3. The Long, Textured Shag

If you want something a bit edgier and more effortless, the long shag is a brilliant choice. It focuses on heavy internal texture and piecey ends, moving away from the “perfectly blended” look toward something more organic and rock-and-roll. This cut works beautifully with natural waves or curls, as it allows your hair’s natural pattern to come out and play. It is a very low-maintenance style that looks just as good air-dried as it does professionally styled.

How to Make

The shag relies on a razor or thinning shears to create jagged, textured ends. Ask for layers that start relatively high up—around the cheekbones—and continue down the entire length. When styling, skip the brush. Apply a curl-enhancing cream or texturizing mousse to damp hair and let it air-dry. Once dry, use a small amount of pomade on your fingertips to define the ends of the layers, giving the style that messy, “just-got-out-of-bed” aesthetic that is the hallmark of the shag.

Things Needed

  • Razor or texturizing shears
  • Curl-enhancing cream or texturizing mousse
  • Pomade for defining ends
  • Wide-tooth comb