Shaggy hairstyles can be fun and give a unique look to a person. It possibly offers a new look to someone. It is probably the movement that style brings with it. The way light bounces off the layers as one turns makes it look effortless. Light bounces off in different directions depending on how your head moves. I have seen a lot of customers in this age range tend to have this style and I don’t see this as a sign of loss of personal style. Rather, they accept that they want a look that requires minimal effort to maintain.
One of my clients stands out in my memory the most when it comes to this hairstyle. She was 74 years old with a blunt cut bob hairstyle she’d had for the previous fifteen years. Not that she loved it, but as shocking as it may sound, no one had ever even suggested the possibility of something different. While I was styling her hair, she kept feeling the hair, and looking in the mirror as if she were reunited with a long lost friend. The objective of a shag is not to look different in a way that is young and/or trendy, but rather just to bring some life back to the hair. Sometimes that is all it takes to feel like yourself again.
#1: Feathered Layers with a Soft Silver Finish
I love how the feathers sit around the face, not too tight and not too far, so they give all the shape to the look without it looking too ‘done’. The silver pieces woven through the layers do a lot of work, adding dimension and texture so it doesn’t fall flat. That sort of detail on hair this fine really makes a difference. It looks like the cut just happened naturally, which is often the hardest to achieve. A little texturizing spray would help with movement between washes.
#2 Wispy Bangs on a Soft Shaggy Cut
This style has the best bangs. They are so light and feathery that they are unlikely to weigh the look down, and they blend into the rest of the cut so well that it is virtually impossible to tell where the bangs end or where the layers start. That kind of blending is a sign of a great cut. The entire style has a delicacy, which is especially good for fine hair. It doesn’t try to dress the hair up and pretend it’s something it isn’t, it just works with what is there.
#3 Curly Shag with a Bit of Bounce
I love when shags are left to do their thing and the curls get to go free. Each curl gets a layer to give it some space, so nothing gets clumped together or weighed down. It’s got that vibe of someone who just shook their hair out and left, and that’s the whole point! This cut will bring out all of the wave and curl you have, and it will feel effortless. The only caveat is that curls do like moisture, so a good curl cream can do a lot.
#4 Short Shag in a Warm Blonde
The first thing that caught my eyes was the color, a soft warm blonde that makes the whole cut feel a little bit lighter. The layers are subtle enough so that they don’t break the shape like too much, they just add a little touch of movement where it’s most needed around the crown and the finish. It’s one of those cuts that looks so effortless, but really it has a lot of thinking put into it. A lightweight stylin g cream worked through the ends would keep it from going too wispy by the end of the day.
#5 Silver Layers That Frame Everything Nicely
Silvery hair in a layered shag cut looks awesome. The color is so rich and textured that the haircut doesn’t need to do a lot of work. The cut just needs to allow the hair to move, and that’s just what’s going on here. The hair is moving and looking great. The layers are great, and gently placed around the face, where it looks good without being too much. If your hair is straight, just one pass with a round brush while you are blow drying your hair will give you this kind of shape.
#6 Silver Shag with Shorter Layers in the Back
The haircut goes from shorter in the back to longer in the front, and makes the style look very intentional! The tiny silver highlight really shows off the texture of the hair. Applying a volumizing mouse at the roots before blow drying would help finer hair keep hold of that lift throughout the day.
#7 Gentle Waves on a Silver Shag
The waves look like they may have been formed by mistake, which is likely why it works so nicely. The softness of this style is a nice contrast to the colors. The length is short enough that it won’t get in the way, but long enough to have personality. I think my favorite part is the way it allows the natural brightness of the silver to come through. There is a brightness there that you don’t want to cover up.
#8 Crown Layers with a Quiet Lift
The cut is worth another look with the details of the layering around the crown. The lift it creates is just enough to open the whole shape without it looking like the volume was the goal, and on hair like this with a slight wave, the layering catches the wave pattern and amplifies it in a very natural way. The more you leave this cut alone, the better it looks, and honestly, that’s the biggest compliment you can give a haircut.
#9 Rich Reddish Shag with Warm Undertones
The color you’ve chosen makes the cut stand out! The warmth of the reddish tone brings out the texture in a way that cooler tones wouldn’t. It’s bold, but not too loud, which is quite an accomplishment. The layers add volume at the sides and the crown, whilst the short length modernises the look. If you are thinking of adding some warmth to your color, this is a great example of how it can completely transform the overall look of a style.
#10 Choppy Ends with a Light Feel
The chopped ends are what give this cut its character. It prevents it from looking too polished, and that’s the sort of look a shag should have. The highlights that are subtly interwoven within the shag add dimension, and they catch the light in a not too over the top way. This looks like it would be nice to touch, and I think that is a result of blending the layers so well.
#11 Tousled Layers in Silver
The way this style captivates me is the pleasing softness. Although it has an untidy almost chaotic feel, overall it is pleasing. The silver tones in the hair add a glowing warmth to the style, and that is not a tone that you typically see. The length is perfect too because it moves when you move, which is all you want from a cut like this!
#12 Playful Texture on a Short Frame
This cut really shows off what can be achieved with texture. The movement is focused around the face and top, where it will contribute the most to the flow. The look is lively and young, plus the best part is that it hasn’t been overdone. The cut is just really well suited to the person. A haircut is most successful when it fits well.
#13 Chin-Length Waves with an Easy Finish
I appreciate the simplicity with which this one has been done. The waves are natural, the length is appropriate, and the layers do just enough to keep it interesting. It’s the kind of cut that looks like it belongs on the person wearing it, and that’s always the goal even if it’s difficult to explain why. The chin length is quietly flattering, draw attention to the face without too much framing.
#14 Gray Shag Just Above the Jaw
I like the decision to keep this cut just above the jawline, as it creates a more clean look without being too severe. The layers are softer, which are fine. There is an elegant simplicity to this style, and it is a low maintenance style as it just regular trims every 6 weeks or so to maintain the shape.
#15 Chin-Length Layers with a Modern Gray
The gray isn’t random – it’s selective and modern. The distinction is more important than many seem to realize. The layers create some volume to the finer hair and the chin length sits nicely against the face. It’s practical but still has some style to it, which is the balance most people are looking for, even if they don’t verbalize it that way. This is the kind of cut you can wash and blow-dry and walk out the door.
#16 Short and Spirited with Some Color
The piece has character. It’s color is joyful. It’s close cropped length is confident. The looseness on top adds movement. The overall shape is complimentary and doesn’t contradict the natural growth pattern. A cut this length does grow out quickly, so routine trims are a must to keep it sharp.
#17 Defined Curls on a Short Shag
The soft bouncy curls that are not touched and are tricky to achieve with short curlier textures. There is a bounce to the hair that feels real and not fake. For fine and medium hair the bouncing layers prevent the curls from collapsing onto each other. Light hold gel, scrunched while damp would maintain the definition without weighing the curls down.
#18 Choppy Layers with Some Airiness
This haircut feels light because of how spaced the layers are. With them spaced like this you get the feeling of having more hair without having to use a lot of product or do a ton of crazy styling. For example, the face framing pieces are long enough to do their job but short enough not to fall in your face. I know this seems small, but it really does make a huge difference in how functional and how wearable a style is on a day to day basis.
#19 Wavy Texture with Soft Highlights
Subtle Highlights
These highlights are creating something very subtle, but still very important. They are making the texture more pronounced and helping to accentuate the pattern of the waves. The waves are there whether or not the highlights are there, but the waves would not be as prominent. These highlights are also a wise use of color as they use the cut to support it instead of competing with it. The overall shape is a little relaxed and undone, which works perfectly with the wavy texture.
#20 Lavender Shag at Chin Length
I think the lavender color is a nice surprise! The color choice is very bold, and I love that. It does not look natural, and it might just be what makes it so effective. I think the layers do a good job creating some shape to the fine hair, and chin length keeps it all in proportion. If you like fashion colors, light shades will fade way faster than you’d expect, so a color-safe color-depositing shampoo will help extend it between appointments.
#21 Short Shag with Clean Edges
The defined edges of the cut juxtapose nicely against the softer texture on top. The layers permit movement, while the edges provide an intentional aesthetic. A shape like this would be enhanced with a soft grey or silver hue and the naturally occurring silver tones are varied enough to create an interesting effect with a cut like this, even without any added color.
#22 Blonde Layers with a Little Attitude
The blonde looks bright and warm here and gives the whole cut a nice energy. The short layers give their own texture so you don’t have to do a lot to them when they’re dry. It’s the type of cut that looks good in photos but also looks good on a Tuesday morning when you don’t have to think about it and that really is the test. For maintenance with the blonde, a purple shampoo once a week will keep the brassy tones away.
#23 Shoulder-Length Shag with Easy Volume
The volume in this cut comes from the layering and not the product or technique. This means it will show up even on days you don’t put in the effort. It’s the type of cut I want to give to people, that works for them even when they’re not working for it. The shoulder length also gives it some versatility. The texture through the ends keeps it from looking too neat or too flat.
#24 White Shag with a Modern Softness
I appreciate how white and clean the shag looks. The hair feels layered and textured enough so that it doesn’t appear flat or one-dimensional. The length being above the shoulders is also practical and stylish. The look is polished without being stiff. It really is the perfect balance. It’s the cut that makes it look like you’ve made an effort, even when you haven’t.
#25 Wavy Short Shag with Gray Highlights
These waves make the hairstyle look so lively. The gray highlights harmonize beautifully and look as if they’ve always been there, and that’s how highlights are supposed to look. The asymmetrical layers make the shape softer and add some interest without being too complicated. It does mean styling this will require more of your time. If you want to keep the waves intact a diffuser attachment on your blow dryer will do the trick. The final look is both natural and trendy.
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