A shaggy men's hairstyle is a popular, layered look featuring textured, messy hair with a heavy fringe, creating a stylish, low-maintenance aesthetic that exudes personality and relaxed confidence. From short to long, the timeless shag haircut can be a versatile, edgy choice for younger gents and teenage guys who prefer an effortlessly cool vibe that works to suit any lifestyle.
This tousled modern style with layers naturally pairs well with tapers, fades or undercuts to achieve attractive contrast, flattering volume and charming movement on top. Whether you have straight, wavy or curly hair, talk to your barber about trending shaggy hairstyles for men that blend contemporary cuts with vintage styling.
Popular Shaggy Men's Haircuts
Short Shaggy Cut
A short shaggy haircut is a charismatic, effortless style suitable for casual events, black-tie affairs, and everything in between. A long, side-swept fringe is the focal point, while the sides fall slightly over the ears. On top, the tousled layers move forward from the crown, creating ample volume and movement. Wear the cut with a full beard for a masculine vibe.
Short Curly Shag
A short curly shag is a chic, dapper look that maximizes the body and movement of soft, bouncy curls. Several short layers emphasize and define individual curl clumps, and the short sides and back lend the cut structure. The style is excellent for reducing thick, heavy bulk while leaving just enough length to showcase boyish curly hair.
Long Shaggy Hair
Long shaggy hair is a modern, elegant take on a style that first became popular in the late 1990s and early 2000s. The hair at the crown falls forward and off to the side, hiding a deep side part. Thick, side-swept fringe and long tendrils in front of the ears create a handsome frame for the face. Subtle caramel highlights and a quality matte styling pomade enhance the windblown texture.
Medium Shaggy Hair
Medium shaggy hair is a low-maintenance, confident style that maximizes natural texture and volume. The short layers on top blend into the ones below, starting with the soft, wavy fringe framing the eyes. To style it, apply a small amount of mousse to damp hair, then tousle at the root for lift. A thick, stubbly beard takes the look from youthfully innocent to rugged.
Shaggy Fringe with Taper Faded Sides
A shaggy fringe with taper faded sides provides a daring, relaxed look that's sexy, wearable and easy to style. The side-swept bangs draped over the forehead are the main feature, and the shorter back and sides add sharp visual contrast. To achieve the texture on top, apply a small amount of mousse to damp hair, then use a scrunching motion or twist individual clumps around a finger before allowing it to air dry.
Messy Shag with Undercut
A messy shag with an undercut is a fresh, casual look that combines daring color and texture with beachy sophistication. A long fringe tumbles well beyond the brow, adding a sense of sexy intrigue. Brushing the hair forward and down from the back adds visual interest, and the buzzed undercut complements the length on top. A generous dollop of styling gel applied to wet hair is essential for achieving the wet look, and a variety of highlights and lowlights lead to a sun-kissed appearance.
Modern Shaggy Mullet
A modern shaggy mullet combines the iconic shag cut with an edgy burst fade into a head-turning, eccentric style. Short, choppy layers along the top and in the back provide ample movement and volume. Longer layers underneath flow freely into a long fringe, grazing the brow. The buzzed sides carry through the sideburns and into the stubbly beard, giving the look continuity and balance.
Textured Shag with Fade
A textured shag with a fade exudes confidence and commands attention on the stage or in a crowd. The cut features a mix of choppy and wispy layers, evident in the long fringe grazing the cheekbones. The bulk of the hair on top sweeps off to the side, and the disconnected undercut fade creates visual lift and volume. To maintain the soft matte texture, use a sea salt spray for grit, apply a small amount of pomade, and then tousle with the fingertips before applying strong hairspray.
Side Swept Shag with Taper Fade
A side-swept shag with a taper fade is a captivating, youthful cut ideal for trendsetters willing to explore the boundaries of grooming. Numerous layers pile on top of each other as they flow over the head from a deep side part. A thick fringe with feathery ends comes to a sharp point even with the cheekbone, and the taper sides and back emphasizes the length on top.
Medium Shaggy Hair with Low Taper
Medium shaggy hair with a low taper is poised and refined with stunning texture and neat appearance. Longer layers and a taper instead of a fade tone down the edgy boldness, making the style ideal for young professionals. Style the thick, textured fringe with matte pomade, and comb the remainder through the bulk of the hair before tousling at the roots for volume.
Beachy Shag
A beachy shag is a sun-kissed, windblown look ideal for volleyball on the beach or a weekend on a surfboard. Thick, layered waves and curls feature ragged ends, creating a messy “undone” vibe. A long, thick fringe and short beard create a stunning frame for the face and adding a few subtle highlights throughout the hair amplifies the texture even further.
Long Shaggy Curls
Long, shaggy curls embrace natural texture, offering a chic, glamorous structure that complements angular male features. The curly hair is longer along the top and at the fringe while slightly shorter at the sides and back, producing an enhanced, rounded appearance. To style it, use a curl cream and volumizing mousse on wet hair, then scrunch it up and let it dry.
Shaggy Undercut
A shaggy undercut is an understated yet versatile style that suits casual, formal, and professional needs. A long, wispy fringe over the forehead gets shorter as it moves back across the head. A disconnected undercut fade at the sides blends seamlessly into the sideburns and beard, gradually becoming longer and thicker at the chin. Wear the cut as-is for relaxed nights in, or comb styling gel through for a dapper formal look.
Shaggy Mod Cut
A shaggy mod cut packs a retro punch with its soft texture and ragged, feathery ends. A thick center-parted fringe dusts the brows, drawing immediate attention to the eyes. The shorter sides and back are textured and full, lending the cut its classic structure. Wear it with a thick mustache for the iconic mod vibe, or opt for a clean-shaven face for a more youthful, boyish approach.
Tousled Shag with Mid Taper and Beard
A tousled shag with a mid taper provides an attractive, fashionable style that oozes virile ruggedness. The haircut is longest at the front, forming a stringy, wet-looking fringe over the eyes. The taper is shorter around the ears but longer and thicker at the back, giving its iconic shape. Pair the cut with a short, full beard, body jewelry, and perhaps a neck tattoo for maximum edginess.
Blonde Shaggy Hair
Blonde shaggy hair is unique and fun, with a soft, almost frizzy finish that suits rock stars and celebrities alike. The yellow blonde stands out against deep, dark roots and brows as it falls forward over the forehead. The choppy layers stick out at all angles in soft spikes, amplified by the shorter tresses at the sides and back. To achieve the texture, tease the hair – especially at the root – using a natural bristle brush, then apply a matte-finish hairspray.
Messy Shag
A messy shag is an effortless, attractive cut that looks polished and glamorous against chiseled features. The hair resembles a grown-out gentleman's cut, featuring thick, tousled fringe, ample layering on top, and a soft curl at the nape. The cut exudes a fairytale-like vibe, but a barely-there stubble adds mature masculinity, perfectly balancing the aesthetic.
Shaggy Curls with Short Sides
Shaggy curls with short sides and a tapered back are a handsome, structured take on the classic shag. Big, bouncy curls on top give way to shorter, straighter strands at the sides and back. Adding a full beard connected by thin sideburns pulls the look together by framing the face, and the thick ringlets bring volume and body.
Soft Layered Shag
A soft layered shag is a casually edgy look that dates to the early 2000s. Brushing the hair over and forward from a deep side part creates volume and texture on top, and the thick, angular fringe harmonizes with a chiseled jaw and cheekbones. To maintain the soft shine, brush pomade or wax through the hair with a boar-bristle brush, then tousle it with the fingertips and set it in place with hairspray.
Shaggy Fringe with Low Taper Fade
Pairing thick, shaggy fringe with a low taper fade results in a harmonious cut that suits a wide range of face shapes and hair types. Treating the hair with a texturizing product like sea salt spray allows for ample separation and definition in the waves. The short, careful taper at the sides and back draws the eye forward, and a clean-shaven face creates an aura of youthful innocence.
Shaggy Wolf Cut
A shaggy wolf cut is a bold and edgy alternative to the timeless shag that beautifully frames the eyes. Numerous meticulously placed layers create feathery ends that indicate movement and flow, and the short, wispy fringe mirrors the longer hair at the nape. Reminiscent of the 60s mod era, the cut combines vintage and contemporary elements for an attractive finish.
Short Shaggy Curls with Mid Fade
Short shaggy curls with a mid fade emphasize the texture of tight ringlets while mitigating excessive volume, ideal for the hot summer months. The curls move from the crown, gradually becoming longer before tumbling over the forehead. A mid skin fade gives the cut structure and depth, amplifying the volume on top. Use a quality curl cream with humidity-blocking properties to separate and define the ringlets, or for even more lift, use a curl-defining mousse.
Thick Shag with Beard
A thick shag with a beard foregoes long fringe in exchange for a lush, wavy texture. The top section of hair features numerous choppy, well-defined layers with a semi-soft finish, and the taper at the sides creates a subtle transition between lengths. A short beard can shorten an elongated face shape, making it appear rounder or square while giving the style a rugged vibe.
Textured Shag
A classic textured shag with gently cascading waves is boyishly handsome and effortless, requiring very little maintenance. The elegant, sophisticated cut is ideal for everyday wear, featuring a long fringe, sides that drape over the ears, and hair that brushes the collar at the back. A slight tousle lends personality, and a thin mustache adds a touch of maturity.
Short Mohawk Shag
A short mohawk shag pairs the choppy layers associated with the iconic cut with a precise taper at the sides to create a spiky, audacious look. Subtler than a traditional mohawk but edgier than an Ivy League cut, the style's fun texture is relatively easy to recreate at home. Just apply pomade throughout the hair and comb against the direction of growth, using the fingertips to twist sections into thin spikes.
Shaggy Flow
A shaggy flow is a luxurious, soft style that complements a wide range of face shapes but works best with thick, naturally wavy hair. Long layers all over create feathering around the ears, adding volume and movement, and sparse platinum highlights help to define and separate individual waves. The shorter hair at the nape gives the cut shape, keeping it tidy.
Surfer Shag
A surfer shag is an alluring, captivating style that enhances natural texture, giving it shape and aesthetic appeal. The naturally dark hair is long enough to capture the stunning curl pattern and features thick honey-colored streaks, giving it a sun-kissed glow. The thick curtain bangs flow out to either side, blending into the layers behind them.
Low-Maintenance Shaggy Hair
Low-maintenance shaggy hair is relatively short and straightforward, relying more on texture than variations in length for its attractiveness. The hair is longest at the fringe, while the shorter nape and blonde highlights infuse a shiny texture. The style is suited for men with all hair types, including fine or thinning hair.
Hipster Medium Shaggy Hair
Hipster medium shaggy hair boasts a 1970s retro vibe with well-defined waves, a long, thick fringe, and short, choppy layers. The timelessly charming style features layers in various lengths and textured ends, giving the cut dimension and eliminating uniformity. The ends of the hair curl under and out at the sides and back, drawing attention to chiseled facial features. The vintage style is whimsical and alluring with sophistication, especially with a well-groomed, full beard.
What Is A Shag Haircut For Men?
The shag is a stylish, classic men's hairstyle characterized by its layered cut, textured finish and generally messy appearance. Originating in the 1970s, the shag haircut symbolizes rebellion, individuality and a free-spirited attitude, hallmark aspects of the hippie movement.
The charming, unstructured style comes with natural volume and movement, created by the unique haircutting techniques employed to achieve the look. The low-maintenance aesthetic works well with light-hold, matte styling products that enhance flow and fullness.
How To Style A Shaggy Men's Hairstyle
The simplest and fastest way to style shaggy hair for men is to use a light-hold texturizing product and tousle your locks, letting them fall naturally. You can also apply a strong matte pomade, wax or clay to maintain a desired style, such as a side-swept shag or layered cut with a messy fringe. To achieve this, sweep your bangs to the side, use a blow dryer and brush your hair forward to cover your forehead.
