Wolf cuts seem to be the hairstyle of the moment; while everyone has their own thoughts on the hairstyle, the particular combination of long shaggy layers and a mullet is often misconstrued as messy and unintentional. In the case of wolf cuts, *constructive* styling is encouraged. For example, when a wolf cut is styled with soft waves, the shaggy layers around the face are complemented and the overall appearance looks softer. Additionally, the mullet shape of the cut adds much needed length and weight towards the back. The soft waves assist in blending the top and bottom halves of the cut, which creates a softer style.
I remember cutting a client’s hair a couple of years ago, and she said she wanted to look like she had just gotten off a plane from some exciting destination. She wasn’t able to specify where, but I thought it was the most interesting description for a style I have ever received. We managed to get a great wavy wolf cut and from that moment on, she was smiling and touching the hair at the back of her neck. We clearly did the right thing. It’s all about the right kind of messiness; it’s not messy hair, but rather having hair that shows you are living an interesting life that is more than just your hair. Ironically, your hair still looks great. I believe these 15 different hairstyles all represent that and I am confident the moment you see the right one, it will speak to you.
#1: Textured Waves with a Fringe That Actually Does Something
One good thing about the style is the way the fringe is framing her face, drawing attention to her eyes and brightening the overall effect. The waves annd their dimension are due in large part to the warmth of the tone – cooler or flatter colors would make the waves look more one-dimensional, and with this same cut and color combination the result would be completely different. This is one of those cases where it is obvious that the color and the cut were meant to go together, and that is always the best outcome. For hair as fine as hers, a lightweight texturizing spray will help keep that movement.
#2 Face-Framing Layers That Stay Gentle
I appreciate the subtleness with this piece, especially other pieces in the show. The layering has done well in terms of separation. The highlights look like someone would have after a week in the sun; That little bit of restraint goes a long way. This is the sort of style that gets better after a few days once everything has settled into place.
#3 Soft Bangs with That Second-Day Energy
What makes this cut so easy is the actual length around the shoulders. Any longer and it would start to feel like a completely different haircut. The bangs are soft enough that they don’t need any styling from you in the morning, they just fall and that’s that. I would recommend this to someone who has had their hair all one length for a long time and wants to feel like a different person without anything too drastic. The tousle is everything so if your hair tends to dry a little flat, use a sea salt spray while it’s damp and don’t touch it again.
#4 Curtain Bangs That Open Everything Up
While curtain bangs can be hard to get right, they can be really great for framing your face. They have to be the perfect length and be parted in just the right place. Look at her hair. The bangs are perfect, and she has the right amount of waves so that the hair and bangs don’t compete and it looks nice and windswept, with just the right amount of hair movement. These types of bangs do require a lot of maintenance though. About every 3-4 weeks these bangs will need to be trimmed, and even a quarter of an inch of growth can completely change the way the bangs sit.
#5 Subtle Highlights Doing the Quiet Work
This style has highlights blended into the layers to enhance the movement of the hair. The highlights will provide motion, warmth, and depth to complement the style but will be barely noticeable. The layering is just enough to give the weight at the bottom to keep the hair from turning frizzy and to help the waves stay defined. If you tend to air dry, this is a good wolf cut option for that.
#6 Copper Waves with Bangs That Mean Business
The copper color is rich, and she accessorized with gold. That is more difficult than people realize. It warms her entire complexion and makes her hair waves look almost more intentionally uneven, like in raw pottery, more beautiful because of the imperfections. I appreciate that the bangs have a little chunk to them, they aren’t wispy for the sake of being wispy. If you are thinking of going copper, the bad news is that It’s one of the fast-fashion colors that fade. Bring a color-depositing shampoo to your appointments to keep it from going brassy.
#7 Warm Copper with a Softer Approach
This look is more laid back than the copper one. The bangs seem lighter and more flowing which contributes to a different energy to the style. The previous look felt a bit more serious, while this one looks like she just rolled out of bed and the hair looks awesome. These back middle layers offer just the right amount of shape without getting too heavy and the best thing is that her copper shade is warmer than just a flat color and this is the sort of hair that people will comment on how great you look without being able to put their finger on why.
#8 The Kind of Layers You Don’t Have to Think About
For those who want to put minimal effort with their hair, but want to feel nice when looking in the mirror this is the option I would recommend. The face framing layers create a flattering shape around the cheekbones without any work from you. The relaxed waves look both natural like a just-got-out-of-the-ocean kind of vibe or a little more polished like they were created with a curling iron, and that uncertainty is part of the beauty. A balayage would add some dimension here if you wanted to take if a step further, but honestly, it’s beautiful just the way it is.
#9 Textured Bangs with Warm, Lived-In Color
Out of all the bangs in this collection, these have the most texture, which adds an editorial element to the cut without being try-hard. The warm, soft tones running through the mid-lengths make everything cohesive, as if the color and the cut grew up together. The layering is what I keep coming back to. It’s very subtle to the point where you wouldn’t really think of it as layers, just that the hair moves with a certain kind of intelligence, which is the mark of really good cutting.
#10 Thick Waves with a Structure That Holds
Have you been told that thick hair cannot pull off wolf cuts? The hair in this picture is a great example to prove the doubters wrong. The waves in this hair are super beautiful, and are a natural result of the thick hair. It looks soft and the waves are natural and don’t need product to keep them in place. The highlights really add dimension and contrast to each wave and you can tell the stylist was super intentional. It’s fantastic considering the effort it takes, and that is always the goal.
#11 Fluffy Bangs That Change the Whole Feeling
You will have a certain lightness that will extend to the ends and will be hard to achieve more fluffy look youthful and more soft feel to it without being drastic. Balanced just enough to keep things interesting without making a statement. The colors highlight well. A change in the way your hair moves but not in the way it looks in the mirror.
#12 Warm-Toned Layers with a Lived-In Bounce
What I love the most is that the waves are not uniform! This creates so much movement and dimension, it looks like the hair has an amazing day! The warm tone adds depth and helps the layers stand out and not look choppy. The bangs are soft and easy going, the type that look even better without styling. If you feel like your layers are losing shape before your next haircut a little lightweight mousse on damp hair will do the trick.
#13 Natural Highlights Playing Off Thick Texture
The thickness of her hair is what makes the cut special and the cut is smart enough to let it do the talking. The layers were placed to promote movement rather than just remove bulk, which is a distinction that frankly matters more than most people give it credit for. The natural highlights give it an almost sun-kissed quality, like this is just how her hair is meant to be. Elongated, retained hair creates a tedious quality that can overwhelm and remove the ease, dispositional look that this style has, so I suggest that you find yourself coming in for ascetics every six to eight weeks.
#14 Lighter Highlights Against a Darker Base, Done Right
The waves help to blend the cut and keep the contrast soft. Dimension in this hairstyle comes from the contrast between darker roots and lighter ends. Bangs that are cut properly have that oh so casual look, as if they just fell like that. This effect, along with the blended look in motion, is a result of the cut. If your hair is fine and you want a look with that sort of fullness, simply apply a volumizing spray at the roots prior to blow drying.
#15 Shoulder-Length Texture with a Fringe That Plays Along
This style is the most versatile type and is a great way to complete the look. While the practicality is still maintained, the shoulder length layering adds the wolf cut shape. The bangs are also soft enough to be pushed to the side if you want to close the fringe. The waves look effortless, but are actually a polished, balanced look that takes practice. The highlights also add to the overall look, so it doesn’t become flat in some lights, and that is the level of detail that separates a good haircut from a great one.
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