Long shag hairstyles have made a remarkable comeback, bringing with them a blend of vintage charm and modern flair. Whether you’re looking for effortless waves, edgy layers, or a playful fringe, the shag cut offers a versatile style that suits a wide range of hair types and face shapes. This hairstyle is all about texture, volume, and movement, providing a fresh and dynamic look that’s both fashionable and easy to maintain. From classic curtain bangs to bold undercuts, these 28 gorgeous long shag hairstyles will inspire you to experiment and find your perfect match.
Ready to transform your hair into something spectacular? Dive in and discover the shag styles that will have you turning heads and feeling fabulous!
1. Classic Long Shag with Curtain Bangs
The classic long shag with curtain bangs is a chic and versatile style that suits almost any face shape. This hairstyle adds volume and movement through layers that start from the chin down, while curtain bangs frame the face, creating a soft and feminine look. The bangs are parted in the center and taper down, seamlessly blending into the longer layers, which adds a retro 70s flair.
How to Achieve This Hairstyle: Begin by sectioning the hair to create long, feathered layers, focusing on the areas around the face. For the curtain bangs, start trimming from the middle, creating a soft arch that gradually becomes longer towards the sides. Use a blow dryer with a round brush to shape the bangs, pulling them away from the face for a curtain effect. Finish with a light texturizing spray to keep the layers airy and the bangs in place.
2. Layered Shag with Face-Framing Highlights
A layered shag with face-framing highlights combines the depth of a shag cut with the dimension of highlights. The layers are cut in various lengths to add movement, while highlights around the face accentuate your features and brighten your overall look.
How to Achieve This Hairstyle: Start by cutting layers that begin around the chin, gradually increasing in length towards the back. Apply a few strategically placed highlights a couple of shades lighter than your base color around the face, concentrating on the strands that frame your face and the top layers. Style with a volumizing mousse and blow-dry with a diffuser to maintain a natural, tousled texture.
3. Beachy Waves Shag
The beachy waves shag is the perfect choice for those who love a low-maintenance, sun-kissed look. It involves long, flowing layers with slightly textured ends that mimic the relaxed waves often seen after a day at the beach. This style exudes a carefree and effortless vibe.
How to Achieve This Hairstyle: Cut the hair into long layers, ensuring the ends are slightly uneven to create a natural, beachy feel. Use a curling wand to wrap sections of the hair loosely, alternating the direction of each wave. Finish with a sea salt spray and scrunch the hair with your hands to create a tousled, windswept effect.
4. Tousled Shag with Side-Swept Bangs
A tousled shag with side-swept bangs is perfect for those looking for an edgy, yet feminine hairstyle. This look combines messy, layered waves with bangs that are styled to one side, adding a bit of asymmetry and flair.
How to Achieve This Hairstyle: Start with a layered cut that focuses on creating volume and movement throughout the hair. Trim the bangs at an angle so they are longer on one side. Blow-dry with a diffuser to enhance natural waves, or use a curling wand to create loose curls. Finish by tousling the hair with your fingers and applying a texturizing spray to keep the style messy yet controlled.
5. Feathered Shag with Choppy Layers
The feathered shag with choppy layers is a dynamic hairstyle that offers both volume and texture. The layers are feathered at the ends, creating a soft, airy look that adds fullness, while the choppy ends give an edgy, modern touch.
How to Achieve This Hairstyle: Begin by cutting the hair into multiple layers, focusing on feathering the ends to create a wispy, light effect. Use thinning shears to achieve a more feathered finish, particularly at the ends. Blow-dry using a round brush to lift the roots and enhance volume. Complete the look with a lightweight hair spray to keep the layers defined.
6. Curly Shag with Long Layers
The curly shag with long layers is ideal for those with natural curls or waves. This style maintains the natural volume of curls while the shag cut helps to control frizz and adds shape. The long layers prevent the curls from becoming too heavy, allowing them to spring up naturally.
How to Achieve This Hairstyle: Start with a shag cut that introduces long layers throughout the hair. Use curl-enhancing products like mousse or curl cream to define the curls. Air dry or diffuse to maintain natural texture and finish with a light-hold curl spray to add shine and keep curls intact.
7. Messy Shag with Razor Cut Ends
The messy shag with razor cut ends is an excellent option for those who want a grungy, rock-and-roll vibe. This hairstyle features uneven, jagged ends that create a lived-in, effortlessly chic look.
How to Achieve This Hairstyle: Ask your stylist to use a razor to cut choppy, uneven layers, focusing on the ends to create a rugged texture. Use a texturizing spray or paste to add volume and messiness, scrunching the hair with your hands to enhance the effect. Let your hair air dry or blow dry with a diffuser to maintain a tousled, unkempt finish.
8. Long Shag with Blunt Bangs
A long shag with blunt bangs combines the retro appeal of a shag cut with a modern twist of straight-across bangs. The layers add movement and depth, while the blunt bangs bring focus to the eyes and provide a striking contrast.
How to Achieve This Hairstyle: Cut the hair into long layers, starting around the jawline, and continue with a uniform length towards the back. Trim the bangs straight across at eyebrow level, using a fine comb to ensure precision. Blow-dry the bangs flat with a paddle brush and add a lightweight serum for shine.
9. Textured Shag with Wispy Layers
The textured shag with wispy layers is perfect for those who want a soft, airy look with plenty of movement. This style features long, light layers that add volume without making the hair look bulky.
How to Achieve This Hairstyle: Use scissors to create soft, wispy layers throughout the length, focusing on the ends to maintain a natural texture. Apply a volumizing mousse and blow-dry with a round brush to lift the roots. Finish with a texturizing spray to keep the layers light and airy.
10. Boho Shag with Soft Waves
The boho shag with soft waves is ideal for those who love a free-spirited, bohemian style. It combines long, flowing layers with gentle waves, creating a romantic and relaxed look.
How to Achieve This Hairstyle: Start with a layered cut that adds movement throughout the length of the hair. Use a curling wand to create loose, soft waves, focusing on the mid-lengths and ends. Apply a sea salt spray for a beachy, boho finish, and lightly scrunch the hair with your hands to enhance the waves.
11. Edgy Shag with Undercut
The edgy shag with an undercut adds a punk rock vibe to the traditional shag. This style involves long layers on the top, while the sides or back are shaved or cut very short, creating a bold contrast.
How to Achieve This Hairstyle: Ask your stylist to shave or trim the sides or back very close to the scalp, while leaving the top long. Cut the top layers into a shag style with choppy, uneven ends. Style with a texturizing paste to add volume and messiness to the longer sections.
12. Long Shag with Bold Streaks
A long shag with bold streaks is perfect for those who love to make a statement with their hair. This style combines a shag cut with vibrant streaks of color that stand out against the base color.
How to Achieve This Hairstyle: Start with a long shag cut, adding layers throughout the hair for volume. Choose a bold color for the streaks, such as red, blue, or purple, and apply them strategically to the layers. Style with a flat iron or curling wand for added texture, and finish with a shine spray to make the colors pop.
13. Retro 70s Shag with Modern Twist
The retro 70s shag with a modern twist brings back the iconic style of the 70s with an updated feel. This look features voluminous layers, a middle part, and lots of texture, giving a nod to the past while remaining fresh and contemporary.
How to Achieve This Hairstyle: Cut the hair into multiple layers, focusing on creating volume at the crown. Part the hair down the middle and use a round brush to blow-dry, lifting at the roots for added height. Finish with a texturizing spray to enhance the natural movement and keep the style looking soft and tousled.
14. Shag with Tapered Ends and Volume
The shag with tapered ends and volume is ideal for those who want a fuller, more voluminous look without adding too much bulk. The ends are tapered to reduce weight while maintaining a thick, bouncy appearance.
How to Achieve This Hairstyle: Ask your stylist to cut layers that are shorter near the top and gradually get longer towards the ends, tapering them slightly for a sleeker look. Blow-dry using a round brush to add volume at the roots and smooth out the ends. Apply a volumizing mousse or spray to maintain fullness throughout the day.
15. Long Shag with Deep Side Part
A long shag with a deep side part is perfect for those looking to add drama and dimension to their hairstyle. The deep side part creates an asymmetrical look that adds interest and volume to one side.
How to Achieve This Hairstyle: Begin by cutting the hair into long, layered sections. Create a deep side part, pulling most of the hair to one side. Use a blow dryer and round brush to add volume, focusing on the roots. Finish with a flexible hold hairspray to keep the side part in place.
16. Shag with Micro Bangs and Loose Curls
The shag with micro bangs and loose curls is a bold and trendy hairstyle that combines the sharpness of micro bangs with the softness of loose curls. This style adds a unique flair to the traditional shag.
How to Achieve This Hairstyle: Start by cutting the hair into layers that add volume and movement. Trim the bangs very short, just above the eyebrows. Use a curling wand to create loose curls throughout the hair, focusing on the mid-lengths to ends. Finish with a lightweight hairspray to keep the curls bouncy and the bangs in place.
17. Shag with Wispy Ends and Soft Curls
A shag with wispy ends and soft curls is perfect for those who want a gentle, romantic hairstyle. The wispy ends add a delicate touch, while soft curls provide movement and texture.
How to Achieve This Hairstyle: Cut the hair into layers, focusing on creating wispy, feathered ends. Use a curling iron to create soft, loose curls, starting from the mid-lengths and working to the ends. Finish with a shine spray to enhance the curls and keep the ends looking soft.
18. Asymmetrical Shag with Side Bangs
The asymmetrical shag with side bangs is a contemporary take on the classic shag, featuring uneven layers and bangs swept to one side. This style is perfect for those who want a unique and edgy look.
How to Achieve This Hairstyle: Start with a shag cut that has layers of varying lengths. Cut the bangs at an angle so they are longer on one side, creating an asymmetrical look. Style with a flat iron or curling wand to add texture, and finish with a texturizing spray for volume and hold.
19. Sun-Kissed Shag with Layers
The sun-kissed shag with layers is a fresh, youthful style that combines a layered shag cut with sun-kissed highlights. The highlights add brightness and dimension, while the layers provide movement and volume.
How to Achieve This Hairstyle: Cut the hair into layers that start around the chin and gradually increase in length. Add highlights in shades slightly lighter than your natural color, focusing on the top layers and around the face. Style with a curling wand or flat iron to add waves, and finish with a shine spray to enhance the highlights.
20. Wavy Shag with Balayage Highlights
A wavy shag with balayage highlights offers a natural, sun-kissed effect that adds dimension and depth to the hair. This style features soft waves and hand-painted highlights that create a seamless blend.
How to Achieve This Hairstyle: Begin with a layered shag cut, focusing on adding texture throughout the hair. Use the balayage technique to paint highlights that are a few shades lighter than your base color. Style with a curling wand to create loose, beachy waves, and finish with a light-hold hairspray.
21. Layered Shag with Textured Fringe
The layered shag with textured fringe combines layers with a textured fringe that falls just above the eyebrows, adding an element of mystery and edge to the hairstyle.
How to Achieve This Hairstyle: Cut the hair into layers that add volume throughout, focusing on the crown and ends. Trim the fringe to fall just above the eyebrows, using thinning shears to create a textured look. Blow-dry with a round brush to add volume, and finish with a texturizing spray.
22. Voluminous Shag with Curly Ends
The voluminous shag with curly ends is perfect for those who want a full, bouncy hairstyle. The layers add volume at the roots, while the ends are curled to create a playful and lively look.
How to Achieve This Hairstyle: Cut the hair into layers that add volume at the crown and gradually get longer towards the ends. Use a curling iron to curl the ends, focusing on creating soft, bouncy curls. Finish with a volumizing mousse to add lift and a lightweight hairspray to keep the curls in place.
23. Minimalist Shag with Long Layers
The minimalist shag with long layers is a sleek, understated version of the classic shag. This style features long, flowing layers that add subtle volume without overwhelming the hair.
How to Achieve This Hairstyle: Ask your stylist for long layers that start around the shoulders and gradually increase in length. Blow-dry using a paddle brush to create a smooth finish. Use a shine serum to add gloss and maintain a polished look.
24. Shag with Peek-a-Boo Highlights
A shag with peek-a-boo highlights is a fun and playful hairstyle that hides bold streaks of color underneath the top layers of hair. This style adds an element of surprise and excitement.
How to Achieve This Hairstyle: Cut the hair into a layered shag style, keeping the top layers long enough to cover the highlights underneath. Apply a bold color of your choice to the bottom layers, leaving the top layers natural or a contrasting color. Style with a curling wand or flat iron to create texture, and finish with a light-hold hairspray.
25. Tousled Shag with Shattered Ends
The tousled shag with shattered ends is perfect for those who want an edgy, undone look. The shattered ends create a jagged, messy finish that adds texture and volume.
How to Achieve This Hairstyle: Cut the hair into layers with choppy, uneven ends to create a shattered effect. Use a texturizing spray or paste to add volume and messiness, scrunching the hair with your hands to enhance the effect. Blow-dry with a diffuser or let the hair air dry to maintain the tousled, unkempt look.
26. Long Shag with Textured Bangs
A long shag with textured bangs offers a fresh take on the traditional shag. The textured bangs add a soft, feathered look that frames the face and complements the long layers.
How to Achieve This Hairstyle: Start with a shag cut that introduces long layers throughout the hair. Trim the bangs to fall just below the eyebrows, using thinning shears to add texture and lightness. Blow-dry with a round brush to lift the roots and add volume, finishing with a texturizing spray for added movement.
27. Angled Shag with Loose Waves
The angled shag with loose waves is a modern, sophisticated style that features an asymmetrical cut with layers that gradually get longer towards one side. The loose waves add softness and movement.
How to Achieve This Hairstyle: Cut the hair into an angled shag, starting with shorter layers on one side and gradually getting longer towards the other. Use a curling wand to create loose, soft waves, focusing on the mid-lengths and ends. Finish with a light-hold hairspray to maintain the waves.
28. Chic Shag with Subtle Ombre
The chic shag with subtle ombre is a trendy hairstyle that combines a shag cut with a soft, gradual color transition. The ombre adds depth and dimension, while the shag cut adds texture and movement.
How to Achieve This Hairstyle: Begin with a layered shag cut that adds volume and movement throughout the hair. Apply a subtle ombre, starting with a darker shade at the roots and gradually lightening towards the ends. Style with a curling wand or flat iron for added texture, and finish with a shine spray to enhance the color transition.
Conclusion
With these 28 stunning long shag hairstyles, you’re bound to find a look that not only complements your style but also brings out the best in your hair’s natural texture and personality. Whether you prefer the soft romance of beachy waves or the daring edge of bold streaks, the shag cut offers endless possibilities for creativity and self-expression. It’s a hairstyle that works for every occasion—casual, professional, or glamorous—making it a perfect choice for anyone looking to revamp their look.
So, grab your favorite styling tools and products, and get ready to rock one of these fabulous shag cuts. Embrace the layers, enjoy the volume, and most importantly, have fun with your hair! After all, a great hairstyle is more than just a look—it’s a statement of who you are.
