Remember the edgy shag hairstyle from the 80s? Joan Jett popularized it back then, and it is now making a huge comeback.
Shag haircuts are characterized by uneven choppy layers with shorter ones at the crown of the head. Typically, longish feathered bangs are added along with fringed layers around the face. In its essence, this is an organized messy-look hairstyle.
Here’s my list of the best shag hairstyles for older women:
The shag is best if you have medium-thick or thick hair – as the feathered layers tend to thin the hair out. It can be cut in a variety of lengths, from short to long, and is rather flattering for most face shapes. It’s a fairly low-maintenance style and is a perfect wash-and-go cut – for us busy ladies that don’t want to fuss too much on our hair but still want to look modern and feminine.
You don’t have to go all out “I Love Rock-and-Roll” and cut your hair like Joan Jett to get the look. Here are some shag-inspired haircuts that are adapted for older women and easily achievable.
Take the shag look to short hair for a put-together and elegant style. We can subtly see the playful wispy layers and feathered bangs giving this a modern twist on an iconic hairstyle. Add as much or as little texturing paste to get the effect you want.
You can still sport the shag look without the usual “messy look” associated with it. This hairstyle is a shag cut with less feathered layers. Keep it neat and tidy with a finishing holding spray.
This beautiful woman is wearing a classic modern shag. The style suits her face perfectly and the natural gray gives it an authentic look. Keep the flyaways and your hair shiny with a shine glossing spray.
The shag hairstyle can be cut into naturally curly hair perfectly. Cut shorter curls at the crown and around the face to get the look. Keep your beautiful curls under control with a moisturizing leave-in conditioner.
Add volume to the short layers at the crown for a fun and airy shag style. The messy look is perfectly arranged to look effortless. Try adding a little volumizing and thickening product and fix it with hairspray to keep all-day volume.
Wearing a longer bang with a shag hairstyle gives it a softer and flirtier look. Blow-dry using a large-barrel round brush to get the volume at the crown and around the face. This style looks great on a variety of face shapes.
A pixie style can be trimmed to a shag cut by feathering the layers and wisping them towards the front. Dab a little bit of texturizing gel to keep your fabulous haircut in place.
This version of the shag hairstyle is easy to maintain and looks good in all colors and face shapes. Keep it frizz-free with an anti-frizz serum.
Salt & pepper hair looks great in a shag cut. You can ask your hairstylist to add dark lowlights to your gray hair to get the desired effect. Add texture and definition to the cut with a texturizing mousse.
Your shag can be worn several different ways, and, on those days when you don’t want wispy feathered layers, you can straighten them with a straightening product and a flat iron.
Did you wear the shag hairstyle in the 80s? What do you think about it? Will you be trying one of the shag haircuts of older women? Let us know what you think in the comments below.
Not in the 80’s, sorry!! I wore one in late 60’s thru 70’s. Loved it then, love it still. Haven’t cut my hair in 3 years, and getting it cut into a shag tomorrow!!!
Hi, I never wore the Shag hair cut, but my hair is at the length now that I’d like to try a modified Shag. But I don’t know of a stylist in the Rockford IL area that could do that for me. Could you help me find one?
Don’t use the word older woman
Ditto about the 70s–I graduated hs in 1973 with a shag, and wore it until fall of 1976, when I got my hair cut in a wedge–before the Olympics when Dorothy Hamill became famous. My friends said her hair cut was like mine!
Do you have an example of a Long shah haircut 💈