Andy JonesThe shag haircut holds an iconic place in the hearts of fashionistas everywhere. It first gained its name and popularity in the 1970s as a unisex style, which was worn by notable celebrities like Joan Jett and Rod Stewart.
Due to this popularity, the look has become synonymous with the phrase “rocker chic” and is an easy way to pack a lot of punch into a simple cut. Since then, shag hairstyles have evolved with the fashion trends of every decade. From Jennifer Aniston to Meg Ryan and even more recently, Jennifer Lawrence and Alexa Chung, it’s been a go-to style for reinventing a star’s look that takes their hair from average to amazing.
50 Awesome Looks For a Shag Haircut Ideas You Can Rock Now
The defining characteristics of this easy hairstyle are the layers themselves, which feature blunt and tiered ends so that the volume around the crown of the head thins out and creates a narrow silhouette at the chin or shoulders. The chunky layers this hairstyle uses showcases the shift in color and texture easily and beautifully. When it comes to styling the hair in different modes, the shag look offers a lot of variety for any kind of occasion. The layers can be pulled back and teased to create voluminous braids and buns, or left long and curled into gentle waves for an effortless and pretty look.
As a hairstyle for women, the shag haircut looks amazing with many other modern trends, like an ombre or skinny highlight look. This includes everything from pretty, sleek and polished layers to simple and cute messy comb-and-go waves. The shag is a great way to get started with experimenting with other style trends because it’s such a forgiving and no-fuss start for so many looks. Check out these examples to see just how much versatility you can get from a shag haircut.
1. Soft Brunette Layers with Golden Highlights
Choose this romantic take on a chic shag haircut when you want your layers to hold their volume at the top. Soft waves frame your face in tiers that start with a fringe of side bangs and follow through to the shoulders. It’s a no-fuss look that takes minutes to style.
2. Sleek Chin-length Angled Shag Bob
The classic bob cut takes on new life when you add shaggy layers and a short bang. Skinny and bright highlights that contrast with darker roots add dimension to your short blonde hair and show off the precision cut short bob haircut in each tier. Use a flat iron to get that sharp short hairstyles for fine hair, and defined edge right at the chin.
3. Messy and Textured Beachy Blond Waves
Shag hairstyles have solidified their place as a trend-setting hairstyle given how simple it is to create an effortless look with their long, choppy layers. This is the perfect example of keeping it natural when wearing your layers in pretty, effortless waves. A little texturing product helps keep wisps in those breezy pieces without tangling.
4. Long in the Front Bold Shag Layers
This cut looks great if you have a thick head of hair that resists tight curls or a full straightening. An angle cut lets you lighten up the volume without going flat. Keeping it long at the front gives your bangs something blend in with to keep them from sticking out too much while short.
5. Punk-inspired Pixie Shag with Long Bangs
Shag layers make this light brown hair pixie-cut with bangs work well for anyone, but especially when you want the option to sweep it to the side or style the back with a little product to make it spiky and fun. It’s a cute look best suited for when you need just enough versatility in hair ideas without having a fussy cut that’s hard to run your fingers through and get going.
6. Tousled Layers Fall Just Below the Chin
When you need a modern hairstyle that lets you shift from corporate meetings into romantic nights out, a look like this is the perfect balance between professional and fun-loving. The short layers make it simple to wear down all day without losing volume. Freshen it up with a few spritzes of hairspray when you’re ready to go out on the town.
7. Angled Blond Bob with Chunky Shag Layers
As a cute hairstyle for girls or women of any age, this chunky little blond bob shows off all the best features of this haircut. Paired with dark roots and lighter, all-over sections, you really see the dimension of color that a tiered look allows. A deep side part or one that cuts straight through the middle make a beautiful frame for your face either way.
8. Long Highlights and Two-Toned Shaggy Layers
The darker layer underneath the highlighted, shaggy tiers offers up a unique contrast that looks fun and young, especially when tousled with a texturing product and worn loose. This cute and easy hairstyle would look great when worn in a bun to show off how the colors shift drastically. A loose braid would also let you pull it back while still enjoying its shaggy look.
9. Simple and Pretty Blunt Shoulder-length Shag
A choppy cut can still look soft and wispy when it’s worn in shaggy layers like this. Pair it with a part to one side for a casual look, but make sure to tease up the back so you have the volume that balances out the narrowing effect the tiers have as they shift down to the shoulders.
10. Sleek and Gorgeous Platinum Blond V-cut Tiers
With all the volume gathered around the crown, you can rock this look with short or long layered hair. It looks best when worn long so that the fringe frames the face, which would flatter oval or round faces best. This is a great layered hairstyle for funky colors, too.
11. Spunky, Flirty Shag with Cropped Bangs and Crown
When you want a sporty and fun shag, this is the way to wear it. Thin hair gains volume from the tiered cut, especially when your stylist uses a razor’s edge to create wispy ends. Then, they can float around the face in light, airy pieces that look effortless.
12. Breezy Mid-length Razor-cut Blond Highlights
The contrast of dark roots and bright highlights really stand out when you use shag layers to show off their dimension. A beautiful cut like this helps thick hair hold volume without creating awkward pieces that stick out in an unruly fashion. Go from corporate maven to trendy momma with a little texturing cream.
13. Dark Chocolate Bluntly Angled Shag
A deep, rich brown like this frames your face and adds warmth to your complexion, so an angled bob shag makes the most of that effect without overwhelming your features. Use the reverse flat iron trick to get those effortless waves that make this a modern hairstyle perfect for any occasion.
14. Stylish Side Part for Easy Volume
Parting a short shag haircut to the side really shows off how those choppy layers take on a life of their own. You can make this look work with any outfit, but it’s a great way to show off a minimalist style. As a hairstyle for women, shag cuts blend style and simplicity perfectly.
15. Subtle Auburn Highlights That Add Texture
When you need to lighten the load for a head full of thick hair, the shag makes achieving a pretty hairstyle within your reach. A little styling pomade goes a long way towards creating dynamic, highlighted sections piece by piece that will stay put without clumping together awkwardly.
16. Cute Cropped Crown and Chin-Length Layers
Because the shag haircut is universally workable for any face shape and hair color, you can really play with the length and color choice of your desire. Start short, like this look, and go for an overall chestnut hue that works for any season. The shorter back helps you style some volume without needing a lot of product or teasing.
17. Long V-cut Layers with Sandy Blond Sections
This looks works great for coarse hair that you can tame with a good, non-greasy pomade. A little mousse at the roots helps hold the volume up if your hair is heavy and hard to style for all-day wear. The dark roots and blonde hair streaks give those choppy layers a beautiful transition from dark to light.
18. Messy-chic Pixie Shag for Thick Hair
Another great example of how versatile a shag haircut is this look, a pixie cut that leaves some length to play around with. If you have super curly hairstyle, this is an excellent way to relax those coils because it takes away some of the bulk. This curly pixie cut makes it simple to keep them looking too puffy and helps them accept styling products without looking greasy.
19. Adorable Shag Waves in a Deep Side Part
Whether your hair is naturally wavy or needs a little help to get romantic wisps like this, shag layers make it easy for you to steal this look and make it your own. A deep side part shows off the choppy, uneven layers that add so much fun and whimsy to this cute and easy hairstyle.
20. Blunt A-line Bob with Shaggy Long Bangs
Combine cool and pretty with a shag haircut that shows off extreme angles like this one. You can make it sleek with pomade and a flat iron, or you can use a bit of mousse and hairspray for a messy-chic style. Ask your stylist to step the bangs down from short at the brow to longer around the face.
21. Long Layers That Add Volume for Thin Hair
One of the trademark details of a proper shag haircut is how the layers fall in tiers that puff at the crown and narrow around the face and neck. This lets you have a lot of length and volume without the need to backcomb and style it several times a day. That’s perfect for a festival look like this.
22. Flirty Shag Sections with Soft Wisps
A shag that wisps around the chin gives you a fun and flirty vibe. There’s just enough poof at the back with a cut like this to make it a cute and sporty look for any age. It’s simple to style with just a few scrunches of the hand and a bit of hairspray to hold it in place.
23. Chunky Blond Highlights with Blunt Cut Sections
Ultra-bright sections stand out beautifully against darker brunette pieces when the shaggy layers have blunt ends like this. It’s simple to wear it sleek with a little heat styling, but let it air dry and add in texturing product to get adorable beach vibes. A cute topknot would be a great twist on the look.
24. Mature, Sleek Layers for a Beautiful Frame
Shag hairstyles work for women of every age and with every face shape, so don’t be afraid to rock a look like this no matter what. Natural highlights are easy to show off when you style the layers so that the end flip back away from the face. Bangs blend with the crown in a way that complements every hair color.
25. Long A-Line with Sleek Blunt Layers
A subtle shag hairstyle is a great way to experiment with the kind of looks these choppy layers can give you. By asking for a gentle shift between the tiers, you won’t have to fuss with chunky pieces that aren’t always easy to place when you wear it this short. The gentle blend and blunt cut create a more uniform look.
26. Simple Razor-cut Bangs and Shoulder-length Shag
Short bangs really rock the way this shoulder length hair frames the face. Wear it with or without highlighted sections since you’ll get a lot of shift and movement either way. By keeping the bangs short, you can style the rest of the layers into a pretty hairstyle that won’t get in your face.
27. Curly Shag Layers with Easy Volume and Shape
Curls love a shag hairstyle since it’s a great way to lose weight without compromising on the kind of length, which makes this such a cute hairstyle for girls with lots of curls. You can ask for a super short crown to concentrate the volume at the top or go for long layers that transition with a more uniform look from brow to chin.
28. Cute Side-swept and Highlighted Shaggy Pixie
Short cuts can seem intimidating for many women because it’s hard to know where to take the styling after chopping off that much hair. Sticking with shag layers is a great way to go bold without risking too much when it comes to versatility. The blended bangs can be swept to either side for sort and sporty style.
29. Lovely Soft Layers with a Deep Side Part
When shag hairstyles are paired with these effortless waves, it brings out a romantic vibe that looks so elegant and beautiful no matter what your face shape may be. You can keep the side part casual and uneven with a tuck behind your ear, or you can glam it up with bejeweled pins.
30. Striking Shag Bob and Long Fringe Bangs
Shag hairstyles typically start short and go long, so inverting the trend with a bob like is a funky take on an already awesome look. By exaggerating the length of the bangs, you can score a rocker chic vibe without a lot of fussy styling. Use a non-greasy pomade to give your hair plenty of volume and texture.
31. Flirty Ash Blonde Hair Highlights in Soft Waves
The answer to limp, thin hair is an easy hairstyle that isn’t too long and doesn’t hold its weight at the ends. That’s just one of the reasons why a shag cut is so universal. There aren’t many modern hairstyles that women with thin hair can try without a lot of product and time. A bit of mousse can help you get these effortless pieces.
32. Soft Razor-cut Romantic Wavy Layers
When you’re experimenting with really rich color treatment that strays outside the natural hues, it can be tough to deal with how that color fades or transitions with wear. Shag layers show off the dimensions of any color treatment, but they’re especially suited for letting the light play well with sections in different stages of growth.
33. Long Shag Tiers with Soft Short Bangs
A subtle ombre shift like this pairs beautifully with shaggy layers that start with a fringe bang. As the tiers blend together in soft, wispy sections, the entire look takes on a romantic and elegantly casual look. These longer layers can be pulled back into a messy ponytail or bun for extra fun.
34. Choppy Mid-length Shag and Bright Highlights
If you need to lighten up a head full of thick hair, keep the shag a medium length and opt for a dark base color. Add a few razor-thin highlights in every section for contrast. This will give your hair a lighter feel without sacrificing all the volume and strength that much hair has.
35. Stunning Silver A-line Shaggy Bob and Bangs
Taking platinum blond to that silver edge is a great way to go bold without getting too experimental in case you need to be able to tame it down for the office or everyday errands. Those golden overtones will pop out best with a shag style like the one here. As the color shifts to gray, the shaggy layers play up the contrasting dynamic.
36. Easy Soft Blond Shoulder-length Blend
Shag cuts don’t always depend on chunky layers to pull off the same effortless look. When you keep the bangs and the crown pieces long and let them blend in with shorter tiers towards the bottom, you can keep the volume evenly distributed. This way, it’s easy to keep the style minimal and professional when it’s time to dress it up.
37. Soft Pink Mermaid Highlights in Choppy Layers
Hair with natural waves can be difficult to pair with haircuts that work with the unpredictable curls. If you’re into trendy rainbow color treatments and need something unconventional for your unruly hair, a shag hairstyle helps you get the best of both worlds. A funky platinum blond with pink highlights looks great with choppy layers like these.
38. Modern Long Tiers with a Blunt Cut
Mix and match razor-cut wisps around the crown and bangs with longer layers that end bluntly for a super modern take on this classic style. The shag can be worn in so many different ways that there’s no wrong way to go about it. Blunted ends like these create a striking look whether they’re tousled or flat ironed.
39. Cool and Chic Textured A-line Bob
It can be a challenge to style shorter haircuts, especially when you’re ready to grow them out. Choose an A-line shaggy bob like this when you’re between stages or if you want to experiment with going shorter. The long pieces that frame the face give you the option to part it to the side or straight down the middle for completely different looks with just one haircut.
40. Sweet and Romantic Beachy Shag Layers
The soft, V-shaped line of a classic shag cut with wispy ends are an excellent way to get that super feminine look that you can wear any time of the year. While these beach waves are a gorgeous look for summer, their versatile nature suits any season. Pull the layers back in a loose but elegant bun for holiday parties.
41. Sun-kissed Brunette Curls in Shaggy Tiers
Losing the weight of a long hairstyle can really wake up waves and turn them into adorable curls with a shag cut like this. In order to set them just right, work in a little styling mousse while your hair is wet, then scrunch them by hand as you blow dry on a gentle setting.
42. Contrasting Short Fringe with Long Layers
Sleek, shiny locks look amazing in a shag cut that keeps the crown short and then goes for long layers that end past the shoulders. The illusion this creates frames the face beautifully, giving you a narrow profile from brow to the neck. For a retro look, take the bangs up and give them a blunt edge.
43. Moody Tousled Tiers Down Past the Shoulders
The bedhead trend looks effortlessly stylish with shaggy tiers that leave the bangs long and blended in with the rest of a thick, flowing mane. By using a razor cut on the ends, they stay wispy and light and won’t be weighed down due to the length, which is why the shag works so well with heavy hair that’s kept long like this.
44. Rock and Roll Vibes for a Dark Choppy Shag
This is the look Joan Jett is known for popularizing, so it’s no wonder that it’s still a great choice for women who want to lead the way when it comes to trends. When you’re ready to make a statement, wear this style with a lot of volumes and keep the edges short for plenty of movement.
45. Chunky Waves and Highlights Angled Bob
All the ease of a short hairstyle and none of the sacrifice of keeping a sweet frame around the face is yours with a cut like this. Shags are such an amazing way to get the best of both worlds when it comes to comb-and-go looks that still add some excitement to your.
46. Effortless Shag Layers in Rich Warm Tones
This throwback style shag looks youthful and fresh even now, so try it for yourself if you want that vintage look while staying on trend. Blending the bangs with the top layer will help soften the overall frame, and it helps it work with any hair texture. Blow dry it while scrunching to keep it messy and full.
47. Shaggy Layers in Waves To the Shoulder
If your hair doesn’t fall in natural waves like this, then using the flat iron curl trick will help you make the most of this shag look. You can keep it sleek and straight if you want, too, but the curls play up the contrast in highlights and lowlights with any color treatment, but especially the blonde highlights and golden shifts shown here.
48. Uneven Blunt Bangs with Long Blunt Tiers
Chunky pieces and an uneven, high-cut fringe are bold looks that are even easier to pull off in shaggy layers. The subtle ombre that transitions from chocolate dark brown hair to golden blond showcase how the different tiers blend together. This is the kind of funky, rocker-inspired look that you can still wear to work any day.
49. Long and Youthful Shag with Soft Wispy Layers
When you have long, thick hair, getting that romantic and breezy look is almost impossible. Having a shag cut that’s thinned out from the top to the bottom lets you keep the length and get that windswept style without any extra work. Keep the bangs and topmost layer at a chin length to avoid an uneven shift through the tiers.
50. Easy and Modern Light Brunette Blunt Shag
Some women can shy away from a shag hairstyle because they’re worried about the shortened top layers and how challenging it could be to style those through a variety of looks. Shag layers can be worn much longer, though, as you can see here. There’s still plenty of volume and versatility when you use longer tiers and this is a great way to wear a shag style for your first time.
50 Gorgeously Styled Shag Haircut Ideas Everyone Should Try
As you can see, the shag hairstyle can be worn in so many ways that there’s a perfect look for everyone. Quick, effortless styling creates a lovely frame for any face shape that doesn’t take long or requires a lot of products to pull off. When you want to show off a vibrant color or play with texture, a shag haircut is a great way to feature fun details like highlights and beach waves. Whether you wear it short or long, the shag is an awesome hair idea that never goes out of style.
