The Resurgence of Shags
Written and Directed By Mindy Welland
Film & Digital Photography By Mindy Welland & Elisa Peters
Modeled By Elisa Peters, Caroline Sluss, Lily Elcan, & Vivian Rodriguez
In a style reminiscent of the 70’s and 80’s, shags are becoming a haircut staple. Chopping off layers and layers at a time, this effortless hairstyle is easy to maintain and looks gorgeous. We can thank some of the best influencers of this haircut such as David Bowie, Stevie Nicks, and Joan Jett for the start of a world renowned trend.
When you think of a typical shag haircut, you might be picturing wispy layers and bangs. However, no shag haircut is the same. Some cuts have bangs across the forehead, while others follow a wispy curtain bang style. Both are still considered shag haircuts, but the length and shape of the bangs add an emphasis on the face-framing layers we see in the shag. In 2021, we saw the rise of the micro-bang trend, first worn by actresses such as Audrey Hepburn and Louise Brooks in the 50s. These types of bangs sit just about an inch from the hairline and showcase most of your forehead. Micro-bangs can add a fun and unique touch to the typical “shag” look and can grow out nicely into a longer bang.
Another trend we’ve been seeing is the combination between the shag and mullet, known as the “shullet.” This style is another form of the modern mullet that is coming back into our current world of hairstyles. The “shullet” has sharply carved layers surrounding the ear and along the forehead near the eyebrows. Additional layers sit on the crown of the head to emphasize the voluminous mullet top. To achieve these sweet layers, both shags, mullets, and even micro bangs are typically cut using a straight-razor rather than regular trimming shears. This tool truly gives the cut a textured look full of volume.
Hair dye is another way to spice up your look. By dyeing a shag haircut, you achieve bold and brilliant highlights throughout the back, thanks to the hundreds of layers crowning your head. Most people with shags tend to dye their whole heads, however, adding color to just the bottom half of your bangs is a more subtle way to show a pop of color. The amount of style and cut opportunities shag haircuts provide is key as to why we’ve seen this increase of style since 2020.
However you decide to spice up your look, let’s not forget the whole purpose of a shag is to be a laid-back, low-maintenance style. Most of these looks can be styled with minimal products, and still create a beautiful look! Stevie Nicks sports a bohemian shag, typical of the hippie style, with long, wavy, layers. This is the most common form of the shag, with it being the easiest to style. Joan Jett wears a “shullet,” with eccentric layers at the top, usually styled with gel or thick styling cream. David Bowie shows us the definition of a rockstar punk mullet using little to no product.
Whoever it was who inspired the comeback of shags and layered cuts for you, we can thank them for this spunky and unique revival—shags are here to stay! Shag haircuts rose to fame in the 70’s and 80’s when several stars wore them. However, expect no departure from this lived-in style, because this cut is easy to pull off and has an approachable low maintenance routine. From micro-bangs, to color, to a carved-out shullet, how will you style your next shag hairstyle?