The shag haircut has made a triumphant comeback in men’s hair fashion, offering a perfect blend of vintage charm and modern edge. This versatile style is characterized by its layered, textured look that exudes a carefree and effortlessly cool vibe.
Whether you’re looking for a subtle change or a bold transformation, there’s a shag haircut that’s perfect for you. Let’s explore 20 amazing shag haircuts that will elevate your style game and turn heads wherever you go.
1. Classic Medium-Length Shag
The classic medium-length shag is the epitome of the shag haircut’s essence. This timeless style features layers that start at the crown and gradually cascade down to create a textured, tousled look. The hair typically falls between the ears and shoulders, with feathered ends that add movement and dimension.
To achieve this look, ask your stylist for choppy layers throughout your hair, focusing on creating volume at the crown. The sides and back should be cut to blend seamlessly with the top, resulting in a cohesive, lived-in appearance. This style works well for various hair types but is particularly flattering for those with straight to wavy hair.
Styling tip: Use a texturizing spray or sea salt spray to enhance the natural texture and add some grit to your hair. Scrunch the product into damp hair and let it air dry for that perfect, effortless look.
2. Short Textured Shag
For those who prefer a low-maintenance yet stylish option, the short textured shag is an excellent choice. This cut features shorter layers all around, typically not extending past the ears. The top is left slightly longer to create contrast and allow for versatile styling options.
The key to this look is the choppy, point-cut ends that create a piecey, textured appearance. This technique adds depth and dimension to the hair, making it appear fuller and more dynamic. The short textured shag is perfect for men with fine to medium hair who want to add some volume and movement to their look.
Styling tip: Work a small amount of matte pomade or clay through dry hair, focusing on creating separation and texture. Use your fingers to tousle and piece out sections for a perfectly disheveled finish.
3. Long Layered Shag
The long layered shag is a bold and striking option for men who aren’t afraid to make a statement with their hair. This style features longer layers that typically fall past the shoulders, creating a dramatic and rock-inspired look.
The key to this cut is the strategic layering that starts high up near the crown and continues throughout the length of the hair. This technique removes bulk and adds movement, preventing the long hair from looking heavy or lifeless. The ends are often razored or point-cut to create a soft, feathered effect that enhances the overall texture.
Styling tip: Use a lightweight styling cream to define and separate the layers. For added texture and volume, try braiding your damp hair overnight and unraveling it in the morning for effortless, beachy waves.
4. Curly Shag
The curly shag is a match made in heaven for men blessed with natural curls or waves. This cut embraces and enhances your hair’s natural texture, creating a look that’s both stylish and easy to maintain.
The curly shag features shorter layers around the crown and gradually longer layers towards the bottom. This technique helps to remove weight from the hair, allowing curls to spring up and maintain their shape. The overall effect is a voluminous, textured look that celebrates your natural curl pattern.
Styling tip: Apply a curl-defining cream to damp hair and scrunch upwards to encourage curl formation. Allow your hair to air dry or use a diffuser attachment on your hairdryer to minimize frizz and maintain curl definition.
5. Messy Fringe Shag
The messy fringe shag combines the textured layers of a traditional shag with a bold, eye-catching fringe. This style features longer layers on top that are cut into a choppy fringe, typically falling just above or at the eyebrows. The sides and back are kept shorter but still maintain the characteristic shag texture.
This cut is perfect for those who want to add some edge to their look while framing their face in a flattering way. The messy fringe can be styled in various ways, from swept to the side for a more polished appearance to straight down for a rock-inspired vibe.
Styling tip: Use a texturizing powder at the roots to add volume and grip. Style the fringe with your fingers, creating a piece-y, undone look that complements the overall shaggy texture.
6. Mullet Shag
The mullet shag is a modern take on the infamous “business in the front, party in the back” hairstyle. This contemporary version combines the layered texture of a shag with the length disparity of a mullet, resulting in a edgy and fashion-forward look.
The top and sides are cut shorter, with plenty of choppy layers to create volume and texture. The back is left longer, typically falling to the nape of the neck or beyond. The transition between the shorter top and longer back is more gradual and blended than in a traditional mullet, giving it a more cohesive and stylish appearance.
Styling tip: Use a volumizing mousse on damp hair, focusing on the roots and crown area. Blow-dry with a round brush to create lift at the roots, and finish with a light-hold hairspray to maintain the style while keeping it touchable.
7. Taper Fade Shag
The taper fade shag combines the textured, layered top of a shag haircut with the clean, graduated sides of a taper fade. This fusion creates a stylish contrast between the messy, carefree top and the neat, well-groomed sides and back.
The top is cut in the classic shag style with choppy layers that add volume and texture. The sides and back are tapered, gradually getting shorter as they near the ears and neckline. This cut offers versatility in styling, as you can choose how dramatic you want the fade to be – from a subtle taper to a more pronounced skin fade.
Styling tip: Apply a matte clay or paste to damp hair and use your fingers to style the top into a messy, textured look. The contrast between the styled top and clean sides will create a striking, modern appearance.
8. Shaggy Pompadour
The shaggy pompadour puts a textured, laid-back spin on the classic sleek pompadour. This style features longer hair on top that’s styled upwards and backwards, creating height and volume at the front. However, unlike a traditional pompadour, the shaggy version embraces a more tousled, piece-y look.
The sides are typically kept shorter but not buzzed, maintaining some length to blend with the top. The key to this style is the choppy layers cut throughout the top, which allow for a more relaxed, undone finish while still maintaining the iconic pompadour silhouette.
Styling tip: Apply a volumizing mousse to damp hair and blow-dry the top section upwards and backwards using a round brush. Once dry, use your fingers to work through a texturizing paste, creating separation and a disheveled finish.
9. Asymmetrical Shag
The asymmetrical shag is a bold and artistic take on the traditional shag haircut. This style features uneven lengths throughout the hair, with one side typically cut shorter than the other. The asymmetry can be subtle or dramatic, depending on your preference.
Layers are cut throughout the hair to create the characteristic shaggy texture, but the varying lengths add an extra dimension of interest and edge. This cut is perfect for those who want to make a statement with their hair and aren’t afraid to stand out from the crowd.
Styling tip: Embrace the natural fall of your asymmetrical cut by using a salt spray on damp hair and allowing it to air dry. For a more polished look, use a flat iron to create subtle bends and waves in different directions, enhancing the intentional messiness of the style.
10. Shaggy Caesar Cut
The shaggy Caesar cut is a textured twist on the classic Roman-inspired hairstyle. Traditionally, a Caesar cut features short, horizontal bangs with hair of equal length all around the head. The shaggy version maintains the short length but incorporates choppy layers and texturizing techniques to create a more modern, edgy look.
The fringe is cut in a choppy, piece-y manner rather than in a straight line, and the overall length is slightly longer than a traditional Caesar cut. This allows for more styling versatility and a less severe appearance.
Styling tip: Work a small amount of texturizing cream through damp hair, using your fingers to create separation and definition. Allow the hair to air dry for a natural, effortless finish.
11. Shaggy Quiff
The shaggy quiff combines the volume and height of a classic quiff with the textured, layered look of a shag haircut. This style features longer hair on top that’s styled upwards and slightly backwards, creating a voluminous front section. The sides are kept shorter but not buzzed, maintaining some length to blend with the top.
What sets the shaggy quiff apart is the incorporation of choppy layers throughout the top section. This creates a more relaxed, tousled appearance compared to the sleek, polished look of a traditional quiff.
Styling tip: Apply a volumizing mousse to damp hair and blow-dry the top section upwards using a round brush. Once dry, use your fingers to work through a texturizing powder or dry shampoo to add grit and separation.
12. Shaggy Bob
The shaggy bob is a longer variation of the classic shag, typically falling between the chin and shoulders. This style is characterized by its choppy layers and textured ends, which create a relaxed, bohemian vibe.
The layers start higher up on the head, adding volume to the crown area and gradually becoming longer towards the ends. This technique removes bulk from the hair and adds movement, preventing the bob from looking heavy or shapeless.
Styling tip: Apply a leave-in conditioner to damp hair and scrunch upwards to encourage natural texture. For added definition, use a small curling iron or flat iron to create subtle bends and waves throughout the hair.
13. Undercut Shag
The undercut shag combines the edgy contrast of an undercut with the textured, layered top of a shag haircut. This style features longer, shaggy hair on top with the sides and back buzzed short or even shaved.
The top section is cut with choppy layers to create volume and texture, while the stark contrast with the short sides adds a bold, modern edge to the look. This cut is perfect for those who want to maintain some length and styling versatility on top while keeping the sides neat and low-maintenance.
Styling tip: Apply a sea salt spray to damp hair and blow-dry the top section using your fingers to create a tousled, windswept look. Finish with a light-hold hairspray to maintain the style without weighing it down.
14. Platinum Blonde Shag
The platinum blonde shag combines a striking hair color with the textured, layered cut of a shag. This bold look features an all-over platinum blonde hue that makes a statement and adds an extra dimension to the shaggy texture.
The cut itself follows the classic shag structure with choppy layers throughout, typically at a medium length. The light color helps to accentuate the layers and texture, creating a eye-catching, rock-inspired look.
Styling tip: Use a purple shampoo and conditioner to maintain the cool tone of your platinum color. Style with a texturizing paste to enhance the piece-y texture and add definition to the layers.
15. Shaggy Faux Hawk
The shaggy faux hawk puts a textured spin on the classic mohawk-inspired style. This cut features longer hair on top that’s styled upwards to create a central ridge, mimicking a mohawk. However, instead of shaved sides, the hair gradually gets shorter towards the sides and back.
What sets this apart from a traditional faux hawk is the incorporation of choppy layers and texturizing techniques throughout the top section. This creates a more relaxed, undone appearance that aligns with the shag aesthetic.
Styling tip: Apply a strong-hold mousse to damp hair and blow-dry the top section upwards using a round brush. Once dry, use your fingers to work through a matte clay or paste, creating height in the center and texture throughout.
16. Shaggy Bowl Cut
The shaggy bowl cut is a modern, textured take on the retro bowl cut style. While it maintains the general silhouette of a bowl cut with a rounded shape framing the face, the shaggy version incorporates choppy layers and texturizing techniques to create a more relaxed, lived-in look.
The fringe is cut in a piece-y manner rather than in a straight line, and layers are incorporated throughout to add movement and reduce bulk. This updated version is more forgiving and versatile than its vintage counterpart.
Styling tip: Apply a lightweight styling cream to damp hair and use your fingers to scrunch and enhance natural texture. Allow the hair to air dry for a effortlessly cool finish.
17. Curly Top Shag
The curly top shag is perfect for men with naturally curly or coily hair who want to embrace their texture while maintaining a stylish, modern look. This cut features longer, curly hair on top with shorter sides and back, creating a flattering shape that showcases your natural curl pattern.
The top is cut with layers to remove bulk and allow curls to spring up and maintain their shape. The sides and back are cut shorter but not buzzed, creating a gradual transition that complements the overall shaggy aesthetic.
Styling tip: Apply a curl-defining cream to soaking wet hair and use the “praying hands” method to distribute the product evenly. Scrunch upwards to encourage curl formation and either air dry or use a diffuser attachment on low heat to minimize frizz.
18. Shaggy Mohawk
The shaggy mohawk combines the edgy silhouette of a traditional mohawk with the textured, layered look of a shag haircut. This bold style features a strip of longer hair running from the forehead to the nape of the neck, with the sides cut very short or shaved.
What sets this apart from a classic mohawk is the incorporation of choppy layers and texturizing techniques throughout the longer top section. This creates a more relaxed, piece-y appearance that aligns with the shag aesthetic while maintaining the dramatic impact of a mohawk.
Styling tip: Apply a strong-hold gel or mousse to damp hair and use a blow dryer with a diffuser attachment to create volume and enhance natural texture. Once dry, use your fingers to work through a texturizing powder or dry shampoo for added grit and separation.
19. Wavy Shag with Side Part
The wavy shag with side part is a versatile and sophisticated take on the shag haircut. This style works particularly well for men with naturally wavy hair, as it enhances and showcases the hair’s natural texture.
The cut features choppy layers throughout, with a length that typically falls between the ears and shoulders. The addition of a deep side part adds structure to the otherwise relaxed style, creating a nice balance between polished and carefree.
Styling tip: Apply a wave-enhancing cream to damp hair and use your fingers to scrunch and encourage natural texture. Create a deep side part while the hair is still damp, and allow it to air dry or use a diffuser on low heat. Finish with a light-hold hairspray to maintain the style without compromising the natural movement.
20. Textured Crop Shag
The textured crop shag is a shorter, more structured version of the shag haircut that’s perfect for men who want a low-maintenance yet stylish look. This cut features a cropped length on top with choppy layers and a textured fringe.
The sides and back are cut shorter than the top but not buzzed, maintaining some length to blend with the overall shaggy aesthetic. The result is a cut that’s neat enough for professional settings but with enough edge and texture to stand out.
Styling tip: Work a small amount of matte clay or fiber through dry hair, focusing on creating separation and texture. Use your fingers to piece out the fringe and top section for a perfectly disheveled finish.
In conclusion, the shag haircut offers a wide range of possibilities for men looking to add some texture and edge to their style. Whether you prefer short and low-maintenance or long and dramatic, there’s a shag variation that will suit your personal taste and lifestyle. Remember, the key to rocking a shag haircut is embracing its natural, lived-in texture – so don’t be afraid to tousle, scrunch, and let your hair’s natural character shine through.