30 Shag Haircuts

One of the most popular looks of past decades, shag haircuts have enjoyed their time as a trendy style, in one form or another, all the way until today. From Stevie Nicks’ gypsy hair and Farrah Fawcett’s feathered style to ’90s darlings Meg Ryan and (of course) Jennifer Aniston with “The Rachel”, countless reincarnations have kept the ultra-layered appeal of the shag haircut from ever truly disappearing. Partly thanks to our current obsession with reviving ’90s trends in beauty and fashion, a new shag era is upon us. The current crop of shag cuts are mostly seen in shoulder and bob length styles, making them the perfect choice for thick haired women who are looking to lose some of the bulk and weight that can make their hair difficult to style. For some inspiration on how to get one of these fun, flirty haircuts for yourself, take a look at our 30 favorite shag haircuts.

Combining the ease and wearability of a bob with heavily textured cutting, this shag haircut is modern and incredibly flattering. Bangs are left long enough to graze the eyes, which should allow most women to get away with less styling effort.

Unlike the classic sleek pixie, this short cut is much choppier and messier, making it a good choice for women with coarse or naturally curly hair that won’t stay in a smooth, sleek style. Tousled short cuts like this one also give extra room to play with dimensional color, like Kiera Knightley’s honey highlights.

Most shag haircuts are at least a little reminiscent of the ’70s, but this mid length shag with convertible bangs is the real vintage deal. Pair this cut with an edgy, well-tailored wardrobe to keep elements of modernity in your overall style.

Victoria Beckham’s hugely trend-setting pixie cut might not be the first thing that comes to mind when you think of shag styles, but its series of layers create a tousled effect everywhere except the bangs.

For those who only want a subtle dose of shag in their haircut, this pixie keeps hair long and straight in front, but features a series of layers in the back. The nape undercut is in keeping with modern trend while also preventing hair from looking mullet-like in the back.

A thick-haired woman’s dream come true, this style features heavy bangs that take a lot of hair to pull off, while the rest of hair is cut in three distinct layers that eliminate heaviness and bulk.

While the lob still reigns supreme as the trendiest hairstyle, Julianne Hough’s recent debut of this much more layered version might have shag styles poised to be next year’s “it” cut. The perfect marriage between the modern lob and ’90s super style “The Rachel”, this layered cut works for all seasons and hair types, although women with ultra fine hair may find it falls flat.

Are you looking for simple but chic shag haircuts ideas? For model Arizona Muse, this soft but shaggy, boy-inspired cut is the perfect complement to her stunning cheekbones and intense blue eyes. To keep some feminine elements in your style, pair this hair with smoky eyes or red lips.

Adding some wave to your hair can get you the shaggy look without cutting as many layers, making this a good technique to try out before you commit to further cutting. With messy tendrils throughout the rest of the hair, a shorter side swept bang adds a nice tame element and keeps the curls from taking over your face.

Lisa Rinna is such a big fan of this shaggy bob look that she’s worn the same style for close to twenty years! This retro-inspired style is a great option for middle aged women who are looking for a new haircut that’s longer than a pixie but shorter than their current style.

One of the longest shag haircuts on our list, this style is long enough to incorporate four distinct layers. Keep in mind that unlike a more traditional long style, the shorter layers make this less low maintenance when it comes to quick updo styles like ponytails and buns.

When reigning sitcom queen Kaley Cuoco cut her signature blonde locks, she shocked fans and inspired many to do the same. Keeping with her bright, bubbly persona both on and off screen, the pixie she opted for is fun, flirty and full of layers.

While Jennifer Lawrence seems to impress us in every role and look she takes on, her slightly shaggy shoulder length hairstyle was a surprisingly mature with a modern twist. For a dressy event, curling hair away from the face keeps a layered style like this from looking too helmet-like or distracting from features.

Although sleek and shaggy are often opposing terms when it comes to describing hairstyles, this is a brilliant example of doing both at once. This mid length style has three distinct layers that give it a shaggy appearance, but hair has been styled straight and with tons of shine. With a long, heavy bang that falls across the eyes, the overall look is young, edgy and bold.