If there’s anything that’s always in style, it’s nostalgia. Some of the more popular beauty trends we see today include bright, colorful shadows that bring us back to the ’80s; rhinestones and gems applied around the eyes, a throwback from the early 2000s; and of course, the shag haircut, which harkens back to ’70s.
The distinctly layered style was also huge in 2019, but this year, it’s become impossible to ignore again thanks to hairstylists and celebrities. It’s the cut’s inherently rebellious nature that’s kept it relevant over decades. Women are tired of being told to hide their natural textures. They want to wear it or at least have the option, and a well-cut shag gives them that freedom. Highlighting the haircut with various balayage, with ombre or just a bit of lowlights here and there is a great way to make it stand out even more.
a bowl mullet, which has more shorter pieces at the front than a traditional mullet and lots of layers looks pretty shaggy
a messy shaggy haircut with Birkin bangs, although they may require some maintenance they are worth the effort
a pretty short black shaggy bob with a bit of mess and much volume is a stylish and cool idea to rock
a shaggy edgy midi cut with choppy layers, with crisp bangs to softly frame the face and for a dramatic look
a short pixie worn shaggy, a pixie is less rigid, slightly more feminine, and it gives off a more ‘undone’ vibe that still seems effortlessly smart
a shoulder-length layered shaggy haircut with blonde highlights and overgrown bangs is a bold and cool idea
a wavy shag haircut is for those with naturally wavy hair who want a low-maintenance and laidback look that’s still stylish and sexy
Alexa Chung with midlength curtain bangs and long highlighted layers, she accentuates the shag look even more with her hair pulled back at the sides.
Anne Hathaway's take on the subtle shag has face-framing frontal layers that almost qualify as bangs
Gabrielle Union wearing an intensely layered pixie cut, further proof that shaggy styles don't require a ton of length
Kaia Gerber just debuted a new shaggy shoulder-length haircut with blunt bangs for a bold and cool look
In 2022, the shag cut can be as much or as little of a commitment as one wants it to be. It can be short, long, drastic, subtle — but though the possibilities are endless, most shags are characterized by their volume-creating layers and face-framing shapes. As a whole, a shag is cut by pulling everything forward with more dramatic contrast of layering rather than the average long layers. Get inspired by the ideas we’ve prepared for you and go for a naughty shaggy haircut!
Natasha Lyonne's go-to cut has those signature layers all over and wispy, curly moon bangs
Sandra Oh's curly shag cut framing the face creates a great soft movement from the length of her bangs to the length of the hair
shaggy bobs are actually better when worn with a matte finish as by removing shine, an artistic style that oozes intrigue is crafted
short shag hairciuts are perfect for women with thin or flat hair, a shag cut perks things up to bring body, bounce and a whole new life to your locks
Taylor Swift puts a vintage spin on the long bob with long, textured layers guaranteed to lift any fine hair type
the cheeky brunette bob is a great hairstyle for those who want to add spice to the traditional short shag cut
the choppy layers in Zendaya's long and curly shag cut give it mile-wide volume in every direction
The modern shag haircut is a little more wearable than the classic ’70s version, it incorporates the shag’s signature choppy layers and fullness at the crown
the one-length layered bob is a modern shag haircut that looks spectacular because of the random feathery pieces, the razored ends bring out all the natural shine of healthy, thick hair
the sassy brunette bob is a modern twist on the traditional short shag haircut, wispy bangs swept to the size emphasize the eyes
Warm chestnut hair color is the perfect canvas for a medium length shag, and the light brown shade will add some dimension to the cut
this shag has a similar idea to the wolf cut — there are layers and it's just longer in length overall