The shag haircut is back in style and better than ever!
This edgy, layered hairstyle adds tons of texture and movement to medium length hair.
Shaggy hairstyles are perfect for creating a laidback, effortless vibe.
The choppy layers frame the face beautifully and are versatile enough to style straight or wavy.
There are endless options for trendy medium shag haircuts that can completely transform your look!
I’ll also share my top tips as a hairdresser on how to maintain your shag cut and recommend the best products.
A good shag haircut can take your style up a notch and give you that cool, edgy look. Let’s get started!
Textured Middle Part Shag
The textured middle part shag is a chic update to the classic shag. This style features bends and curves throughout the length, creating movement and volume.
The layers are longest near the middle part and chin area and shortest around the crown. This graduated framing effect sculpts the face beautifully.
Ask your stylist for lots of textured choppy layers cut to different lengths.
This will create the effortless lived-in vibe. Style your middle part shag with volumizing mousse and blow dry with a round brush to boost volume at the roots and crown.
Flip your head upside down and tousle the layers with your fingers to maximize texture. Finish with a touch of medium hold hairspray to lock in the style.
The key to perfecting this shag is regular trims, about every 8-10 weeks, to maintain the layered shape.
Use a moisturizing shampoo and conditioner to control frizz and enhance texture.
This shag is great for medium thick hair with some wave. The layers and texture provide shape and movement to prevent your locks from falling flat.
Wavy Shag with Bangs
For a playful throwback vibe, go for a wavy shag with bangs! This style has a retro 70’s feel that’s totally on trend right now.
Soften your look with eye-skimming curtain bangs cut to graze the brows.
Ask for lots of face-framing layers throughout the length and around the sides to create bounce and movement.
When prepping your wavy shag, start by applying a volumizing mousse and heat protectant. Rough dry your hair upside down to build volume and texture at the roots.
Then use a diffuser attachment on low speed to enhance your natural waves as they air dry.
Once dry, tousle your locks with your fingers to break up the sections.
Finish with a texturizing sea salt spray for beachy, undone texture and a medium hold hairspray.
The key is to avoid over-styling your waves. Let them dry naturally for a touchable, lived-in vibe.
Part your hair slightly off center, allowing the bangs to sweep across your forehead for a chic finish.
Choppy Razored Shag with Root Lift
This choppy razored shag is perfect for adding volume and dimension to fine, straight hair.
The layers are heavily texturized with point cutting and razored edges to create maximum texture and movement.
Ask your stylist for stacked layers cut short and close up to the crown to get height at the roots.
Longer angled pieces throughout the length will encourage bend and flow.
This shag works beautifully with a grown-out blunt bob shape.
Prep your hair with a volumizing mousse and blow dry upside down using a round brush.
Concentrate on lifting the roots for maximum body.
Once dry, muss up the ends with your fingers to break up the layered shape. Finish with a texturizing spray to separate the razor cut ends.
For second-day style, use dry shampoo at the roots and re-muss the ends before heading out. Regular trims every 8 weeks will keep this style fresh.
Avoid heavy conditioners that can weigh down fine hair.
Tousled Shag with Babylights
For a touch of sunkissed shine, ask your colorist for babylights throughout your medium shag cut. Subtle warm blonde highlights will brighten your look and accentuate the texture.
Focus the babylights around the face to frame your features with light.
This tousled shag has lots of choppy layers cut short at the crown to lift dark roots. Longer layers in the front sweep across the face and neck to soften your look.
Piece-y ends add movement and dimension.
Rough dry your hair upside down after shampooing to build lift and volume at the roots. Use a medium barrel round brush to smooth and direct the longer face-framing pieces.
Finish with a pea-sized amount of styling cream to separate ends and enhance texture.
Babylights need toner treatments every 4-6 weeks to keep brassiness at bay.
Use a purple shampoo once a week too. Regular trims will help maintain the contrast between the lightened ends and darker roots.
Shoulder Length Shag with Curtain Bangs
For gorgeous everyday wearability, opt for a shoulder length shag with curtain bangs.
This medium length is perfect for showing off chic layered edges while still pulling your hair back if desired.
Ask your stylist for choppy curtain bangs that hit at brow level to frame your eyes.
Longer face-framing pieces around the sides complement the bangs beautifully. Shorter layers through the back and sides encourage movement and natural lift all day long.
Prep this shag with a styling creme to smooth flyaways and enhance texture. Rough dry hair upside down, allowing the longer layers to fall naturally.
Flip your head back up and use a round brush to direct the front pieces of the shag forward.
Finish with a light hold hairspray to set the style.
Shags look best in their natural state, so don’t overdo products. Simply enhance your hair’s natural texture. Shoulder length is the ideal “wash and wear” length for busy lifestyles.
Piece-y Shag with Root Shadow
If you have straight, fine hair a piece-y shag with root shadow is perfect for adding gritty texture.
Ask your colorist for a darker root shadow about 2 inches from the scalp to create depth at the crown.
Layering is key for this shag.
Go shorter and more texturized through the top and sides, keeping the bottom longer to weight it down. Point cutting and razoring will remove bulk and encourage the pieces to separate.
Apply a volumizing mousse to damp hair and blow dry roots lifted with a round brush. Lift and tousle hair upside down to build volume.
Once dry, further muss the ends with your fingers to create that undone texture.
Lock in your look with a matte finish styling wax for grip and separation. Reapply dry shampoo on off days to refresh your roots.
The root shadow technique is great for stretching color appointments too!
Angled Shag with Side Bangs
Make a statement with an angled shag cut featuring thick side-swept bangs.
This edgy style has longer angled front pieces paired with short cropped layers in the back.
The bangs are cut thick and blunt to balance the texture in the rest of the style.
Ask your stylist to point cut short layers in the back and at the crown to maximize lift and height. Keep the sides longer to blend with the angled front pieces for cohesion.
The contrast of the blunt dense bangs with the wispy short layers gives this shag an avant garde vibe.
Prep damp hair with a volumizing foam. Rough dry the back section first to bump up volume, then smooth the longer front pieces with a brush.
Finger style the ends lightly for separation and movement.
Set your side bangs across your forehead, sweeping to one side. Mist with medium hold hairspray to finish.
Shaggy Lob with Hidden Layers
For an edgy take on the classic lob (long bob), go for a shaggy lob with hidden layers. This straight-across blunt cut has internal layers built in to create shape and movement.
Ask your stylist to point cut short layers around the crown and sides, leaving length in the bottom. Avoid over-layering to keep the bluntness intact.
Part your hair deeply off center, allowing the hidden layers to fall forward and create fullness.
Prep damp hair with a blow dry lotion to smooth and detangle.
Rough dry hair upside down to encourage volume at the roots. Smooth longer pieces around the face with a paddle brush. Lock in your style with light hold hairspray.
Refresh second day hair with dry shampoo at the root
Re-straighten any pieces as needed with a flat iron. Regular trims are essential to maintain the blunt edge as those hidden layers grow out.
Bardot Bangs Shag
Channel ’60s bombshell Brigitte Bardot with this retro chin-length shag and fuller fringe bangs.
The eye-skimming straight across bangs have a thick, dense texture that contrasts beautifully with the choppy layers throughout.
Ask your stylist for razored layers to maximize texture and movement. Go shorter around the crown and sides, leaving length in the bottom.
This encourages natural lift at the roots while still maintaining weight on the ends.
Prep damp hair with a curl cream or mousse.
Diffuse dry upside down, scrunching layers into place. Once dry, smooth bangs across forehead as desired. Piece out ends lightly with fingers.
Set with medium hold hairspray.
Refresh style as needed with dry shampoo. Stick straight bangs can also be worn side-swept for an edgy option.
A-Line Shag with Babylights
An a-line shag cut features shorter layers in the back that angle down into longer pieces in the front.
This graduated shape flatters all face shapes. Blunt cut shoulder length bangs add trendy edge.
For dimension, ask your colorist for babylights throughout the mid-lengths and ends. The lightened pieces will accentuate the angled shape and shaggy texture.
Concentrate balayage highlights around the face.
Prep damp hair with volumizing mousse.
Rough dry upside down to bump up volume at the roots. Once dry, smooth longer front pieces into place and tousle ends. Mist with medium hold spray.
Over time, babylights will need toner and root touch up appointments every 4-6 weeks to keep brassiness at bay.
Schedule regular trims to maintain the a-line shape as those front pieces grow out.
Modern Mullet Shag
The mullet is back in a big way, with a chic modern update!
This short layered shag keeps length in the front and tapers down to shorter cropped layers in the back.
A blunt full fringe adds retro edge.
To style, apply a styling cream and blow dry the back section smooth using a paddle brush. Lift and volumize the crown with a round brush.
Let longer front pieces fall naturally.
Ruffle the back layers with your fingers once dry for texture and separation. Sweep the thick blunt bangs across your forehead as desired.
Finish with medium hold hairspray.
This punky shag works best on straight to wavy hair textures. Regular trims every 6-8 weeks are essential to maintain the short cropped back lengt
Accessorize with barrettes or headbands!
Curly Shag with Face Framing Layers
Embrace your natural curls with this bouncy curly shag.
Ask your stylist for choppy shorter layers throughout to remove weight and encourage lively movement.
Go a touch shorter around the sides, keeping length in the front.
Diffuse dry hair upside down, encouraging your curls into formation with your hands. Avoid brushing once dry, simply shake and scrunch curls into place.
Apply a pea-sized amount of curl cream to palms and smooth over the outer layers.
Let your curls fall naturally, framing the sides of your face.
Set your finished style with a flexible hold hairspray. Maintain your shag by avoiding heavy oils and conditioners that can weigh curls down.
Wolf Cut Shag
Go bold with an edgy wolf cut shag, one of the top shag variations of 2024.
This heavily layered shag features short choppy layers throughout to create extreme texture and volume.
The wolf cut is shorter in the back with longer face framing front pieces. Shorter layers at the crown area encourage lift and height. Go for extra point cutting and texture for dramatic effect.
Style your wolf shag by applying mousse to damp hair.
Diffuse dry upside down to bump up volume all over. Scrunch layers into place with your fingers to maximize texture.
Finish with texturizing spray.
This daring shag is perfect for thick, full hair types that can handle lots of layering. Avoid conditioner on the roots which can weigh it down.
Rock your wolf shag loud and proud!
As you can see, the shag haircut offers endless options for customization.
Shags are fun, low maintenance go-to cuts that instantly add cool factor to your look.
Just be sure to get regular trims to keep those choppy ends fresh. And don’t be afraid to embrace your natural texture – wavy, curly and thick manes look amazing when layered in a medium shag!
I hope I’ve inspired you to book your next appointment and get shaggy with it!
A great cut can completely transform your style.
Let your stylist know if you need help selecting the right shag for your hair type and face shape.
With the right cut, products and easy styling techniques, you’ll be rocking a trendy, enviable shag style in no time.
