like Halle Berry. Here are the coolest takes on the trend, including bob haircuts, pixie shags, and so much more. Ahead, tons of hair ideas for you to take to your stylist for your next cut.