11 Modern Shag Hairstyles Every Cool Girl Needs to Try
A new season often calls for a new haircut, and when preparing for a fresh start, why revert to a tired style? Instead, consider getting scissor happy and adding a whole lot of texture to embrace the modern shag. The swing shag, or swag, is characterized by long layers, often paired with feathered ends for a piecey finish (versus the classic cut, which has more blunt ends) and bangs. To check out all the ways it can be worn, keep scrolling for 11 of our favorite takes on the modern shag.
1. Grown-Out Roots: The shag cut is known for it’s low-key, high-fashion style, so what better way to rock it than paired with another 2019 hair trend: grown-out roots. Like Ellen Pompeo (shown above in celebrity hairstylist Harry Josh‘s Instagram photo), you’ll look every bit the laid-back, cool girl.
2. Silver Fox: Celebrity hairstylist Kristin Ess is onto something. Here, she pairs the 2019 hair color of the year with the prettiest trendy cut — the modern shag.
3. Creative Color: Olivia Holt’s hairstyle (via a pic on Ess’s Instagram) combines beautiful coral with rose gold and slightly deeper roots for an Insta-worthy result.
4. Razored Blunt Bangs: Bangs are having a moment right now and there’s no denying that they look even more stylish when paired with the season’s popular shag cut. Just take a look at Joan Smalls in a pic from celebrity hairstylist Andrew Fitzsimons.
5. Swingy Shag: Lengthier mids and ends can be layered to perfection like on Nina Dobrev as captured by celebrity hairstylist Riawna Capri.
6. Modern Shag With Ombré: To upgrade your ombré hair color, take Fitzsimons and Khloe Kardashian’s lead and incorporate a few face-framing strands that are light from root to tip.
7. Medium Shag With Balayage: Balayage babes, this one’s for you! Highlight sections of your hair with shades of blonde and caramel, then apply product at your roots for volume and height. Before you know it, you’ll be doing your best Rose Byrne à la Josh impression.
8. Swag With Eye-Grazing Bangs: The devil-may-care ‘tude of the swag shown on Natalia Dyer above is the best way to rock your overgrown bangs this season. Now if only we all had celebrity stylist Lacy Redway on our side to help score the cut.
9. Long Shag With Choppy Layers: Helena Christensen’s longer, slightly wind-swept style created by Josh makes a nod to the ’90s, making it that much more fashionable in 2019.
10. Wavy Retro Shag With Heavy Curtain Bangs: Let’s not forget that this is a throwback trend, after all. Opt for a more vintage appeal with a parted curtain bang and less obvious layers, like Redway’s cut on Lucy Boynton above.
11. Soft Coral Shag: Colored hair, don’t care, and we’re all about it. If you dyed your mane to match the Pantone color of the year, don’t hesitate to copy this shag by celebrity hairstylist Anh Co Tran,
Which variation of the modern shag or “swag” would you try? Follow us on Pinterest for more hair inspo!
