Shaggy bobs are often seen as lazy hairstyles, but this is very misleading. In actuality, these types of hairstyles are very involved and require a lot of artistry to pull off. It may take a stylist a long time to get the right balance in the hair, as the bangs are probably personalized to help all of the strands and layers look as natural as possible.
A couple years ago, I had a client bring in a photo of Jane Birkin, which is a classic reference point but also pretty obvious. This showed me that she wanted a shaggy bob. However, she made it clear that her intention was more to channel a look than to just get the hair sort of done. In the end, she walked away with shaggy curtain bangs, and let me tell you her reaction was priceless. This look is definitely not a “pretty” type of cut and I know that Shaggy bob is really easy to vibe with. I have 25 exclusively shaggy bob looks, if you want to just use my circle ideas.
#1: Soft Shaggy Bob with Easy Bangs
This hairstyle suggests that you spend quite a lot of time in cafes reading books and that you are not someone who constantly is on their phone. The bangs are not bold enough to stand out. They aren’t really noticeable, and that’s exactly the purpose of these bangs, and they do an awesome job at keeping this cut from looking too polished. The light layers and shoulder length cut is ideal for that effortless look, without looking like you just rolled out of bed. If your hair is wavy, this will be a lot easier for you. If your hair is just a little wavy, getting that effortless look will take almost no work.
#2 Wispy-Banged Bob with Lived-In Texture
The primary concern for the style is movement.
The layers are cut so the hair has a bit of volume to avoid a flat lifeless look. The bangs are good because they are cut to the point where they show some forehead, so the bangs don’t look too heavy or too old school.
If you have finer hair that has made you nervous about getting a bob, this style should work well because it should not look limp.
It’s a bit messy, but the look can be achieved with a good texturizing spray to get it sort of separated and piece-y.
#3 Highlighted Waves on a Textured Bob
The color work is what elevates the haircut from good to great. The placement of the highlights give the hair depth, and creates dimension even in flat lighting. The cut looks great in pictures, but even better in real life. You know that hair swing moment that people do when they turn their head? This is the cut for that! If your hair is medium to thick, you will definitely appreciate the weight of it. I also agree that having the bangs as a soft afterthought rather than a focal point is a good way to go.
#4 Dark Textured Bob with Strong Bangs
This is a Bob for individuals looking to get attention quietly. The bangs are more pronounced than others; these are cut bangs with commitment, and the dark color gives it all a dense look that comes off as purposeful and a little bit serious. The layering throughout the body is what keeps the helmet look away; just enough texture to let some air inside. I will say, this one asks more from you in the morning than some others. If you aren’t willing to put in about 10 mins with a round brush, it most likely won’t hold the shape you want it to.
#5 Fluffy Bangs on a Volume-Building Bob
If you have fine hair and want to create the feeling of having more volume, I suggest this cut. Bangs have a light, blown-out finish and create the illusion of more fullness at the ideal height. Body layers are cut more to give more lift, which is nice instead of adding more length. There is subtle, nice color variation at the mid-lengths which helps reflect light to give the illusion of richer hair even if it is not that thick.
#6 Tousled Waves with Feathered Bangs
I love how unrefined this style is. The waves aren’t perfect curls, they look like the casual waves you’d get if you just scrunched your hair and forgot about it. These bangs aren’t cut flat; they incorporate into the rest of the cut so it doesn’t look like a distinct piece sitting on the forehead. This is a medium length bob that hits just above the shoulders and is a fairly forgiving length for most people. That said, if your hair is really fine, you may have to accept that it’s going to look different on you. A light volumizing mousse at the roots might help with that.
#7 Fringed Bob with Textured Movement
The fringe of this sits right at brow level, which is perfect since it highlights the eyes, and won’t obstruct your view or get in your way on a windy day. It’s a small detail, but it really improves the day to day wearability of the style. The body of the bob has just the right amount of texture to be modern, without being overly choppy. This is especially good if you have a heart shaped face because the width at the jaw helps to balance out a narrower chin. It’s one of those cuts that looks like it’s not trying hard, but actually does a lot of work.
#8 Jaw-Length Shag with Warm Undertones
The first thing that strikes me is the color. There is fantastic candlelit warmth to the soft undertones interspersed throughout the base. It gives the entire cut a softer and warmer feel than if it were a single flat color. The layers are cut so that they sit on the jawline which is a length that tends to be more flattering than most people expect. The bangs sit lightly and slightly parted and don’t look like they’re trying too hard. For someone who says they wants something different but then gets nervous when the stylist reaches for the scissors, this is the cut I would suggest.
#9 Copper Shag with Soft Curtain Framing
Copper is doing the most here. It makes a basic shaggy bob look chic and intentional, plus it gives an autumnal vibe regardless of the season. The cut is also nice with the right amount of layering to allow for movement without looking too thin, but the color is what makes you do a double take. I want to be honest with you about what having a color like this means because it fades quicker than you’d think and it gets warm (brassy) if you’re not on top of your color depositing conditioner. But it is stunning while it’s fresh.
#10 Full-Banged Textured Bob with Depth
Bangs like these are big, bold, and beautiful. Pairing the volume of this cut with the bangs is exactly what the stylist ordered. It’s a great option for someone with really thick hair. This jaw-length bob has an almost retro vibe to it, maybe reminiscent of the French New Wave, but the modern texturizing takes it to another place. The dark color adds an element of sophistication and balance that really shaggy cuts tend to lack. It’s a look that makes a statement while keeping it classy.
#11 Shoulder-Length Bob with Warm Highlights
This cut sits on the spectrum between a bob and a lob. It’s not trying to be edgy or anything. It’s a well constructed cut that plays nicely with color. The highlights are warm, and because they are concentrated around the face, the lighten the complexion in a way that looks natural and not done. The soft wave through the mid-lengths gives it some personality. I’d describe this as the cut you get when you want to look like yourself but better. This is the hardest brief to execute, because there is nowhere to hide.
#12 Casual Shoulder-Length Bob with Easy Bangs
The short hair cut looks very good! I appreciate the fact that the cut looks a couple of weeks old already and it’s more interesting to see a look that makes it look as if it was freshly done. The bangs look good, they are all a little grown out, which sort of gives the impression of curtain bangs, but they’re definitely not too staged. The waves probably look really natural because the stylist cut with the hair’s natural texture and went with it rather than against it. What I really love about that cut is that it looks as though it didn’t require a lot of effort!
#13 Soft Bob with Natural Wave and Light Bangs
The haircut looks great in a simplistic way. It keeps a good balance so it doesn’t look like it is trying too hard. It also helps that the bangs are the anger given just enough weight and length. Most of the styling looks like it is done by the natural waves, so if your hair is similar, you’d get to wake up to this everyday. It looks like just a touch of curl cream is scrunched into damp hair, but that sort of little effort is what I appreciate about the haircut.
#14 Lifted Shag with Airy Bangs
I love the extra dimension these bangs give. Instead of lying flat against the forehead, they are swept up and out to the side which creates a more open overall look to the face. It’s such a small detail but really shifts the whole energy of the cut. The length of the hair falls just above the shoulders and has enough layering to keep it interesting without the ends looking too scraggly. If you’re looking for a shag that’s still polished, this is a great option. You could easily take this from the office to the bar without feeling like you need to change anything about it.
#15 Auburn Shag with Lively Texture
The initial framework that facilitates the growth of that personality also establishes the formidability to reproduce it. The stylist uses the curl rather than attempting to subdue it, producing what appears to be a living cut. The bangs are shorter and a bit more structured than the others which creates a nice contrast to the looseness of the rest. If you have been straightening and bobbing your hair, look at this photo and reconsider.
#16 Curly Chin-Length Shag with Soft Bangs
This has such an awesome amount of volume and still looks completely natural! It’s at chin length, which creates a rounder shape with curly hair, than with straight hair, and the soft bangs float the top area. If your hair curls like this, the most crucial element to having a cut like this that lasts is finding a dry cutting stylist who works on curly hair, because shrinkage will completely alter the placement of the layers. At this length and texture a light anti-frizz serum is essential, especially in humid weather.
#17 Layered Jaw-Length Bob with Airy Bangs
I really like how soft the haircut is. The bangs and light layers give a nice structure to the face. The surprising jaw length is also very flattering, and the waves throughout the hair make it look less blunt. I appreciate how intentional a haircut can look after 6 weeks, and this haircut definitely has that quality. That is one of the biggest compliments I can give a haircut.
#18 Bold-Banged Shag with Volume and Wave
The bangs steal the show, and the rest of the styling waits in the wings. These come in thick, and have a nice texture to them, and are cut with some real boldness, which I personally love. The hair on the body is long enough to play with, and has just enough wave and movement to keep the overall shape from feeling too structured. What I think makes this work is the balance. The bangs are dense and bold, while the rest of the cut is a bit more on the relaxed side, so neither side really overpowers the other. It’s a lesson in restraint within what could be an otherwise very over the top haircut.
#19 Chin-Length Shag with Blush-Pink Highlights
This is a lot of fun! The pink is subtle enough that it could be described as ‘rose gold’, but it’s most definitely there and definitely shifts the vibe of the cut. Underneath the color is a solid chin-length shag with great texture and clever layers. The lifted overall palette with the pale blonde base and those pink strands woven through it, makes it feel youthful but not childish. Pastel shades on highlighted hair will fade very quickly (within a couple of weeks), so if upkeep frustrates you, just be aware of what you’re signing up for.
#20 Tousled Volume Bob with Soft Curls
What I notice first is the shorter back shape, it helps create a graduated silhouette and adds interest from all angles. Most of the photos one sees of bobs are taken from the front, so one may not always think about what is going on behind, but someone did here, and it has definitely paid off. The body of the hair is styled into some tousled curls which gives a lived-in look and the warm brown is rich, but not too heavy. It’s a really nice cut on rounder face shapes since the length in front helps draw the eye down.
#21 Face-Framing Layered Bob with Movement
The layers around the face are doing all the work here and they’re doing it well. They are cut to sit right at the cheekbone, which is one of those placements that looks effortless, but requires a lot of precision to get right. The rest of the cut is relatively simple, a mid-length bob with gentle texture, and I think that simplicity is what makes the face-framing pieces stand out. If your hair is on the finer side and you’ve been told layers will make it look thinner, this is a good example of how the right layers in the right places can do the opposite.
#22 Playful Textured Bob with Brow-Grazing Bangs
The bangs reach the eyebrows, and the layers are messy to keep it all a little more laid-back. This creates the effect that someone is looking good, without looking like they spent any effort. Achieving this effect is difficult, and it all relies on skillful cutting layered ends. Here, the texture is more understated, and the ends are not overly damaged. This is a good first time bang option because on days you don’t want to deal with them, you can easily push them aside.
#23 Chin-Length Wavy Shag with Gentle Bangs
The bounce on this cut is incredible! The waves will sit best at this length since chin length is the sweet spot where there’s not enough length to weigh the waves down. The bangs are soft, just off centre, which makes it look like she’s just incorporated them as a layer instead of splitting them as a distinct feature which draws the whole cut together. The layering is subtle, but in an amazing way as it gives each wave space to move. It’s one of those cuts I’d recommended to someone who wants to look polished on a day where they’ve barely done anything to their hair.
#24 Feathered Bob with Soft Body and Movement
These bangs look so light and airy because they’re feathered and they don’t just sit like a wall across the forehead, they blend into the face-framing layers. The body of this shoulder-length cut is perfect, enough to be substantial but it won’t overwhelm a smaller face. She amplified the natural texture, which is always a plus. If you have some wave to your hair, you’d be able to achieve a version of this with hardly any effort. A few front pieces with a large-barrel curling iron would elevate this look a lot.
#25 Sculpted Bob with Strong Face-Framing Layers
There is a point to all of these layers as they hit right at the cheekbone and flare outwards. This gives the effect of opening the face and drawing attention to the bones beneath. When looking at the other styles in this roundup, this one is more sculpted and I find that interesting as a shaggy bob can vary a lot depending on where the weight sits. The length is also just above the shoulders and has a medium density which gives that ideal combo of movement and thickness. This type of cut really lets the strong bone structure do the talking.
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