Clients over the age of 60 at my salon, are starting to show interest in wavy shag haircuts, and to me, that is really exciting! Wavy shag haircuts are great because they celebrate your hair’s natural texture instead of fighting against it. Just recently, I had a blowout bob client of 15 years, and I was FINALLY able to convince her to get a wavy shag. When she left, she was emotional because for the first time, it felt like she had hair instead of a style that was just placed on her. A lot of people think that shag haircuts create a style, and if you think that, then you probably just haven’t had one.
Wavy shags allow for creativity with all kinds of different looks. I’ve done choppy rock and roll, soft romantic, and all different kinds of color and silver shags. Shags look good on every hair type and texture which is great! Whether your fine hair needs fullness or your thick hair needs some weight taken out so it actually moves, I want to share some of my favorite looks I have!
#1: Tousled Layered Bob with Soft Texture
I love this tousled bob! It has a ‘just got out of bed’ look, but in a good way. I like how the modern waves look effortless and not too styled. This bob definitely does the job of making fine hair look full and thick. It’s very youthful, but the bangs are not. The look is so put together that on a good hair day, you could just throw in some sea spray and let it dry.
#2 Long Wavy Layers with Rich Auburn Color
I can’t get enough of the stunning auburn shade and long wavy layers! Her warm tones make her skin and face glow! I just wish more of my clients would be this adventurous! The style with long and flowing layers gives sooo many styling options, so you can wear it all down, do some up, a loose braid, etc. You can really switch it up to whatever! It does take commitment to keep long hair looking this healthy and vibrant, but if you’re someone who actually enjoys hair routines, this is SO worth it!
#3 Bouncy Purple Wavy Shag with Defined Layers
WOW! Look at that purple! I love the bright violet and the fun, layered texture. This is for a client who walks in and says, “I want something FUN” and really means it. The layers provide movement and avoid that wispy, thin look that medium density hair can give. But I’m going to be honest with you, a bold color like this means you’ll be spending a lot of time with your colorist because keeping purple that saturated takes a lot of upkeep. But if you are the type of person who loves a bold statement? Then do it!
#4 Relaxed Wavy Texture with Light Layers
This hair cut is excellent! I like the relaxed waves and how the layers are light so they won’t make fine hair look stringy at the bottom. It looks like you can wash and go with a light mousse or other styling product. Plus the shoulder length is forgiving when styling with a crew neck or v-neck top.
#5 Airy Wavy Shag with Face-Framing Pieces
**Face framing layers on this hair is so gorgeous!** I appreciate how the layers sweep around the cheekbones and the jaw. The waves give the hair so much more dimension. Not to mention the natural waves make the hair look so light and airy which is the perfect look for a shag. It is effortlessly gorgeous. You are going to love this style if your hair has a natural wave to it. It will make your morning routine so easy!
#6 Layered Wavy Shag with Subtle Balayage
Describing the balayage style as ‘perfectly imperfect’ is a compliment. It is not striped. It looks as if your hair naturally has these light and dark variations. Good balayage makes your hair look as though you’ve always had good hair. The shag cut has great movement with the layers, and the length falls right in that sweet spot where it’s long enough to pull back, but short enough that it doesn’t drag everything down. This is ideal for anyone wanting a polished look without the forty minute round brush and blow dry styling commitment.
#7 Copper Wavy Shag with Cheekbone-Framing Bangs
I really love the warm copper color, and paired with the face-framing bangs? Stunning. These bangs don’t seem to look heavy or blunt. They look soft and piece-y, which makes the look appear like it’s not overly done, ya know? Plus, the copper color radiates warmth. It’s the kind of color that makes people stop and say, “You look fantastic! Did you do something different?” without knowing what the change was. Real talk, bangs like this will need a trim every 3-4 weeks or they will do their own thing, and you will want to keep a mini anti-frizz serum in your bag because of the humidity.
#8 Chocolate Brown Wavy Shag with Soft Bangs
That chocolate brown and wavy shag are a match made in heaven! The depth from the color looks so good, and the color itself is amazing! The light bounces off each layer at different angles creating a beautiful dimension that flat colors just don’t have. The soft bang look is very casual. It feels like they’re going for a ‘let me just softly cover your forehead’ sort of vibe rather than committing to a full heavy fringe. Overall, the style is contemporary but completely adaptable for day to day outfits.
#9 Warm Copper Shag with Mid-Length Layers
That copper tone is WARM warm, like autumn leaves and caramel and I am into it. What I really want you to notice here though is how the front layers are cut to fall right around the face in a way that adds dimension, it’s almost like built-in contouring but with hair. The waves give it energy and keep it from looking flat or boring, which is always a risk with mid-length cuts if they’re not layered properly. This is a great example of a cut where the color and the shape are really working together as a team, neither one is carrying the other, they’re both pulling their weight.
#10 Gentle Layered Wavy Shag with Soft Highlights
These highlights are designed for the light to hit and illuminate the hair as intended. It also includes soft layers intended to give a feminine touch and good vibes if that’s the look you’re trying to achieve. For the loose waves, a big barrel curling iron should do the job. Nice that it doesn’t require much effort.
#11 Shoulder-Length Wavy Shag with Textured Bangs
As shown here, bangs can change the entire mood of a haircut. Without bangs, this would be a nice wavy shag. WITH bangs, she gets a whole new personality and attitude that I love. These bangs are a bit choppy and a bit piece-y, but a little undone keeps it modern instead of too prim. The rest of the cut has that light airy quality that’s great for finer hair. The layers are creating volume where it is needed the most at the crown and mid-lengths. If you’ve been wanting to get bangs but are afraid of the commitment, this textured style is a great way to dip your toes in!
#12 Red Wavy Shag with Bouncy Layers
With the bright red color added to the outfit, it looks stunning! The red is such a nice addition to the outfit. The layers of the hairstyle all have great movement! I can see the waves are shaped and styled nicely. The bangs are great and blended with the face-framing layers so it all looks good together. The hairstyle looks definetly more loose and free. I get my clients prepared for the color red because it is extremely high maintenence. If you want to have this hairstyle, you should get color redepositing shampoo to keep it fresh.
#13 Soft Wavy Shag with Airy Volume
I want to be able to run my fingers through this haircut. The way the layers give form to the hair without it becoming too bulky is especially true for fine to medium hair. Not to mention that the highlights are around the perfect amount, with just the perfect amount of dimension to keep the hair looking interesting but not too over the top. That kind of taste to keep it subtle is much more difficult to do than the typical big, dramatic highlight. Thick haired people, be ready because this cut will need some special approach. In order to keep the hair from looking too triangular you will need to do some internal layering!
#14 Tousled Red Wavy Shag with Lively Movement
I can’t get enough of the effortless vibe that this relaxed finish is creating, I am HERE for it. The combination of the warm red colour and chin length cut is so fun and the overall feeling is happy and confident while keeping it effortless. The layers create beautiful movement and the shape’s slight roundness is lovely and adds a nice touch. There’s something about a chin length shag like this that makes people look so put together. I don’t make the rules, just an observation from behind the chair.
#15 Shoulder-Length Wavy Shag with Soft Textured Bangs
I love how this look is not trying to be 25. It is sophisticated and current, and age-appropriate in the BEST way. It’s not pretending to be something it’s not. It’s just a really nice cut on nice hair. The natural wave is, of course, enhanced by the layering. The bangs are soft enough to push aside if you want them out of your face, but present enough to add that extra something. For anyone with finer hair, who’s been scared of a shag because it might look too thin, THIS is the version you show your stylist, because it proves you can absolutely make it work.
#16 Golden Wavy Shag with Warmth and Movement
I can hardly tear my eyes away from that gorgeous golden color. It’s the sort of shade that will lighten your complexion and give your skin that radiant glow and your eyes an added pop, which, let’s be honest, is what most hair colors aim for. The layers here are soft and blended. Not a single harsh line. Everything is just seamlessly flowing into each other which creates a beautiful cascading effect when the hair moves. You’ll definitely want to use a wave defining styling cream to keep the texture from looking frizzy (especially if it’s second or third day hair).
#17 Voluminous Layered Wavy Shag with Soft Body
I notice when I give this cut to a client, their confidence goes up, so I expect my confidence cut clients to strut out of the salon. The layers around the front are so flattering and the blend into longer lengths at the back is great for volume and movement! The special thing about this one is that the layers are underdone, and fine hair tends to be flat, but around the crown and ears, the layers help avoid that issue. It’s surprising how much of a difference good layering makes!
#18 Pastel Pink Wavy Shag with Soft Texture
When it comes to pastel pink, I think it’s just dreamy! I would love to have this color for myself. In fashion, there’s this ideology that soft colors or “fashion colors” are only intended for younger people, which I absolutely refuse to agree with. Just look at this color! It’s soft pink, beautifully textured with waves, and dreamy. It is so ethereal! I love it! Unfortunately, pastel colors often mean having to go to a very pale blonde in order to get there. This can take quite a bit of time and the color also fades faster than darker shades. If you are fully committed to the process and love spending time in the salon, and most importantly love being creative with your hair, then do it! You won’t regret it!
#19 Blue-Toned Wavy Shag with Textured Fringe
Surprising my clients brings me joy, especially when it comes to this set! I love how the blue and natural gray colors will work! It seems like keeping the gray hidden won’t be a concern. The textured fringe will add so much detail to this look! The short to medium lengths will keep it easy to manage, and it will also allow for lots of movement from the layers. There will be a lot of fun to be had with this, but I can’t say there won’t be any work involved. Vivid blues and for this look will shift to green when the water temperature, products, and maintenance are not carefully controlled. Yes, it will absolutely be more maintenance than most colors, but you will be signing up for it!
#20 Medium-Length Wavy Shag with Natural Texture
From time to time effortless looking hairstyles are some of the most attractive and this example is a perfect illustration of this. With no inconsistent layers fighting against the flow of this style, the natural waves are encouraged. Additionally, the cut of the jawline Face framing layers is artfully designed to direct attention to the center of the face which is very complimentary to just about anyone. It makes me want to encourage anyone who has naturally wavy hair to stop straightening, or fighting their texture, or have any mixed feelings about their hair, to consider that you may have been searching for an answer and the answer is your hair’s natural texture! All you probably needed was the right haircut to reveal it.
#21 Chin-Length Wavy Shag with Playful Texture
Many people overlook chin-length shag cuts because of the misconception that hair cut lengths that are shorter are less versatile. The “chin length shag” cut offers a counter example because jaw-length shag cuts are the perfect length to show off the waves and textures of a person’s hair. Fine hair is often considered boring and lifeless, but when added to waves and curls, it takes on a more voluminous and thicker appearance. The length of the hair coupled with the layers and the waves gives a look that is “effortlessly cool.” Jaw-length hair is versatile and with the addition of waves the hair will appear thicker. The best thing about shag cuts is that they are low maintenance. The cut works for whatever drying method is chosen – air dry, blow dry, or a natural dry. It also works great no matter how it dries.
#22 Burgundy Wavy Shag with Dimension and Warmth
If you’re looking to dye your hair red but want something that won’t be too loud, I will argue till the day I die that THIS burgundy is the option to go for. It’s deep, rich, and sophisticated. This shade combines just the right amount of warmth to be classified as a red, but it won’t scream “LOOK AT MY HAIR” from across the street. The way the hair was layered in this look is done really well. There is more layering and framing around the face to give volume where it is needed but enough length is left so the ends don’t look wispy. Touch ups are required for burgundy as it tends to fade to a muddy color, however the in between stages are still nice to look at. Because of this, burgundy is more forgiving than many red shades.
#23 Fiery Wavy Shag with Playful Layered Movement
I’m really loving the color and with these playful layers, it’s an incredibly vibrant style. I like how the waves are not completely uniform and have a mix of tight and looser ones. It gives an appearance of real hair and never is a “too done” style more appealing. This shoulder length is that perfect Goldilocks zone where you can still tie it up if you want to, but it’s also short enough that it doesn’t feel heavy or too much. The warmth of the color looks beautiful with a wide variety of skin tones. Such a beautiful color, I would definitely say it’s a “crowd pleaser”.
#24 Breezy Wavy Shag with Longer Back Layers
The design is good. The back is longer than the front which creates a nice waterfall effect. It gives a good frame around the face and you can also have length to mess around with. The texture is light and breezy which is the best type of hair that looks good when the wind grabs it. Not something you can say with every haircut. For fine hair that is likely to go flat by noon, volumizing mousse which is worked through the roots when it’s still damp is going to be your best friend with this cut. It will keep the airy bounce throughout the day.
#25 Curly Wavy Shag with Volume and Face-Framing Layers
I love this look because it lets you embrace and celebrate your natural curls! For sure, face-framing layers let the curls be the main event! These layers are designed to go with your curl pattern, so they work in so everything will fall into place instead of poofing out in a ton of spots. You have so much natural volume, so not a ton of styling is required— just some good moisturizing! It’s important to keep your curls hydrated since wavy and curly hair tend to be naturally dry. Trust me on this one— good leave-in conditioner will be the difference between your curls looking lifeless and looking great! Bouncy curls look amazing, while dried out curls are a bad look!
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