A short shag haircut is a short, layered hairstyle for women characterized by choppy, textured layers cut at various lengths. All the layers create movement and a piecey, messy look. Keep scrolling to see pictures of the best ideas for short shag haircuts for women!
I’ve cut a lot of short shags over the years. Here are the most important topics I cover with women considering a shaggy crop.
💡 What to Know About Short Shaggy Haircuts:
- Pros –
- Shag haircuts are excellent for both thick and thin hair. When properly executed, the texturizing and layering techniques used in these cuts can give fine hair a thicker appearance, or reduce bulk in thicker hair.
- Shag haircuts are a contemporary style that stands out because not everyone opts for it, making it more noticeable.
- Any shag cut cut short can be tailored to suit your hair type and face shape, making it a versatile option for anyone looking to try a fresh, new style.
- Cons – Many short shaggy haircuts require more time to style and products. It’s not your wash-and-go haircut.
- Face Shape – Shorter shags suit most face shapes well. For those with a rounder face, it is advisable to avoid bangs as your hair becomes shorter. On the other hand, if you have a narrow face, a textured fringe can be a great addition.
- Styling – When styling short shag hairstyles, a helpful tip is to use a high-quality texturizing sea salt spray for added texture. It will enhance your hair’s natural texture and give you that shaggy surfer look you see all over Pinterest and Instagram.
- Ask Your Hairstylist About:
- The best styling products for your hair type or desired look.
- Determining if your face shape will benefit from some face-framing or bangs.
- Considering whether your hair type would benefit from having more blunt ends.
Pictures of The Best Short Shag Haircuts for Women:
#1: Short Shag with a Middle-Part and Curtain Bangs
Short shag cuts with middle-part curtain bangs are great if you want a modern hairdo that to adds fullness to your hair. Curtain bangs frame the eyes and soften square face shapes, which is great.
#2: Retro Short Shag with Bangs
If you’re looking for a flashback to the scene girl hair trend of the early 2000s, this cute and chic short shag with bangs is perfect. It features texture, crown volume, and the right amount of hair in the back for a mini low ponytail. Ask for a cross between a choppy pixie, mullet, and shag.
#3: Messy Short Shaggy Hair with No Bangs
Try this messy short shaggy hair with no bangs if you want to take a walk on the wild side. It is perfect for a girl who wants texture in her short, sassy haircut. To style, give yourself a beach wave using a 1 1/4-inch curling wand while leaving the ends of your hair out and uncurled. After styling your hair, spray a texture spray such as Tribe’s Dry Texturizing Spray and brush your hair. Texture sprays are perfect for those who want to separate their hair strands and have a light hold.
#4: 70s Short Shag with Choppy Ends
Short shag haircuts with choppy ends, give a 70’s shag vibe and frame the face beautifully. It also adds an effortless texture to the hair.
#5: Shaggy Pixie with Bangs
Most pixies with bangs require higher maintenance and more salon visits. Short shaggy wispy haircuts grow faster in the nape of the head, causing a mullet hairstyle. Switching to a shorter shag like this cute pixie shag fixes that problem by making the grown-out look seem intentional and fresh.
#6: Short Shag with Choppy Bangs
Short shaggy bangs can enhance the texture, movement, and fullness of thin or fine hair. Shaggy bangs with choppy texture and layering perfectly complement a textured pixie cut. Shaggy bangs also enhance the overall face-framing effects without concealing your face. Choppy bangs require minimal styling time and are meant to look messy or disheveled. Similarly to other bangs, these may require more frequent maintenance.
#7: Uneven Short Bob Shag with Tendrils
This short shaggy haircut features many uneven layers, creating a messy modern hairstyle. The beauty of it is that your stylist can add unique elements and various lengths, like tendrils.
#8: Short and Shaggy Gemini Hair with Purple and Brown
Pair the latest Gemini hair color trend with a short shag. This two-tone color is a bold, fun look. It’s marked by short layers, heavy bangs and a mix of bright purple and brown colors. To keep the color fresh, use color-protecting hair products. To style, a texturizing spray helps bring out the layered look. Don’t be afraid to mess it up a bit for that trendy ‘just-woke-up’ vibe.
#9: Bixie Shag with Curtain Bangs
Switch up your look with a shaggy bixie with a curtain fringe. This cut blends the best of a bob and pixie cut, creating a short, playful look with easy-to-manage layers. The addition of a soft curtain fringe frames round faces. Styling is easy – just run a bit of styling cream through your hair to tame the shaggy layers and highlight the texture.
#10: 90s Short Shag Hairdo
The 90s shag haircut is a classic, edgy style popular in the 1990s made popular by Meg Ryan and Halle Berry. It features choppy, textured layers cut to the chin or shoulder length with short wispy bangs. Adding more piecey, razored layers give it a modern look.
#11: Short Shaggy Wolf Cut
The shaggy wolf cut short is a bold, rebellious choppy style featuring heavily layered locks cut to the jawline or above. Inspired by anime characters, this edgy look has short fringy bangs. Style with your fingers for a tousled, windswept effect. Scrunch in product and arrange the layers. Add volume at the crown and flip up the ends for an anime-inspired look.
#12: Razored Shaggy Pixie Cut for Women Over 60
This very short shaggy pixie cut for thin hair is popular among women in their 60s. It is a low-maintenance and stylish haircut. This razored pixie cut can be easily recreated at home with minimal blow-drying.
#13: Short Shag with Bangs and Longer In the Back
One of my top styling tips for short shags is that you should work with your natural hair texture. Many women have a hair texture that falls somewhere between straight and curly. The easiest and quickest way to style your hair is by finding a shaggy haircut and hairstyle that complements your natural texture instead of working against it.
#14: Short Shaggy Haircut with Short Fringe
Textured short shag haircuts with a short fringe can be customized to suit each woman’s preferences. This short shag with bangs is for ladies who are a little more adventurous, out-of-the-box, eclectic and do not have pin-straight hair.
How to Style a Shaggy Cut with Fringe:
– Dry with a diffuser using Aquage Sea Salt Spray for that messy, lived-in look.
– After that, use a Hot Tools Curl Bar to wand any curls you don’t like into a direction you go like.
– Finish it with Dry Texture spray from L’anza to define the texture and put in some hold.
#15: Layered Short Shag Hairstyle for Wavy Hair
If your waves are unruly and unforgiving, opt for a short shag for wavy hair. This low-maintenance hairdo could be the change you need this year. Apply a dab of Redken Aerate all over to give your hair this fantastic texture.
#16: Edgy Shaggy Mullet with Disconnected Layers
The edgy shaggy mullet is now one of the most popular short shag hairstyles! Try this for a trendy blast from the past. This length is easy to style and requires less maintenance than a pixie cut.
#17: Short Textured Bob for Ladies Over 40
If you’re over 40, you can also pull off a short shag. This length and style are incredibly flattering and low-maintenance. Talk to your stylist about styling tips to get these messy but cute waves.
#18: The Short and Modified Shag with Angled Layers
Modified short shag haircuts are making a solid comeback for their easy maintenance and relaxed style and appearance. Also known as a modern mullet, a modified shag can be a great way to test shorter layers without committing to a pixie cut. Suppose you have small facial features and want to make your face appear more prominent or proportional. In that case, a modified cut is a fantastic option because it focuses on short textured layers around the face, which enlarges face shapes and facial features.
#19: Petite Shaggy Pixie Bob for Women with Glasses
Try rocking a shaggy pixie bob if you’re looking for something edgy, feminine, and easy to style. Make sure to ask your stylist if they think this shag haircut will work for you before taking the plunge. Spritz your hair with Kenra Silkening Mist to get this fantastic shine after styling.
#20: The Mini Shag Haircut
If you’re looking to rock something different this year, try the mini shag. A mini shag-mullet is one of the most edgy short shaggy cuts. Ask your hairstylist what products they think you should use to achieve this short textured hair.
#21: One-Length Short Shag with Face-Framing Layers
One-length short shag haircuts are a low-maintenance and trendy style. The bluntness of the ends of this hairstyle makes it unique. The length of this cut is perfect for face-framing and leaves enough length to pull up your hair.
#22: Trendy Short Shag for Women Over 70
Some women in their 70s with sassy personalities love this spiky short, shag hairstyle. This style is forgiving and youthful and will make you feel rejuvenated. Use a dime-sized dab of Schwarzkopf Osis Thrill and rub it all over after styling for this textured look.
#23: Short Shaggy Haircut for Fine Hair
Shag cuts often feature short, light, and wispy layering. However, a short shaggy haircuts for fine hair must have slightly longer layering to maintain a strong perimeter. One drawback is that too many layers or too short can make the hair appear thinner. While it’s essential not to make the layers too short or too many to avoid making the hair appear thinner, a well-executed short shag for fine hair can add volume and movement, creating a fuller and more dynamic appearance. Enjoy the benefits of a short shag hair cut in a way that enhances your fine hair while keeping a strong and stylish shape.
#24: Flattering Short Shag for Older Women with Grey Hair
Grey hair can often be coarse and heavy for older ladies. The best short shaggy haircuts for older women have multiple layers to add volume without weighing the hair down.
See more short shags and pixie shags for older women.
#25: The Rocker Short Shag with Choppy Layers
Finding a style that shows off your personality can be tricky. So try adding short choppy baby bangs to a short shag for a rocker look. This haircut is cute and edgy and shows off your unique style.
#26: Short Shaggy Pixie Cut
If you want an ever shorter short shag haircut, ask your hairdresser for a shaggy messy pixie. Adding extra texture gives height to the look, offering more volume and a flattering style.
#27: Tousled Short Shag Hairstyle with a Short Fringe
Use a texture spray after adding messy waves to your hair for a more tousled short shag hairdo. This product will lock in heat styling to last all day while adding volume. You can use clay or pomade when styling textured bangs to ensure they stay forward and in place.
#28: Short Shaggy Cut with Layers and a Deep Side Part
A bob shape with short shaggy layers puts a modern twist on this timeless classic style. Wispy layers add a flattering shape to the haircut and provide a youthful look.
#29: Messy Choppy Bob with Curtain Bangs
Short and messy shags are made complete with a heavy curtain bang. Ask your stylist to cut your fringe with a razor for a textured, shaggy choppy bob look. Not only will this give you the messy hairstyle you want, but it will be less maintenance and grow out easier than a blunt cut.
#30: The Ear-Length Layered Shag with Wavy Bangs
Get ready to flaunt your natural curls like never before with a shorter, ear-length shag haircut! Not only does this cropped style add extra texture to your locks, but it also helps to keep the weight off your ends. This haircut results in a more voluminous and shiny look. Embrace your curls and try this haircut for a truly beautiful and unique style.
Pro Tip: Most short shag haircuts require regular trims every 6-8 weeks to maintain their shape and prevent the layers from becoming too heavy or unmanageable.
#31: Face-Framing Short Shag for Round Face Shapes
Avoid heavy and blunt lines because they tend to close off the face shape instead of complimenting it. A great choice is this cut for round face shapes because the shorter layers with extra texture open the haircut and frame the face in a more flattering way.
#32: The Short, Wispy Shag Haircut
One of the more fun and youthful shags is a wispy one. I recommend styling the textured layers to flip out while keeping a solid perimeter, creating a unique silhouette.
#33: Short Inverted Bob with Piecey Layers
If you’re looking for a modern twist, try a shaggy inverted bob. Adding a side-parted shag works great on squarer faces, as the regular full-on bangs shorten the face even more. This short hairstyle is also perfect for those who prefer a side part. Be aware due to the side part style; you won’t want the layers too short. Allowing for lots of movement to form around the perimeter brings flow and texture to your bob.
Pro Tip: Short shag haircuts need the correct brush for styling, such as a round or vented brush, which helps to enhance the layers while blow-drying and creates the desired volume and movement in the cut.
#34: Layered Shaggy Bob with Pink Highlights
A black bob with pink highlights can add brightness and light to your style. The short shag adds a lighter feel to the hair from the layering techniques. Your color pops even more with increased flow and movement to the hair. Try to add pink highlights to your black shag to enhance the depth, with the bright pink sitting against black tones that blend into the layers.
#35: Short Shaggy Cut with a Middle Part
Short shaggy bob hairstyles can be catered to any woman’s hair texture and face shape with face-framing layers. If you are considering a short bob haircut like this, just know it’s so low-maintenance! Shagged short bobs are a wash-and-go haircut. To style, get a curl cream like Davines Love Curl Controller for wash days, and Davines Sea Salt Spray is perfect for a refresher on non-wash days to keep that fun texture.
#36: Dirty Blonde Shaggy Layered Bob
This short shaggy bob for fine hair is a textured cut. A short-cut with curtain bangs will be a good look on you if you have a prominent forehead or receding hairline. Shorter shag haircuts help ladies with less hair get more body and volume. Hair cut short with texture can create a cute messy look.
#37: Short Shag Cut with Short Layers
This short shaggy hair style is so sassy and sporty. One of the beautiful things about a cropped shag cut is that you can get so much diversity out of this look, from sleek and straight to wavy messy, and edgy. Short shaggy haircuts work well for individuals who are willing to spend time styling their hair daily to achieve the desired look.
#38: Neck-Length Wavy Shag with Bangs
Short shag hairstyles that are a little fuller on the ends instead of carving them look amazing. The fullness created by the wavy hair and shaggy layers pictured here gives the crown more volume, and the bangs and bits create a flattering frame for the face. This short shag haircut with bangs is effortless to wear. It works just as well air-dried and tousled as it does blow out or curled.
#39: Chin-Length Choppy Shag for Thick Hair
The best short shag haircuts for thick hair are razor-cut and textured to remove bulk and heaviness. A shaggy chin-length cut is a modern take on the classic shag for short hair.
#40: Super Short Shag with Balayage
Try this popular 1970s short shag haircut if you want a retro look. Super short shaggy haircuts are great for women with strong jawlines.
#41: Short French Crop Shag with Wispy Bangs
A French short shag style is relaxed with an effortless aesthetic that moves between the French girl vibe and 70s rock and roll vibe. The internal layers of this short cut and transitions give it a fresh textured shag style with French bangs. Now you can wear a short shaggy hairstyle that will help you showcase your personality.
#42: Short Shaggy Lob with Thick Curtain Fringe
This picture is the cutest idea of a short shag haircut for women. A chic shaggy lob haircut is a modern twist on a retro style. An important thing to know is that shaggy short styles should have layering and de-bulking. This way, it becomes a great way to style a shaggy, short-length haircut in big, loose waves.
Pro Tip: Short shag haircuts should be styled with products such as texturizing sprays or light-hold creams, to emphasize the layers and create a tousled, effortless look.
#43: Shaggy Long Pixie Cut with Long Bangs
Look for a short shag haircut, like a long pixie cut, easily worn in a few different shag hair styles. Take this long shaggy pixie, for example. Keep in mind that the woman pictured has relatively fine hair. If you plan to wear short shaggy styles and have thick and/or coarse hair, you may work a little harder to style your hair without it looking poofy.
#44: Shorter Shaggy Angled Bob with Bangs
An angled short shaggy cut is trending because it is a relatively easy hairstyle at home with little effort. This shag hairstyle with short layers works best on ladies with fine to medium hair. You must be ready to use a product like mousse or texturizing spray to give it that shaggy hairstyle and the hold it needs.
#45: Feathered Short Shag for Thin Hair
This photo is one of the best short shag haircuts for a wash-and-go hairstyle that is great for women with thin hair. The short length works best for women with a heart or oval face shape. A textured shag that has feathered layers as opposed to sitting on top of each other makes for a versatile shag. Short shaggy hairstyles are great for women that don’t have a lot of natural texture to fight with. This is why it’s good to add shaggy layering to the cut.
#46: Short and Razored Shaggy Hair with Curtain Bangs
A short razored shag cut is full of texture and carved-out pieces that make it youthful and fun to wear. Short layered haircuts often look undone or lived-in, so it works well for a low-maintenance woman who is not looking to shampoo and style their hair often.
#47: Modern Short A-Line Shag
A modern A-line shag haircut is still a feminine cut. This short cut is great for women with fine to medium-texture hair. It gives the appearance of a thicker, sexier and can help you pull off the short shaggy trend.
#48: Very Short Shaggy Bob with an Undercut
A really short shaggy bob with an undercut is one of the trendiest haircuts for bold girls. Edgy short cuts are great for any woman who is shy about committing to a full short pixie bob cut. You have the shortness in the back but the safety net of some length in the front. This hairstyle is an excellent way for thin, fine hair to appear thicker and fuller.
#49: Jaw-Length Short Choppy Bob
Showing off the jaw creates a fun short shag haircut. This cute jaw-length shaggy cut works well on fine textures and a heart-shaped face. Taking away any underneath bulk with an undercut and texture the ends. Shorter layers in the back crown give a lot of lift working around any cowlicks and mid-length layers around the face.
#50: Short to Medium Shaggy Asymmetrical Bob
Al razor cut shaggy bob will add a ton of layers, making for very noticeable shaggy short hair. If you want texture in a choppy shaggy bob haircut, request your stylist to use the razor cutting technique and add further texture with shears when your hair is dry. Doing this will create an effortless hairstyle with the shag feel you’re probably looking for. This shorter cut is excellent for all hair types, from straight to wavy to curly. It just depends on what hairstyle you are going for, which determines how to style it.
#51 Short Razored Bob with Bangs for Women Over 50
A short shag haircut is perfect for women over 50 with thick hair. Adding some champagne blonde balayage color is a great way to hide your naturally gray hair and add a youthful look if you go short.
#52: Short Curly Shag for Naturally Curly Hair
Short shag haircuts for curly hair are super trendy right now. This short cut is very diffused, rounded at the top, squared on the sides, and open around the face. A short curly shag can fit any woman with naturally curly hair. It can enhance natural hair texture, remove weight, or add body to your hair. It’s effortless to maintain if you’re willing to use a little product. This haircut opens the face and looks great with fringe too. For women with strong cheekbones, you can open it up. For women with a round face, you will still look great, and you can even narrow the look of your face with a slightly longer face frame.
#53: Textured Short Shag with Side-Swept Bangs
A short textured shag with a side-swept bang is a sassy and cute style. Bangs are a great way to breakup short hairstyles to add more dimension and face-framing.
#54: Micro Shag with Bangs and Razored Layers
This short shag with bangs is a razored haircut with graduation along the length showing disconnected ends. The cute short blunt shag and bangs stand out with a super stripped, messy finish.
#55: Brown Short Shag with Highlights
Add some toffee highlights to dark brown hair for a fun and fresh short to medium shag. Each highlighted stand will show off all the dimensions of your new shag, and the darker hair color is sure to match any skin tone.
#56: The Cutest Short Layered Shag Haircut
Try this short shag with curtain bangs, which will give your hair a vintage and punk feel. The best thing about this haircut is that it is versatile, depending on how you style it. Waves give it a soft ‘lived-in’ look while straightening this gives an edgier vibe. If you have straight hair, the key to making a short layered shag look effortless is to create a ‘bend’ with the flat iron vs. a curl. Tousle your hair with a texture spray to finish your new short shaggy hairstyle!
Pro Tip: Short shag haircuts definitely benefit from using a diffuser attachment on the hairdryer, as it helps to maintain the hair’s natural texture and prevents frizz, ensuring a more polished and defined look for the layers.
#57: Textured Short Shag with Full Curtain Fringe
A modern textured shag with a full curtain fringe is the “it” hairdo of the moment. Great for various face shapes and hair textures, you can tailor this to your needs and lifestyle. Consult your stylist about what version of this hairstyle would work for you.
#58: Colorful Shaggy Short Mullet
A mullet cut is becoming one of the more popular ways to get a shaggy haircut right now. A colorful short mullet cut that’s styled as a shag is something spunky to try. Strawberry blonde ombré tips and whispy styled ends give this cut and style a whimsical feel. Ask your color specialist which color combo is best for you.
#59: Flattering Short Shag for Square Face Shapes
Try a short shag for a flattering look that pairs well with square face shapes. Short shag haircuts are a perfect way to soften the harsh horizontal lines of square faces while adding roundness to balance the face shape. Use a shag to draw attention to the features you love about your face while diminishing the features you may not want as much attention brought to.
#60: The Short and Fluffy Shag Haircut
Fluffy short shag haircuts are becoming more popular this year. This haircut falls at the neck length and features abundant volume and textured. The length is slightly brushing the shoulder and fringe softly falling below the eyebrows. To achieve this shag hairstyle, use rollers to create the curls, then spray with hairspray and leave to cool down and brush out.
#61: Shaggy Pixie Mullet
The shaggy pixie mullet is the ultimate edgy-chic cut, especially when paired with creative colored hair. You can use a haircut like this to help transition during a pixie grow-out or if you’ve always had shorter hair and want to try a new shape. The advantages of a shaggy pixie are piece-y texture, wispy bangs and hair that’s longer in the back, giving you endless styling versatility.
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