If you are looking for an effortlessly cool and undeniably edgy hairstyle, look no further than the shag. The haircut has been favored by rock gods and celebrities since the 70s when it was first created by barber Paul McGregor, and it remains relevant decades later because of its versatility. The cut features feathered, choppy layers and a fuller crown, with the hair thinning toward the ends. It is an excellent way to give your hair movement and volume and is ideal for men who want a hairstyle that requires minimal styling but is still super sexy. You can easily adapt the cut to suit your preference, including complementing your face shape and hair texture and altering it to your desired length. Need more inspiration before taking the plunge? Keep reading and find the perfect shag haircut for men.
1. Curly Shag Haircut With Sweeping Bangs
The shag haircut has been popular since its invention in the 1970s by barber Paul McGregor. It remains relevant decades on because of its versatility. The style can be easily adapted to suit your hair texture and desired length, leaving you with a unique and carefree hairstyle to make you look and feel good. Sweeping bangs will give the shag a youthful finish and draw attention to the face.
2. Medium Length Textured Shag
The shag is a medium-length hairstyle that is defined by its layers, with volume at the crown and the hair thinning toward the ends. The choppy layers are an excellent way to add texture to the hair, giving it movement and bounce and making it look healthy and full. This is an excellent option for any man who wants an edgy and cool look.
3. Gender Neutral Shag Hairstyle
There are many ways to wear the shag hairstyle, and it is a cut that looks great on men and women. A gender-neutral haircut has masculine and feminine elements and can be worn by anyone. This particular look is still layered with fullness at the crown but has a softer finish, with layers cut and positioned to flatter the facial features.
4. Voluminous Shag Haircut
The shag is an excellent haircut for achieving volume and movement. This is created using layers, which create fullness at the crown and thin out toward the ends of the hair. Keeping more length on the top will add to the volume. This is a look that complements naturally textured hair, like curly hair. It is also effortlessly cool and low maintenance, which makes it a favorite cut for men.
5. Shag Haircut on Coily Hair
The shag haircut is nothing if not versatile and can be adapted to suit all hair textures, including coily hair. Coily hair is a type of curly hair that is defined by its tight curls and zig-zag shape. This is an excellent texture for creating fullness and achieving volume. Still, it can also be challenging to style, so a deliberately undone and messy haircut like the shag can complement the natural movement in the hair.
6. Blended Layered Shag Haircut
Some shag haircuts have choppy, heavy layers, while others are created to have a softer, more blended finish. This is especially easy to achieve on naturally curly hair. To create a blended layered shag, you want a more gradual difference in length from the top of the head to the ends, so while you will still have volume, the result is less edgy.
7. Long Hair Shag Haircut
For men with long hair, you can style it into a shag haircut. The classic shag is often worn at a medium length, but the cut is adaptable, letting you experiment with different lengths, and the way the hair is cut with the heavy layers will remove some of the weight and bulk that comes with having long hair. Work with your barber to create layers that add movement and frame the face for a flattering finish.
8. 70s Shag Haircut
The shag was created in the 70s, and the original cut had a very androgynous look. It has choppy ends and layers around the crown, which helps to achieve volume. It was also worn with a fringe and was appealing because of its deliberately unstructured finish, which gave the cut an effortlessly cool and rebellious feel. A fringe can be a great option for men who want to create a youthful finish and highlight their facial features.
9. Tousled Shag
There is something incredibly sexy about tousled hair, and it creates a deliberately messy look to create a laidback and carefree appearance. The tousled shag is a haircut that works best on naturally textured hair and will have feathered layers cut into the top of the hair, to create volume and fullness while also giving the hair movement and dimension.
10. Blonde Shag Haircut
Blonde hair is an excellent option for your shag haircut and can make the angles of the cut and the layers even more noticeable than they would be on darker hair. The brightness of the color is an excellent way to give your hair a lift, and depending on how you apply the color, it can also be used to create depth and dimension.
11. Choppy Shag Haircut
The shag haircut can be cut in various ways to suit your preference best; this includes using choppy layers. Choppy layers are a bold cut that will give the hair texture and a blunt finish. This is an excellent way to create movement and will make a more noticeable contrast between the hair on the top of the head and the thinning toward the ends. Choppy layers are best suited to naturally thick hair and can remove bulk and weight.
12. Shag Haircut on Straight Hair
What is not to like about the shag haircut? It is a look that can be easily adapted to complement all face shapes and hair types, including straight hair. Straight hair has less movement than naturally textured hair, so choosing a cut like a shag, which benefits from layers, is an excellent way to give the hair fullness and direction. The cut’s layers and angles will be more visible on straight hair.
13. Punk-Inspired Shag
One of the reasons the shag is such a popular hairstyle is that it is expressive and fun and can be easily styled to suit your preference. If you are a man who wants an edgy and rebellious haircut, then try a punk-inspired shag. This cut will have very distinct, choppy layers to create volume. You can also style it to appear spikier or experiment with bold colors for a unique finish.
14. Shag Hairstyle with Long Bangs
The shag is a hairstyle that is often cut with a fringe that could be thin and wispy or thick and full. Long bangs will also create a dramatic finish, giving you that deliberately messy and undone finish, which can be incredibly sexy. Bangs are appealing because they draw attention to the face and create a youthful finish.
15. Shag Haircut with Side Part
The shag is the ideal haircut for any man who wants a hairstyle that is edgy, cool, and full of movement. It can be styled in various ways, including a side part. Side partings are incredibly flattering and a great way to balance the features and draw attention to the face. This parting can soften sharp and hard features and looks great on all hair textures. It also has a more natural finish than a middle parting.
16. Permed Shag
Permed hair is created using a chemical process to alter the texture of the hair structurally. In the 80s, this was all about achieving big, voluminous locks with tight curls. However, the modern approach to the perm is much more versatile. A permed shag is a look that will make a statement, giving the hair fullness and movement.
17. Shaggy Bowl Cut
The shag haircut can be blended with other styles to create a hybrid hairstyle; for example, the shaggy bowl cut combines the bowl cut (a mushroom-shaped hairstyle with hair originally cut to one length) with the classic shag. This look will combine the best elements of both cuts, including an interesting hairline that demands attention.
18. Classic Shag
Edgy and cool are two ways to describe the shag haircut. There are many versions of the hairstyle with the modern approach creating softer layers, but for those who want an edgy and rebellious look, the classic shag is the option for you. This cut is all about creating volume and giving the hair dimension and movement while also creating an effortlessly cool finish.
19. Wolf Cut Shag
The wolf cut is loved because it is effortlessly cool and deliberately unstructured, and the cut is essentially a blend of the shag and mullet styles. Opting for a wolf-cut shag will focus more on the shag element of the cut and will have heavy layers and volume at the crown, gradually thinning toward the ends. It is an excellent look for men who want a youthful finish and can be expressive and fun to try.
20. Emo Style Shag
The emo fashion style was influenced by the emo music scene, and it has a very distinct and expressive finish. An emo-style shag is defined by choppy, eye-covering, long bangs. This is not cut that will suit everyone, but it is great for those who want something different and rebellious. It can also look very youthful and is better suited to younger men.
21. Cropped Shag
The shag features choppy, feathered hair and volume at the crown. It is an appealing hairstyle because it can be easily adapted to suit your preference, including complementing your hair texture and desired length. A cropped shag is a shorter version of the classic cut and will appear less choppy and undone. The length is also a great way to draw attention to the jawline and the mouth.
22. Shag with Choppy Bangs
What is not to like about the shag haircut? It is one of the most versatile styles and can be easily adapted to suit your preference. It also looks great with the addition of bangs, which are excellent at hiding signs of aging like fine lines or forehead wrinkles. You can choose full, blunt bangs or opt for an angled and textured look with choppy bangs. The lack of structure of these bangs will complement the deliberately messy look of the shag and require minimal styling.
23. Mullet Shag Hairstyle
For a daring approach to the shag hairstyle, you can incorporate elements of the mullet hairstyle. This can be achieved by leaving the hair shorter and fuller on the top of the head and longer and thinner toward the back, creating a brilliant contrast. The cut will also feel edgy and cool and is ideal for showing off your natural hair texture.
24. Shag with Blunt Bangs
Styling the shag haircut with blunt bangs is an excellent way to draw attention to the face. The choppy layers and the movement of the cut will also be contrasted with the blunt bangs, which are structured and cut straight across the face. The combination makes for a standout haircut highlighting your features and creating a youthful finish.
25. Volumious Ginger Hair Shag
Ginger hair is a mixture of strawberry blonde and classic red tones and is often described as having orange in it. It is a gorgeous color that demands attention because of its vibrancy and how rare it is. If you want your shag haircut to get noticed, then dyeing your hair ginger is a great way to do this.
26. Sideswept Shag Hairstyle
There are a few ways to style hair that are as flattering and effortlessly cool as wearing it side-swept. The appeal of the shag is that it is a textured cut that looks messy and voluminous, and sweeping it to the side will complement this. Brush the hair up at the front of the hairline to create fullness, or let it fall naturally to the side to soften your features and frame the face.
27. Shag with Uneven Fringe
The shag is a hairstyle that benefits from a fringe or bangs, but your choice is entirely yours. Some men want full bangs for a youthful and dramatic finish, while others prefer something uneven to create a deliberately messy and textured. An uneven fringe can be easier to style because it is created to look unstructured. Cut the hair just above or below the browline for the most flattering results.
28. Moppy Shag Haircut
The mop hairstyle was popular in the 60s and remains relevant today because it is a sexy and youthful way to style your hair. The cut is best on medium to long hair and features a fringe that covers the forehead. It is an excellent option for naturally textured hair. To create a modern version of the cut, you can add shaggy layers to it, giving your hair movement and creating a deliberately messy finish.
29. Soft, Modern Shag
The classic shag has choppy layers and fullness on the crown, and while there is a lot to love about this look, the modern approach features softer, more wearable layers for a subtle finish. The layers can be cut longer or have less separation for a blended finish. You can also work with your barber to shape the cut to frame the face and balance the features for a flattering and youthful look.
30. Edgy Short Shag
One of the reasons the shag hairstyle is such a popular cut is because of its versatility. There are various ways to style the hair, and you can add heavy or soft layers depending on your desired finish. For those who want an edgy and rebellious look, you want to create choppy layers that create movement and separation. Style the hair so it is deliberately messy and unstructured for a laidback finish.
Shag Haircut Men FAQs
What is a shaggy hairstyle for men?
A shaggy hairstyle for men is a cut that features layers with choppy ends. The classic shag hairstyle was first created in the 1970s by barber Paul McGregor and has feathered layers at the crown to create volume and fullness, and thins toward the ends. The cut is incredibly versatile and can be easily adapted to suit your preference, complement your face shape and hair type, and cut to different lengths.
How do men get shaggy hair?
You get shaggy hair by adding layers to it. These layers can be cut to various lengths and can be choppy, feathered, or nuanced, depending on your preference. The appeal of layers is they will give the hair movement and dimension. The shag hairstyle looks best when cut with a razor, but is incredibly versatile and will suit men of all ages and all hair types and textures.
Cailyn Cox holds a degree in journalism and has been working with The Trend Spotter as a writer for over ten years. She has worked with some of the most prestigious women’s and men's lifestyle publications. For her, writing is not just a job; it’s a passion, which is why each article she writes is approached with such enthusiasm and dedication. She has extensive knowledge of hairstyles, tattoos, and beauty and has made a career out of creating informative articles that appeal to women and men of all ages.
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