A layered shag haircut makes a modern, tousled style that enhances natural textures. It includes short and long layers to bring body and volume to tresses.
“It’s a true wash-and-go style,” says hair artist Kylie North from Los Angeles, CA. “Minimal styling is required because of all the movement the layers create,” she adds.
A shag cut works on most hair textures, especially wavy or curly locks. Curls spring up and create lots of volume and texture when cut short, creating a full-bodied look.
The layers don’t always have to be connected. North takes sections from the crown area to create its own layers and form an extra body. This adds more edge to the finish.
Since these layers are also cut into various lengths, it would be challenging to wear your hair up. “If your work requires your hair to be out of your face, this would demand extra styling,” North notes.
While a shag does the job on any hair texture, you must still have enough density. North explains that “with low density, the layers will only make the hair ends very sparse.”
Wanna pull off a fun and chic hairstyle? Check out these images of the most popular layered shag haircuts and hairstyles and drool over this trend!
#1: Feathered Layered Shag with Long Curtain Fringe
A feathered layered shag with long curtain fringe is ideal. Especially for those who want a tousled, textured look. To achieve this style, ask your stylist to cut the layers in an inverted V-shape. And, to create framing around the face to add softness. Utilize thinning shears to reduce bulkiness on the ends of each section. But keep length intact. This will help maintain shape while adding movement from the roots to the end. For styling, use products such as sea salt spray or mousse. Both will give structure without weighing down your hair.
#2: Layered Shaggy Wolf Cut with Wispy Bangs
This layered shaggy wolf cut with wispy bangs brings 70s funk into the 21st century. I would avoid this cut if you’re not willing to style your hair. This cut requires styling, especially the bangs, to do it justice. This cut is beneficial for anyone who wants to create movement, remove weight, and make the hair appear fuller.
#3: Iconic Layered Shag for Long, Fine Hair
If you have long, fine hair and want a new style, ask your stylist for a layered shag with a middle part and waves. This iconic cut adds body and texture to straight or wavy tresses. This look works best for ladies who have a heart or oval-shaped face. The layers frame your face and soften any angles. The key to maintaining this style is to use lightweight hair products that won’t weigh down your hair. Try using a sea salt spray to achieve a beachy, tousled look.
#4: Refreshing Shag for Fine Hair
Here’s a refreshing shag for fine hair. The best way to pump up the volume in fine hair with a cut is a shag. You can create waves and petals in fine, straight hair with a razor cut or slide cutting. It will allow for movement and texture. Have your stylist focus on crown layers and face-framing bangs. They will balance and shape your face beautifully.
#5: Fiery Red Shag for Thicker Hair
A fiery red shag is perfect for thicker hair. My advice for thick hair to create movement and lightness is to ask your stylist for a razor cut. The number one complaint I hear from customers with thick hair is how heavy it is. A razored shag will give you crown layers and tapered ends.
#6: Face-Framing Shaggy Layers
Go for a face-framing shaggy layered cut. Ask your stylist to carve soft layers if you have finer hair and want a shag. The best way to style for volume is some waves with a curling wand. Add bottleneck bangs if you have a long or square face shape to help balance your features.
#7: Dark Brown Seamless Layers
If you want a style that’s as effortless as it is sophisticated, seamless layers are one of your best options. Seamless layers infuse your hair with texture and sultry movement. You will get body and volume, without the structured appearance of more traditional layers. Wave with an iron for a messier, undone finish.
#8: Chic Straight Shag for Fine Hair
If you have long, one-length hair, try a textured, layered cut. You’ll get to keep all your length while adding shape, movement, and body to the rest of your hair. This cut is best done with a razor as it softens your layered ends. If you have finer long hair, don’t forget to ask your stylist for a fuller weight line. It will help keep your length full at the bottom.
#9: Lived-In Layered Shaggy Lob
I suggest if you can take the plunge and commit to a heavily layered shag haircut, do it. It will revolutionize your look. The result gives off an effortless vibe. It’s perfect for those who like their hair to have body without seeming too done up. A good stylist should be able to layer throughout with point or slice cutting techniques. Which is key to achieving great volume as well as movement in the cut overall. To upkeep this low-maintenance look, opt for styling with lighter-hold products. Try dry shampoo sprays from Bumble & bumbles.
#10: Wolf Cut with Curls and Layers
The wolf cut with curls and layers is an edgy, tousled look that pairs perfectly with wavy to curly hair. Spend time talking to your hairstylist about the exact length and sectioning. Opt for shorter face-framing layers to add volume around the crown. It will create a messy yet voluminous style. A lightweight mousse or curl-activating cream can help define your texture. It can also add definition and shine. I love Living Proof’s Curl Defining Styling Cream! When styling, focus on scrunching sections and using a diffuser. Do this instead of brushing out your strands. Brushing will eliminate all the natural body of your hair.
#11: 80s-Inspired Modern Shag
Wear your hair in a modern take on the 80s shag. A mid-length heavily layered cut gives texture and volume. Add full bags for a soft face frame and ask for the bangs to be layered to give a softer feel. Be aware that you will need to loose your parting to get a real shag feel so the layers will need to be short enough to sit correctly. Add volume sprays before drying and use a round brush to help give your hair width.
#12: Razor Cut Shaggy Layers
Razor-cut shaggy layers give your hair a break from the old long layered hairstyles. When you arrive at your favorite hair shop, find the right layer and length combo of this haircut for you. Shorter layers will add volume and texture to any length of hair.
#13: Bronde Layered Shag with Long Curtain Fringe
The number one request year around is a bronde hair color. The “not brunette but not yet blonde” color compliments an array of skin tones and hair lengths. Changing to an on-trend style, like a layered shag with long curtain fringe is the best way to evolve this color.
#14: Collarbone-Length Shaggy Layers
With collarbone-length shaggy layers, you can have a mix of an edgy style while still being cool. Avoid over-texturing the haircut. You still want some weight in the shape, especially in the bangs. Things you want to look for are heavy fringe and wispy movement. It helps to show your stylist pictures of inspiration.
#15: Long Shaggy Mullet
A mullet or long shaggy cut allows you to keep all your length and still have volume at your crown. You must be open to shorter interior layers and you could add bangs to complete the shag look. When I cut a shag, I like to start my layers at the longest point of the bangs. I do this to blend the look and give the best texture within the shape.
#16: Sweet Shaggy Long Bob with Thick Bangs
If your hair is too thick, a sweet shaggy lob with thick bangs is this season’s hottest trend. If you’re deciding if this style would work for you, spend time finding pics with your length and texture. This will help you envision the look best fitted for you.
#17: Heavily Layered Big Hair
Heavily layered styles are great for debulking thick to medium densities. And they allow for style versatility when wanting big hair. To maintain this style, a few tools like a round brush, blow dryer, velcro rollers, and hairspray are great.
#18: Auburn Short Shaggy Cut
Aging hair can look mature. However, it can look modern and empowering. A combo like an auburn short shaggy cut is the best for creating a staple in personal style. The tousled texture gives it an undone yet planned look. This can be created with your own natural texture or by creating it with hot tools. For example, an iron and texture spray.
#19: Medium Layered Shag with See-Through Bangs
Try an easy look with a medium-layered shag with see-through bangs. Messy layers will give the illusion of thicker hair. If you care about keeping maintenance low, the shag is the perfect cut. Style with loose curls to get an undone and relaxed look.
#20: Textured Bangs and Shaggy Layers
Fall hair is polished yet textured. If you can work your way around a hot tool, one good style can keep on giving. Shaggy layers and bangs are the haircut to ask for if you can’t devote too much time to styling it daily.
#21: Platinum Heavily Layered Shag Cut with Wispy Fringe
When in doubt, if you can achieve a platinum hair color, consult with a stylist about the best next step. A shag with a wispy fringe is one of the easiest ways to rid yourself of color history that may live on the shaft of the hair.
#22: Textured Brunette Shaggy Cut
Consider a textured brunette shaggy cut if you’re looking for a hairstyle that will add shape and show texture to your darker tresses. Sometimes with brunette hair, it can be tricky to distinguish where your layers are, which is what gives your hair that shape, texture, and body. If you need to enhance your layers more, ask your stylist to cut your hair with a razor, use thinning shears on the ends of your layers, or by using a point-cutting technique with shears. Don’t forget to tell your stylist where you’d like the shortest length to be in your fringe area, this will be one of the biggest factors in creating your shaggy haircut.
#23: Maroon Layered Short Shag
If your face is heart-shaped, try a maroon layered short shag. This haircut is one of the easiest to style. Simply blow-dry the hair, apply a texture spray to achieve volume and define layers. Remember, when dyeing your hair, a maroon color can quickly fade and lose its vibrancy. Be sure to use a color care shampoo and conditioner. I love using Kevin Murphy’s Everlasting Color wash and rinse to seal in the color.
#24: Heavily Layered Shag with Loose Waves
A heavily layered shag with loose waves is one of the easiest haircuts to style. The cut does most of the work for you, so less is more. Be prepared to pop in a few curls or add some texture spray to keep the relaxed, messy vibe.
#25: Modern Chocolatey Layered Shag
A modern chocolatey layered shag is one of the best styles of the season. Shags are so versatile. You can style them or let your hair air dry and they still look great. For the chocolate color, one of my secrets is to use a little dab of copper in my brown formula. This gives you a perfect chocolate color without it looking auburn.
#26: Blonde Shag with Layered Texture
Enjoy the gorgeous volume boost from this blonde shag with a layered texture. It creates the illusion of fuller hair and beautiful, blended layers. Your hairdresser can use the bangs as a guide to develop the top section, angling longer as they reach the back before bringing up the rest of your hair in sections to meet the guide. Don’t forget to use a volumizing foam or root lift spray for extra volume and hold.
#27: Long-Length Shag with Layers
A great way to create texture is a long-length shag with layers. When it comes to this haircut, ask your hairdresser for a middle part, long layers, and face-framing curtain bangs. Style with a one-inch wand and finish with a beach spray or dry shampoo spray.
#28: Platinum Shag with Layers and Purple Highlights
For a trendy style, try a platinum shag with layers and subtle, purple highlights. Shaggy layers are a great way to bring movement and volume to your hair. To bring a little fun to your tresses you can add a bold pop of color to show off your unique personality. When styling, try to use a round brush to give more height to your crown and show off all those flippy layers.
#29: Voluminous Shaggy Wolf Cut
Rock a shaggy wolf cut if you want a voluminous hairstyle that is on trend and gives you an edgy, messy appearance. You can wear your hair straight, wavy, or curly with this hairstyle, but it looks best in messy waves as it maximizes your hair’s texture and volume. If you want to invest in hair products to create more volume and texture look at texture sprays, sea salt sprays, a volumizing hair powder, or any volumizing hair mousse.
#30: Grey Short Layers
Grey hair is beautiful in itself. However, adding short layers to your haircut will help add depth, volume, definition, and fullness. Try to avoid disconnected layers, this will allow for easier styling, less maintenance, and a youthful look year-round.
#31: Blonde Balayage Layered Shag
For a trending style, try a layered shag with blonde balayage. Shaggy layers will give volume to your fine hair and will prevent it from being weighed down. Use a curling iron to put some tousled waves in your hair to give body and texture and show off your multi-dimensional blonde balayage. Use a sea salt spray to add some hold to get beachy-looking hair.
#32: Shaggy Layers and Blended Bangs
Try shaggy layers and blended bangs for a softer textured look. Adding a light amount of bangs underneath heavily layered hair adds depth to the face without a traditional blunt cut.
#33: Jet Black Medium Shag with Layers and Curtain Fringe
For fine-haired gals, try a medium shag with layers and a curtain fringe. Lots of shaggy layers make fine hair appear full with lots of body. Make sure that you have a lot of density to work with or your ends will look sparse as the layers make locks look even thinner.
#34: Light Copper Layered Shag
Consider a light copper layered shag when you’re already blonde and wanting to reverse to the darker shades. The shag gives rock’n roll vibes with the super textured and choppy layers and works very well on medium-length hair. Be prepared for consistent visits with your stylist for the copper hair color. Because it’s rich and warm, it’ll require consistent refreshing to keep this style at its best.
#35: Light Blonde Layered Shag
While layers have never gone out of style, the newest trend is a layered shag. A shag haircut has many, varying length layers already and usually is cut to frame the face. A light blonde layered shag will never go out of style and suits many face shapes.
#36: Shaggy Blended Layers
Shaggy blended layers are the perfect addition to a long shag needing lightness. Ask for super textured layers and a longer version of a traditional shag to complement almost any face shape and hair texture.
#37: Natural Shag with Bangs and Layered Curls
A natural shag with bangs and layered curls gives so much movement and bounce on its own! Medium shag haircuts work on every hair type. Style with heat or air dry and go!
#38: Long Layered Shag with Thick Bangs for Round Faces
A long layered shag with thick bangs for round faces helps soften the hair around the face. Long shags with layers create instant body for movement. Ask your stylist to use a razor to create a layered shaggy long haircut.
#39: Pixie Shaggy Haircut with Messy Layers
The pixie shaggy haircut with messy layers gives a modern twist to the pixie. Consider a layered shaggy short haircut if you love texture to play with. Use your favorite texture paste to style!
#40: Long Shag with Feathered Curtain Bangs
A long shag with feathered curtain bangs is great for women who want to keep their hair long but want a modern style. Long shags give thin, fine hair natural volume and bounce. Works on every face shape. Long shaggy hairstyles for thin hair can look fuller with a round brush and blow dryer.
Related: Long hairstyles with curtain bangs or long shags with curtain bangs.
#41: Face-Framing Layers on a Shag for Older Ladies
Face-framing layers on a shag for older ladies give a youthful appearance. Hair softly drapes around the face and conceals any little fine lines. Shaggy hairstyles for fine hair for women over 50 are versatile for any face shape and timeless.
#42: Voluminous, Textured Shag with Micro Bangs
A voluminous, textured shag with micro bangs is for the woman who’s not afraid to make a statement! Anyone can rock a messy, shoulder-length shag for an edgy twist!
#43: Pixie Shag with a Curtain Fringe for Women Over 60
A pixie shag with a curtain fringe for women over 60 never goes out of style! A modern pixie that softly drapes over the face and ears styles effortlessly and compliments all face shapes. Short shaggy haircuts for women over 60 are perfect for instant style without heat styling.
#44: Shoulder-Length Layered Shag with Bangs for Thin Hair
A shoulder-length layered shag with bangs for thin hair gives a fuller appearance. Mid-length shags help give fine hair lift and create movement to the hair and versatility for styling. Consider shoulder-length hairstyles for instant lift and bounce.
#45: Voluminous Curly Shag for Thick Hair
A voluminous curly shag for thick hair gives natural lift and ultimate bounce! Ideal for tight, thick curls that need lift and more bounce. Long shaggy hairstyles for thick hair give a youthful and playful appearance.
#46: Wispy, Shaggy Layers with a Middle Part
Wispy, shaggy layers with a middle part look great at every age and hair texture. Shags have versatile styling, too. All you need is a blow dryer and round brush to style a wavy shag haircut.
#47: Modern Shag with Choppy Layers and Bangs
A modern shag with choppy layers and bangs works best on fine to medium texture hair for natural lift and texture. Consider mid-length textured layers for added volume.
#48: Long ‘70s Shag Haircut with Textured Layers
Opt for a long ‘70s shag haircut with textured layers since it enhances natural wavy texture and creates shape. A shag is perfect for long hair, and layered haircuts without compromising length and stands out!
#49: Layered Shag with Long Curtain Bangs for Square Faces
A layered shag with long curtain bangs for square faces instantly softens around the face and jawline to create an oval face shape. Ask your stylist to use a razor to cut the long layers for a layered shaggy haircut.
#50: Shaggy Bob Cut with Bangs for Curly Hair
A shaggy bob cut with bangs for curly hair really emphasizes facial features and softens them. A layered shaggy bob haircut, adds bounce to curly texture to a modern short haircut.
#51: Curly Blonde Shag with Piece-y Bangs
Opt for a curly blonde shag with piece-y bangs that really give the hair bounce and shape. A curly shag haircut works on all hair textures that have a wave or curl pattern. Plus, they’re effortless to style.
#52: Straight Shaggy Hairstyle with Feathered Layers
Consider a straight shaggy hairstyle with feathered layers as it gives instant movement and volume to hair. Ask your stylist for a straight shag haircut and feathered shag in the front for a textured look.
#53: Tousled Shag with Curtain Bangs
A tousled shag with curtain bangs is one of the hottest trends! It’s versatile for any age and works on every hair texture. Shags with bangs are easy to style from straight to tousled waves with shag bangs, for added texture.