The Shag Is (Still) the Coolest Haircut Trend of the Year

Welcome to the rebirth of the shag haircut. The choppy, layered look has been everywhere as of late, but make no mistake — this is not your mother’s shag. Yes, it’s feathered, and yes, there’s lots of volume, but it’s had an update that’s well worth checking out. Think of it more as a modern twist on a completely different classic hairstyle.

Experts Featured in This Article

Devin Toth is a hairstylist based in New York City.

What Is the Shag Haircut?

“The hottest haircut trend for the last couple of years has been the lob,” says NYC hairstylist Devin Toth. “It’s cool. It’s geometric. It’s fresh, but it can get boring after a while because there’s not much going on in the front. The shag haircut is, in a nutshell, a lob with bangs. It’s so popular right now because it adds a different, more interesting kind of geometry around the face, and not just at the bottom length of the haircut like the lob does at the collar bone. Of course, there are variations of the bangs, the layers, and the hair textures.”

The style works best on all hair types, textures, and lengths. If you have thick hair, the cut can help create some much-needed shape. If you have fine hair, the cut will help add volume to your look, especially at the roots. Plus, it’s customizable. You can opt to go all out with lots of layers, or you can keep things low key. There are plenty of different iterations.

Which variations have we been seeing in the last few months? “The two popular shag styles are the ultra curly, ultra layered and then straight with long curtain bangs that sweep,” Toth says. “The curly shag is very round with a pure release of texture. It will be a seamless transition from bangs to short layers to long layers to bottom length. The straight shag can be styled however you want, but it generally has longer layers with the focus of the style being the bold curtain bangs — sweeping but not fully connected to the rest of the style.”

Another great thing about the shag haircut is that it’s fairly low maintenance. Yes, you’ll need to visit the salon every six to eight weeks to keep your style fresh, but when it comes to styling the chop, it’s essentially a wash-and-go style that only needs a little bit of texture pomade to enhance its features.

How to Get the Shag Haircut

If you’re ready to test the trend out for yourself, make sure you show up to your salon appointment with inspiration photos in hand to get you and your stylist on the same page. We’d suggest looking for photos that show someone with the same hair type and texture as yours. Additionally, you’ll want to ask for a cut with lots of heavy, choppy layers.

Not convinced yet? Check out our favorite takes on the ’80s shag haircut trend that are worth you pinning now, ahead — Stevie Nicks t-shirt not required.