You know that feeling when you walk out of a salon and your hair looks too perfect? It’s stiff. It’s polished. It looks like you spent three hours with a round brush and a prayer.
That is the exact opposite of the 70s style shag haircut.
Honestly, the shag is the ultimate "I woke up like this" lie, but in the best way possible. It’s chaotic. It’s moody. It’s heavily layered. It’s basically the haircut version of a rock star’s leather jacket—it just gets better the more you mess with it. If you’ve been scrolling through Instagram or TikTok lately, you’ve probably seen a thousand variations of it, from the "wolf cut" to the "butterfly cut," but let’s be real: they’re all just children of the original 1970s shag.
It’s about movement.
The man who accidentally started a revolution
We have to talk about Paul McGregor. Most people haven't heard his name, but they know his work. He was the stylist who chopped Jane Fonda’s hair into that iconic, choppy mess for the 1971 film Klute. Before that, Fonda was the typical Hollywood blonde with long, smooth hair. McGregor changed everything. He didn't just give her a haircut; he gave her an identity.
The shag was originally meant to be gender-neutral. That’s what made it so radical. In a decade defined by breaking rules, the 70s style shag haircut was the uniform for everyone from Mick Jagger and David Bowie to Joan Jett. It wasn't about being "pretty" in the traditional sense. It was about texture. It was about that crown-heavy volume that tapers down into thin, wispy ends.
If you look at the 1970s, hair was a political statement. The rigid, hairsprayed bouffants of the 60s represented the establishment. The shag? That was the rebellion. It was messy because life was getting messy.
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What actually makes it a shag?
People get this wrong all the time. They think any layered cut is a shag. It’s not.
A true 70s style shag haircut has very specific DNA. First, the layers are incredibly short at the top of the head—specifically around the crown. This creates a sort of "shaggy" halo. Second, the fringe (or bangs) is almost non-negotiable. We're talking curtain bangs, bottleneck bangs, or full-on heavy fringe that grazes the eyelashes.
The "Mullet-Lite" confusion
There is a very fine line between a shag and a mullet. A mullet is "business in the front, party in the back," meaning the sides are usually shaved or cut very short, disconnected from the back. The shag is different. It’s a continuous flow of layers. The sides blend into the back, even if they’re choppy.
It’s all about the "shredding."
Modern stylists like Sal Salcedo or Jayne Matthews (who basically pioneered the modern shag revival at Edo Salon) use razors instead of traditional scissors. Why? Because a razor gives those frayed, lived-in ends that look like they’ve been windblown for a decade. If your stylist uses blunt shears and gives you a clean, straight edge, you didn't get a shag. You got a layered bob.
Why it works for (almost) everyone
One of the biggest myths is that you need thick hair for this. Actually, the 70s style shag haircut is a godsend for thin hair. Because you’re cutting so many layers into the crown, you’re creating the illusion of volume where there is none. You’re taking the weight off the bottom, which usually drags thin hair down, and moving it to the top.
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- For Curly Girls: The shag is a game-changer. It removes the "triangle hair" effect where curls weigh down the roots and poof out at the bottom. By layering the curls, they can actually spring up.
- For Round Faces: Most people think they can't do bangs. Wrong. Long, cheekbone-skimming curtain bangs actually frame the face and create angles where there are none.
- For the Lazy: If you hate blow-drying, this is your haircut. The whole point is to let it air dry with a bit of salt spray or hair oil.
But, a warning. If you have extremely fine, pin-straight hair that refuses to hold a wave, the shag can look a bit... stringy. You'll need to put in some work with a texture spray to keep it from looking like you just forgot to brush your hair for a week.
The maintenance reality check
Let’s be honest. Even though it looks effortless, a 70s style shag haircut requires a specific kind of maintenance. It’s not "high maintenance" in the way a platinum blonde dye job is, but it’s "frequent maintenance."
Because the layers are so short at the crown, they grow out fast. Within six weeks, your "shag" can start looking like a shapeless mop. You need regular trims to keep that top-heavy silhouette.
Also, the bangs. Oh, the bangs. They will get in your eyes. They will get greasy faster than the rest of your hair. You’ll become very well-acquainted with dry shampoo.
How to talk to your stylist (and not leave crying)
Don’t just walk in and say "I want a shag." That is a dangerous game. Your version of a shag might be a soft, 90s Jennifer Aniston look, while your stylist might be thinking of a 1975 Patti Smith.
- Bring photos of the ends: Show them how wispy you want the bottom to be.
- Define the "start" of the layers: Do you want them to start at your cheekbones? Your chin? Your eyes? This determines how "extreme" the cut feels.
- The Bang Conversation: Be very clear about how much forehead you want showing.
- The Tool: Ask if they are comfortable using a razor. If they seem hesitant, stick to shears, but ask for "point cutting" to soften the edges.
The Modern Evolution: 2026 and Beyond
In 2026, we’re seeing a shift toward the "Soft Shag." It’s less about the aggressive, jagged edges of the punk era and more about "liquid" layers. Think Stevie Nicks, but with a high-shine finish. We’re moving away from the matte, dry textures of the 2010s and into something that looks healthier and more intentional.
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People are pairing the 70s style shag haircut with "expensive brunette" tones or soft, sun-kissed balayage. The layers catch the light beautifully, making the color look multi-dimensional. It’s a far cry from the flat, one-tone colors we saw a few years ago.
Actionable Steps for your Shag Journey
If you’re ready to take the plunge, don't just book the first available appointment.
First, spend a week observing your natural hair texture. Does it have a slight wave when it’s wet? If so, you’re the perfect candidate. If it’s dead straight, start looking for a good volumizing mousse now.
Next, find a specialist. Not every stylist is good at shagging hair. It requires a different eye for symmetry—or rather, a lack thereof. Look for stylists on social media who use hashtags like #razorcut or #wolfcut. Look at their "after" photos. Do the ends look soft and feathered, or chunky and hacked? You want feathered.
Finally, invest in the right "aftercare" kit. You don't need a drawer full of tools. You need three things:
- A high-quality sea salt spray or sugar spray for grit.
- A lightweight hair oil to keep the ends from looking fried.
- A wide-tooth comb. Never use a fine-tooth brush on a dry shag unless you want to look like a dandelion.
The 70s style shag haircut isn't just a trend that’s looping back around; it’s a fundamental shift in how we think about beauty. It’s an embrace of imperfection. It’s a rejection of the "polished" look that has dominated social media for too long.
Go get the layers. Life is too short for boring hair.
Next Steps for You:
Research local salons that specifically mention "razor cutting" or "deva cuts" (if you're curly) in their service menus. Before your appointment, save at least three photos of shag haircuts—not just of celebrities, but of people with a similar hair texture and face shape to yours to ensure your stylist has a realistic blueprint to follow.