12 Medium-Length Shag Haircuts You’ll Want To Try

The medium-length shag haircut has experienced a remarkable renaissance, evolving from its 1970s rock-and-roll origins to become one of today’s most coveted and versatile styles. This effortlessly cool cut combines the perfect balance of structure and movement, offering enough length for styling versatility while maintaining the carefree, lived-in texture that makes the shag so irresistibly appealing. 

With its signature layers, face-framing pieces, and inherent volume, the medium shag works beautifully across all hair types and face shapes, making it the ultimate choice for those seeking a style that’s both timeless and thoroughly modern.

1. Classic Medium Shag

The classic medium shag serves as the foundation for all variations, featuring multiple layers of varying lengths that create natural movement and volume. This timeless cut typically falls between the shoulders and collarbone, with shorter layers on top blending seamlessly into longer pieces.

Styling Tips: Apply a volumizing mousse to damp hair and scrunch while blow-drying with a diffuser. Use your fingers to separate layers and create texture. A light texturizing spray adds grip and enhances the natural movement of the layers.

Best For: Oval and heart-shaped faces are perfectly complemented by the soft, layered framing. Works exceptionally well with wavy to curly hair that naturally holds the textured layers, though straight hair can achieve beautiful results with proper styling.

2. Curtain Bangs Shag

The curtain bangs shag combines the classic shag structure with face-framing bangs that part in the middle and sweep to either side. This romantic variation adds softness while maintaining the shag’s signature edge and movement.

Styling Tips: Use a round brush to blow-dry the bangs away from your face, creating the curtain effect. Apply a light styling cream to the rest of the hair and scrunch for natural texture. The bangs may need daily touch-ups to maintain their shape.

Best For: Round and square faces benefit from the elongating effect of the center-parted bangs. Ideal for those with straight to wavy hair who want to add a feminine, retro-inspired element to their shag.

3. Layered Shag with Side Bangs

This variation features the classic shag structure enhanced with side-swept bangs that add asymmetrical interest and face-framing softness. The side bangs create movement while the layers provide body and texture throughout.

Styling Tips: Blow-dry the bangs to one side using a round brush, then scrunch the rest of the hair with a texturizing product. The contrast between the smooth bangs and textured layers creates visual interest and dimension.

Best For: Heart-shaped and oval faces are beautifully framed by side-swept bangs. Perfect for those with fine to medium hair who want to add volume and movement while maintaining some face-framing structure.

4. Shaggy Lob (Long Bob)

The shaggy lob combines the structured length of a long bob with the textured layers of a shag, creating a sophisticated yet relaxed style. This cut typically hits just above or at the shoulders with subtle layering throughout.

Styling Tips: Apply a volumizing cream to damp hair and blow-dry with a round brush for smoothness, or scrunch for texture. The versatility allows for both polished and tousled styling depending on the occasion.

Best For: Square and rectangular faces are complemented by the shoulder-length cut that softens angular features. Works beautifully with straight to wavy hair that can showcase both the length and layered texture.

5. Curly Medium Shag

The curly medium shag celebrates natural curl patterns while incorporating the shag’s signature layers to reduce bulk and enhance curl definition. This cut works with the hair’s natural texture to create beautiful, bouncy layers.

Styling Tips: Use a curl-defining cream on wet hair and scrunch gently before air-drying or using a diffuser. Avoid brushing when dry to maintain curl integrity. The layers naturally create volume and movement in curly hair.

Best For: Oval and heart-shaped faces are perfectly suited to the soft, voluminous nature of curly shags. Obviously ideal for those with naturally curly hair who want to embrace their texture with a structured yet free-flowing cut.

6. Feathered Shag

The feathered shag incorporates the classic feathering technique with shag layers, creating pieces that flip away from the face for a windswept, voluminous appearance. This style adds lift and movement while maintaining the shag’s relaxed vibe.

Styling Tips: Use a volumizing mousse on damp hair and blow-dry with a round brush, rolling the ends away from your face. The feathered layers create natural lift and movement that requires minimal daily maintenance.

Best For: Round and oval faces work well with the outward-flipping layers that add width and volume. Perfect for those with fine to medium hair who want to create the illusion of fuller, more voluminous hair.

7. Textured Shag

The textured shag emphasizes piece-y, choppy layers that create maximum movement and visual interest. This modern interpretation of the classic shag focuses on creating separation between layers for a more edgy, contemporary look.

Styling Tips: Work a texturizing paste through towel-dried hair using your fingers to enhance the choppy layers. Scrunch lightly and allow to air dry for the most natural texture. The key is embracing the imperfect, lived-in appearance.

Best For: Oval and diamond face shapes work well with this edgier approach. Ideal for those with naturally wavy or coarse hair who want a modern, low-maintenance style with plenty of personality.

8. Shag with Highlights

This variation combines the classic shag cut with strategic highlighting to enhance the layered dimension and create additional visual interest. The highlights emphasize the movement and texture inherent in the shag structure.

Styling Tips: The highlights naturally show off the layers, so focus on enhancing texture with a light mousse or texturizing spray. The color dimension means the cut looks great with minimal styling intervention.

Best For: All face shapes can benefit from the added dimension that highlights provide. Works with any hair type, as the color enhancement makes the layers more visible and impactful regardless of natural texture.

9. Asymmetrical Shag

The asymmetrical shag features intentionally uneven lengths, with one side longer than the other, creating modern visual interest while maintaining the classic shag’s textured layers. This contemporary twist adds sophistication and uniqueness.

Styling Tips: Use a light styling cream to enhance the natural movement and emphasize the asymmetrical lines. Style with your fingers rather than a brush to maintain the intentionally imperfect, modern appearance.

Best For: Oval and diamond face shapes can pull off this bold, artistic style most effectively. Works best with straight to wavy hair that can showcase the asymmetrical lines cleanly while maintaining the shag’s natural texture.

10. Wispy Shag

The wispy shag features delicate, fine layers that create a soft, ethereal appearance while maintaining the shag’s signature movement. This gentler interpretation is perfect for those who want the shag’s benefits with a more subtle approach.

Styling Tips: Use a lightweight mousse on damp hair and gently scrunch while air-drying. The wispy layers require minimal product to avoid weighing down the delicate texture. A light texturizing spray adds subtle grip.

Best For: Heart-shaped and oval faces are beautifully complemented by the soft, wispy texture. Perfect for those with fine to medium hair who want the movement and volume of a shag without overwhelming their delicate features.

11. Shag with Face-Framing Layers

This variation emphasizes shorter layers around the face while maintaining longer lengths in the back, creating a flattering frame that highlights facial features. The face-framing pieces add movement and softness to the overall cut.

Styling Tips: Focus on styling the face-framing pieces with a round brush while blow-drying, creating movement toward or away from the face as desired. The longer back sections can be left to air dry naturally for texture.

Best For: Round and square faces benefit from the strategic face-framing that can elongate or soften features as needed. Works with most hair types, as the face-framing layers are adaptable to different textures.

12. Razor-Cut Shag

The razor-cut shag uses a razor instead of scissors to create the layers, resulting in softer, more feathered edges that enhance the hair’s natural movement. This technique creates a more organic, lived-in texture throughout the cut.

Styling Tips: The razor-cut edges naturally create texture, so minimal styling is needed. Apply a light leave-in conditioner to damp hair and allow to air dry, or use a diffuser for enhanced texture. The natural movement is the star.

Best For: Oval and heart-shaped faces work beautifully with the soft, organic texture of razor-cut layers. Ideal for those with naturally wavy hair who want to enhance their texture with a cut that works with, rather than against, their natural patterns.

Rock Your Shag: Embracing Effortless Cool

The medium-length shag haircut represents the perfect marriage of structure and freedom, offering endless possibilities for personal expression while maintaining an effortlessly cool aesthetic. 

The beauty of the shag lies in its adaptability—whether you prefer the classic version or want to experiment with modern variations like asymmetrical cuts or textured layers, there’s a shag style that can enhance your natural features and complement your lifestyle.

 Remember that the best shag is one that complements your hair’s natural texture rather than clashes with it, creating a look that feels authentically you. With proper cutting technique and the right styling approach, a medium shag can transform your look while giving you the confidence that comes from wearing a style that’s both timeless and thoroughly contemporary. 

The key is finding the variation that speaks to your personality and makes you feel like the most stylish version of yourself.