The short shaggy haircut is a versatile and trendy style that combines effortless layers with a casual, tousled look. It’s a great option for those who want a low-maintenance style that still looks chic and modern. This professional article will guide you through various ways to style short shaggy hair, providing detailed analysis and reasons behind each styling method.
Understanding the Short Shaggy Hair Cut
The Appeal of the Shaggy Cut
The shaggy haircut has been popular since the 1970s and has recently made a strong comeback. Its appeal lies in its ability to add texture and volume to hair, creating a look that is both edgy and relaxed. The cut typically features layers of different lengths, which give the hair a naturally tousled appearance.
Why Choose a Short Shaggy Haircut?
A short shaggy haircut is ideal for those looking for a hairstyle that is both stylish and easy to maintain. The shorter length makes it easy to manage, while the layers add movement and body to the hair. This style is particularly flattering for those with fine or thin hair, as it creates the illusion of thickness.
Face Shapes That Suit a Short Shaggy Haircut
Before diving into styling tips, it’s essential to consider whether a short shaggy haircut is suitable for your face shape. This cut works well for most face shapes, but it is especially flattering for those with oval, heart, and square faces. The layers help to soften angular features and add dimension to the face.
How to Style Short Shaggy Hair: Step-by-Step Guides
1. The Messy Bedhead Look
Why It Works
The messy bedhead look is a perfect match for a short shaggy haircut. The layers in the cut naturally lend themselves to a tousled, carefree style. This look is ideal for those who want to embrace a more casual, undone appearance.
Step-by-Step Guide
Start with Clean, Damp Hair: Wash your hair and towel-dry it until it’s slightly damp. This will help the styling products to distribute evenly.
Apply a Texturizing Spray: Spray a texturizing or sea salt spray evenly throughout your hair. This will add grip and texture, essential for achieving the messy look.
Blow-Dry with a Diffuser: Use a blow dryer with a diffuser attachment to dry your hair. Scrunch your hair with your hands as you dry to enhance the natural waves and create a tousled effect.
Finish with a Light Hold Hair Spray: Once your hair is dry, finish with a light hold hair spray to keep the style in place without making it look stiff.
Detailed Analysis
The messy bedhead look is all about embracing the natural texture of your hair. By using a texturizing spray, you can enhance the layers in your cut, giving your hair more volume and movement. The diffuser helps to dry your hair gently, preventing frizz and keeping the tousled look soft and natural.
2. The Sleek and Polished Look
Why It Works
For a more polished and sophisticated appearance, you can style your short shaggy haircut in a sleek manner. This look is perfect for formal occasions or professional settings where a more refined hairstyle is needed.
Step-by-Step Guide
Start with Straight, Dry Hair: If your hair is naturally wavy or curly, you may need to straighten it first using a flat iron.
Apply a Smoothing Serum: Work a smoothing serum through your hair to eliminate frizz and add shine. Focus on the ends of your hair, where frizz tends to be more prominent.
Part Your Hair to One Side: Use a comb to create a deep side part, which will give your look a more polished appearance.
Tuck One Side Behind Your Ear: For a sleek finish, tuck one side of your hair behind your ear. You can secure it with a bobby pin if necessary.
Set with a Shine Spray: Finish the look with a shine spray to add a glossy finish to your hair.
Detailed Analysis
The sleek and polished look contrasts with the natural texture of a shaggy cut, creating a refined style that highlights the layers in a different way. The deep side part adds sophistication, while the smoothing serum helps to control frizz and add shine. This style is ideal for showcasing the versatility of a short shaggy haircut.
3. The Voluminous Blowout
Why It Works
A voluminous blowout is an excellent way to make the most of the layers in a short shaggy haircut. This style adds lift and body, creating a glamorous look that is perfect for special occasions.
Step-by-Step Guide
Apply a Volumizing Mousse: Start with clean, damp hair and apply a volumizing mousse from the roots to the ends. This will give your hair the lift it needs to achieve a voluminous blowout.
Blow-Dry with a Round Brush: Use a round brush to blow-dry your hair. Lift sections of hair at the roots as you dry to add volume. Focus on the layers to create movement and body.
Add Curl with a Large Barrel Curling Iron: Once your hair is dry, use a large barrel curling iron to add loose curls to the ends of your hair. This will enhance the volume and add a soft, bouncy finish.
Finish with a Medium Hold Hair Spray: Set your style with a medium hold hair spray to keep the volume intact throughout the day.
Detailed Analysis
The voluminous blowout takes advantage of the layers in a short shaggy haircut by adding lift and movement. The volumizing mousse helps to create a strong foundation for the blowout, while the round brush adds smoothness and volume. The large barrel curling iron adds a polished finish, making this style perfect for any event where you want to make a statement.
4. The Beachy Waves
Why It Works
Beachy waves are a classic style that works beautifully with a short shaggy haircut. The layers in the cut naturally lend themselves to this relaxed, wavy look, making it easy to achieve a laid-back, yet stylish appearance.
Step-by-Step Guide
Start with Dry Hair: If your hair is naturally wavy, you can start with dry hair. If it’s straight, you may want to add some wave with a curling iron or flat iron.
Apply a Sea Salt Spray: Spray a sea salt spray evenly throughout your hair. This will add texture and help to create the beachy waves.
Twist Sections of Hair: Take small sections of hair and twist them away from your face. You can secure the twists with small clips if needed.
Blow-Dry with a Diffuser: Use a diffuser to blow-dry your hair while keeping the twists intact. This will help to set the waves and add volume.
Shake Out the Waves: Once your hair is dry, remove the clips and gently shake out the twists to reveal soft, beachy waves.
Finish with a Light Hold Hair Spray: Set your style with a light hold hair spray to keep the waves in place without weighing them down.
Detailed Analysis
Beachy waves are a go-to style for a reason: they are easy to achieve and look effortlessly chic. The sea salt spray is key to adding the right amount of texture and grit, while the twisting technique helps to create defined waves. The diffuser ensures that the waves are soft and natural-looking, making this style perfect for everyday wear.
5. The Pixie Shag
Why It Works
The pixie shag is a modern twist on the traditional pixie cut, combining the short length of a pixie with the textured layers of a shag. This style is perfect for those who want a bold, edgy look that still has plenty of movement.
Step-by-Step Guide
Apply a Lightweight Styling Cream: Start with clean, damp hair and apply a lightweight styling cream. This will help to define the layers and add texture without weighing your hair down.
Blow-Dry with Your Fingers: Use your fingers to blow-dry your hair, lifting sections at the roots to add volume. This will create a more natural, tousled look.
Add Texture with a Texturizing Paste: Once your hair is dry, work a small amount of texturizing paste through the layers. Focus on the ends to add definition and enhance the shaggy texture.
Finish with a Matte Hair Spray: Set your style with a matte hair spray to keep the texture intact without adding shine.
Detailed Analysis
The pixie shag is a bold, modern style that combines the best elements of a pixie cut and a shaggy cut. The short length makes it easy to manage, while the layers add plenty of texture and movement. The texturizing paste is key to defining the layers and creating a piecey, edgy look that is both stylish and effortless.
6. The Retro Shag
Why It Works
The retro shag takes inspiration from the 1970s, combining the classic shaggy layers with a modern twist. This style is perfect for those who want to embrace a vintage-inspired look with a contemporary edge.
Step-by-Step Guide
Apply a Volumizing Spray: Start with clean, damp hair and apply a volumizing spray to the roots. This will give your hair the lift it needs to achieve the retro shag look.
Blow-Dry with a Round Brush: Use a round brush to blow-dry your hair, focusing on creating volume at the crown. The round brush will also help to smooth out the layers and add a polished finish.
Create Soft Waves with a Curling Iron: Use a medium-sized curling iron to create soft waves throughout your hair. Focus on the layers to add movement and dimension.
Tease the Crown for Extra Volume: For a true retro look, tease the hair at the crown to add extra volume. Use a fine-tooth comb to gently backcomb the roots.
Finish with a Strong Hold Hair Spray: Set your style with a strong hold hair spray to keep the volume and waves in place all day.
Detailed Analysis
The retro shag is a nod to the 1970s, but with a modern twist that makes it fresh and wearable. The volumizing spray and round brush work together to create lift and smoothness, while the curling iron adds soft waves that enhance the layers in the cut. The teased crown is the key to achieving the retro vibe, adding height and drama to the style.
7. The Curly Shag
Why It Works
For those with naturally curly hair, the curly shag is a fantastic option. The layers in a shaggy cut help to enhance curls and reduce bulk, creating a balanced, voluminous look that is full of texture.
Step-by-Step Guide
Apply a Curl Defining Cream: Start with clean, damp hair and apply a curl defining cream. This will help to enhance your natural curls and reduce frizz.
Diffuse Dry Your Hair: Use a diffuser attachment on your blow dryer to dry your hair. The diffuser will help to keep your curls intact while adding volume.
Scrunch Your Curls: As you dry your hair, scrunch your curls with your hands to enhance their shape and add definition.
Use a Light Oil for Shine: Once your hair is dry, apply a light oil to your curls to add shine and reduce frizz.
Finish with a Flexible Hold Hair Spray: Set your style with a flexible hold hair spray to keep your curls in place without making them stiff.
Detailed Analysis
The curly shag is all about embracing your natural texture. The curl defining cream helps to enhance and define your curls, while the diffuser ensures that they dry evenly and with volume. The light oil adds shine and reduces frizz, giving your curls a polished, healthy appearance. This style is perfect for showcasing the beauty of natural curls while still maintaining the edgy, textured look of a shaggy cut.
See Also: How To Style Short Shaved Hair
8. The Modern Shag with Bangs
Why It Works
Adding bangs to a short shaggy haircut is a great way to frame your face and add a modern twist to the classic shag. This style is versatile and can be tailored to suit different face shapes and personal preferences.
Step-by-Step Guide
Apply a Heat Protectant Spray: Start with clean, dry hair and apply a heat protectant spray. This will protect your hair from heat damage when styling your bangs.
Blow-Dry Your Bangs: Use a round brush to blow-dry your bangs, directing them slightly to the side for a soft, face-framing effect.
Add Texture to the Rest of Your Hair: Use a texturizing spray or dry shampoo to add texture to the rest of your hair. This will help to create a cohesive look between your bangs and the shaggy layers.
Piece Out the Bangs with a Texturizing Paste: To add definition to your bangs, use a small amount of texturizing paste. Focus on the ends to create a piecey, modern look.
Finish with a Light Hold Hair Spray: Set your style with a light hold hair spray to keep your bangs and layers in place.
Detailed Analysis
The modern shag with bangs is a stylish update to the traditional shaggy haircut. The bangs add a fresh, youthful element to the style, while the layers create movement and texture. The texturizing paste is key to achieving the piecey, defined look that is essential for this modern take on the shag. This style is perfect for those who want to add a little extra flair to their short shaggy haircut while still keeping it easy to maintain.
9. The Side-Swept Shag
Why It Works
The side-swept shag is a versatile style that combines the texture of a shaggy cut with the softness of a side-swept look. This style is perfect for those who want to add a bit of drama to their haircut while still keeping it wearable for everyday.
Step-by-Step Guide
Start with Dry Hair: If your hair is naturally straight, you can start with dry hair. If it’s wavy or curly, you may need to straighten it first.
Part Your Hair Deep to One Side: Use a comb to create a deep side part. This will give your hair a dramatic, side-swept look.
Apply a Volumizing Spray: Spray a volumizing spray at the roots of your hair on the side with more hair. This will add lift and help to keep the side-swept look in place.
Use a Flat Iron to Create Loose Waves: If desired, use a flat iron to add loose waves to your hair. This will add texture and enhance the side-swept effect.
Finish with a Flexible Hold Hair Spray: Set your style with a flexible hold hair spray to keep the waves and side-swept look in place without making your hair look stiff.
Detailed Analysis
The side-swept shag is a great way to add a bit of drama to a short shaggy haircut. The deep side part creates a flattering, face-framing effect, while the volumizing spray adds lift and helps to keep the style in place. The loose waves add texture and movement, making this style both stylish and easy to wear. This look is perfect for those who want to add a bit of flair to their everyday hairstyle without sacrificing ease of maintenance.
10. The Edgy Shag
Why It Works
For those who want to make a bold statement with their short shaggy haircut, the edgy shag is the perfect choice. This style is all about embracing the texture and layers of a shaggy cut and pushing it to the extreme with bold styling choices.
Step-by-Step Guide
Apply a Texturizing Spray: Start with clean, dry hair and apply a texturizing spray. This will add grit and texture, essential for achieving an edgy look.
Tease the Crown for Height: Use a fine-tooth comb to tease the hair at the crown, creating extra height and volume. This will add drama to your style and enhance the edgy effect.
Piece Out the Layers with a Texturizing Paste: Work a texturizing paste through the layers of your hair, focusing on the ends to create a piecey, defined look.
Add a Bold Accessory: For an extra edge, consider adding a bold accessory, such as a leather headband or metal hair clip.
Finish with a Strong Hold Hair Spray: Set your style with a strong hold hair spray to keep the height and texture in place all day.
Detailed Analysis
The edgy shag is a bold, statement-making style that takes the traditional shaggy cut to the next level. The texturizing spray and paste are key to creating the grit and definition that are essential for this look, while the teased crown adds drama and height. The bold accessory is the finishing touch, adding an extra layer of style and personality to this already striking look.
Maintaining a Short Shaggy Haircut
Regular Trims
To keep your short shaggy haircut looking its best, it’s important to get regular trims. The layers in this cut can grow out unevenly, so trimming every 6-8 weeks will help maintain the shape and style.
Using the Right Products
The right hair products are essential for styling a short shaggy haircut. Texturizing sprays, mousses, and light oils are all great options for adding texture and definition. Avoid heavy products that can weigh your hair down and make it look flat.
Embracing Natural Texture
One of the best things about a short shaggy haircut is that it works with your natural texture. Embrace your natural waves, curls, or straight hair and use styling products to enhance what you already have.
Experimenting with Different Styles
The short shaggy haircut is incredibly versatile, so don’t be afraid to experiment with different styles. From sleek and polished to messy and tousled, there are endless ways to style this cut. Try out different looks to see what works best for you and your lifestyle.
Conclusion
The short shaggy haircut is a timeless, versatile style that can be adapted to suit any personal style or occasion. Whether you prefer a messy, tousled look or a sleek, polished finish, there are countless ways to style this cut. By understanding the different styling techniques and products that work best with a short shaggy haircut, you can create a look that is uniquely yours. Regular maintenance, including trims and the use of the right products, will ensure that your shaggy cut always looks its best. Embrace the natural texture of your hair, and don’t be afraid to experiment with different styles to find the one that suits you best.