7 Ways to Wear a Shag Haircut With Bangs

By Erin Lukas
Updated May 09, 2019 @ 1:15 pm
Credit: Frazer Harrison/Getty Images

Whether you have a pixie, a bob, or long hair, the shag works on every length, plus a number of hair textures.

So, if this unicorn of a haircut isn't defined by length of your hair, what makes a cut shaggy? It's all in the layers.

Typically, the shag is a layered cut with feathered ends, and often finished off with bangs. Yep, if you've been debating whether or not to take the plunge and try bangs, the shag is the perfect haircut to compliment a fresh set of fringe. 

"Bangs work well with a shag haircut because it adds to the effortless vibe and draws attention up to the eyes and cheekbones," says Chara DeSimone, a stylist at Bumble and bumble's midtown salon in New York City. "It also blends in with the shorter layers."

As for what kind of bangs to add to a shag, well, that's up to you, too. DeSimone says she typically likes to add curtain bangs to a shag, or short, wispy bangs that sit at the eyebrow and open in the center. 

However, she says to take face shape into consideration so the overall look is balanced. "For a heart-shaped face, I’d go for longer and more wispy, for a square face, I’d go for rounded and soft, and for for a round face, I’d go for a heavier or blunt bang," she suggests.

Celebs have got the shag haircut with bangs memo. Kerry Washington's layered pixie cut and Julianne Hough's effortless, textured bob are just a few examples of how to do the cut right. 

Looking for inspo for your own cut? Keep scrolling for the best celebrity shag haircuts with bangs.

VIDEO: Beauty School: Messy Pony

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Kerry Washington

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Yes, a pixie can be considered a shag. Kerry Washington's long layers and piecey, side-swept bangs are a textbook example of how amazing a shag can look on short hair. 

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Zendaya

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Zendaya's curly bangs blend seamlessly into her layers, plus draws the attention up to her eyes. 

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Julianne Hough

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If you're looking to kill three big hair trends at once, consider Julianne Hough's shaggy bob with curtain bangs your next cut. 

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Natasha Lyonne

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Full bangs with a few face-framing pieces and long shaggy layers are a perfect combo. 

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Halle Berry

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Wispy curtain bangs like Halle Berry's are subtle, and blend seamlessly into her long shaggy layers. 

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Chloë Grace Moretz

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When you think of the shag, an image of '70s-era Mick Jagger may come to mind. While Chloë Grace Moretz's feathered curtain bangs channel the decade, her subtle shaggy layers keep the cut modern. 

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Alexa Chung

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Alexa Chung's soft, center-parted bangs and wavy shaggy lob is a textbook example of effortlessly cool hair. 

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By Erin Lukas