Okay so the soft shag is genuinely one of my favorite things happening in hair right now. It is one of those cuts that looks different on everyone and somehow works every single time. The fringe is what people overthink the most but it is also the part that makes the biggest difference.
My personal favorites right now are the ones with airy curtain bangs and wispy face framing pieces, and the shorter lob takes with a little balayage running through the layers (you’ll see it below). These cuts just look like you put in zero effort, which is really the whole goal.
What Is a Soft Shag Haircut?
The soft shag is basically a layered cut with a lot going on throughout the whole head, not just at the ends. The layers are meant to look a little undone and lived-in, never sharp or structured. Here is what makes it different from a regular layered cut:
- It has disconnected layers that create real movement and texture
- Most versions include some kind of fringe, curtain bangs being the most popular right now
- It works on pretty much every hair length from chin to past the collarbone
Soft Shag Trends Right Now
Here is what is showing up everywhere in salons right now:
- Curtain bangs on everything, wispy and face-framing rather than heavy
- The medium lob length shag is probably the most requested version at the moment
- Really pronounced choppy ends instead of anything blended or soft at the bottom
- Lots of volume through the crown with layers that fall flat at the ends
Warm Blonde Soft Shag Lob
Source: @drewudallhair
Dark roots melt into a warm golden and creamy blonde on this medium shag lob. Wispy curtain bangs frame the face without being too heavy. Tousled waves run through the layers and everything lands right at the collarbone. The balayage catches the light in a really beautiful way against all those choppy layers. This is a great one for anyone who wants a lived-in blonde without a lot of upkeep between appointments. Low maintenance color, a cut that does all the heavy lifting for texture and movement.
Choppy Soft Shag Bob
Source: @hairandmakeupsyd
Short, choppy, and ending right at the chin, this is a bold take on the shag and I love it. Sandy blonde all over with wispy curtain bangs sitting just above the brows. The ends are really heavily textured and the whole thing has this effortless undone finish that looks amazing in person. Fine to medium hair gets a lot of body out of this cut without needing much length to work with. It air-dries really well too, which is always a bonus in my book.
Wispy Ends Long Soft Shag
Source: @saloncitrineindy
Warm chocolate brown with long flowing layers that fall well past the collarbone. The curtain bangs sweep softly to the side and blend into the rest of the layers in a really natural way. Long hair with natural texture gets so much out of this cut because the layers bring out all the movement. A relaxed, wearable version of the shag that suits pretty much every face shape.
Golden Blonde Curtain Bang Shag
Source: @teryn_tucker_hair
Long golden blonde layers with wispy curtain bangs and a whole lot of volume. The bangs are short and fine, parting gently down the middle and sitting just above the brows. Waves run all the way through the length and the crown has this really beautiful fullness to it. Warm and creamy blonde highlights give the color a sunny, dimensional quality that photographs so well. A great option for blondes who want to add serious life and movement to their hair without losing any length.
Dark Espresso Wispy Shag
The color on this one is so deep and rich, like a true espresso brown. Those wispy curtain bangs just float across the forehead in the best way. Long layers fall past the collarbone with a natural wave to them. I love how undone it looks. If you have medium or thick hair this is absolutely worth trying.
Sandy Balayage Voluminous Shag
Oh wow, this one is really something. Dark roots melt into a sandy golden blonde and every single layer pops because of it. The curtain bangs are fluffy and full and I love them so much. Low-maintenance color with a big-impact cut, yes please. This is one of those looks where the color and the style are doing equal work.
Fine Hair Layered Shag
The color goes from dark ash brown at the roots to a lighter sandy blonde at the ends and it looks so natural. Long loose layers hit right at the collarbone. Soft curtain bangs part down the middle in the most effortless way. It kind of looks like the sun just did it, which I love. Fine to medium hair types would really love this one.
Wavy Dark Brown Shag Bob
This chin-length shag on naturally curly dark brown hair and I am obsessed with it. The layers work with the curl pattern instead of fighting it, which is so important to me as a stylist. Wispy fringe bangs give it this cute slightly disheveled French-girl energy. If you have curly hair and want to go shorter, this is your sign. It bounces and moves in the best way.
Jet Black Airy Long Shag
That blue-black color is just stunning and the wispy arched curtain bangs frame the face so well. Past the collarbone with lots of tousled wave in the layers. You would think it would look heavy but it actually feels really light and airy somehow. Wavy hair types will get so much out of this cut. It has a bit of an editorial quality that I really love.
Soft Shag with Chunky Face Framing Pieces
I love a bold bang and these full chunky curtain bangs are doing it for me. Jet black all over with choppy layers that feel really intentional. It has a little rock-and-roll edge to it but it is still soft enough that it does not feel scary or too much. This is for the person who wants their shag to make a statement. So good.
Golden Balayage Tousled Soft Shag
Dark roots blending into warm golden blonde highlights on a long shag, and yes, I am fully obsessed. The layers look so lived-in and tousled. Wispy curtain bangs that are a little undone in the most perfect way. The whole thing has this California cool-girl energy going on. Medium to thick hair with some natural wave is going to absolutely love this.
Grown Out Look Shaggy Bob
So this is a shorter shag that ends around the jaw and chin area, which I think is so cute. Dark brown roots bleeding into warm caramel and sandy blonde at the ends. The wispy bangs on the front are super understated and I like that they let the choppy ends do all the talking. It is a really great option if you want the shag vibe without committing to a lot of length. Love this one.
Champagne Blonde Straight Soft Shag
Cool champagne blonde and it is long and it is beautiful, full stop. The bangs here are a bit more blunt and short which is a really fresh detail. All the layers create this airy light movement even on mostly straight hair. If you are blonde and bored with your current cut, this is calling your name. It looks effortless and I mean that as the highest compliment.
Soft Feathery Shag
The layers on this are so feathery and I love how choppy the ends are. Medium warm brunette color with a shag that hits around the collarbone. Curtain fringe bangs that land just above the brows and look super wearable. It genuinely looks like she woke up like that. Such a good everyday option for medium thickness hair.
Balayage Medium Length Soft Shag
Dark brown roots going into honey and caramel highlights and the warmth of this color is just so pretty. Side-swept bangs instead of traditional curtain bangs and it completely changes the vibe in the best way. The wavy layers are beachy and relaxed. It looks expensive and I think it would actually be pretty easy to maintain too. Flattering on so many different face shapes.
Cinnamon Soft Straight Shag Lob
That warm auburn cinnamon color is one of the prettiest hair colors I have seen in a really long time. All the feathery choppy layers in this medium shag lob catch the light in such a gorgeous way. Side-swept curtain bangs that feel casual and relaxed. Nothing about this look is try-hard and that is exactly what I love about it. Such a good pick for anyone who wants warmth and texture together.
Deep Brunette Voluminous Long Shag Cut
Rich deep espresso brown with just a tiny hint of warmth underneath and so much volume. Long layers fall past the collarbone in these really pretty soft waves. The wispy curtain bangs frame the face without being too much at all. I honestly think this cut works on almost everyone, and that is a rare thing to be able to say. It is one of my favorites in this whole list.
Windswept Black Curtain Bang Lob
Okay so this one does something a little different with the bangs that I have to talk about. Instead of falling straight down, they sweep dramatically to the side almost like a curtain blowing in the wind. Deep blue-black color with a medium lob length and this really cool tousled wavy finish. The whole thing has such an editorial quality to it. An underrated and really interesting take on the shag.
Retro Look Feathered Long Shag
Cool ash and sandy blonde with really pronounced feathered layers on a long shag, and the seventies energy here is real. The wispy curtain bangs are soft and perfectly placed. When it is styled out like this it looks really polished, which surprises a lot of people because they think of the shag as a messy cut only. It can do both. This one is for someone who wants options.
Tousled Ombre Shag
Dark warm brown fading into light sandy golden blonde at the ends and the contrast is so striking. All those long shag layers really show off the color gradient beautifully, which is one of my favorite things about this cut for ombre. Wispy curtain fringe bangs that are soft and a little bit undone. This is a case where the cut and the color truly need each other. Really pretty combination.
Airy Long Layers Soft Shag
Icy platinum blonde, almost silver in some lights, and it is long and layered and gorgeous. The curtain bangs are wispy and feathery and they frame the face in such a flattering way. All those shag layers make the hair feel really light even though there is a lot of it. It is a bold color commitment for sure. But the softness of the cut keeps the whole thing from ever feeling harsh.
Copper Pumpkin Shag Lob
This pumpkin copper orange color is one of the most vibrant and beautiful hair colors I have ever seen and I am not exaggerating. The medium shag lob is the perfect cut for it because those choppy layers make the color look even more alive. Wispy curtain bangs and a tousled wavy finish. This whole look owns being a statement and I love that for it. If you want bold hair, please consider this one.
Black Soft Shag Cut
Jet black past the collarbone with really beautiful tousled wave texture throughout. The wispy arched curtain bangs look so striking against the dark color. So much volume in the layers and it is impressive for such a deep, dense color to look this light and bouncy. It looks effortlessly cool. Straight to wavy hair types are going to get the most out of this cut.
Golden Platinum Beachy Shag
Warm golden roots melting into creamy platinum blonde at the ends and it is such a pretty natural-looking gradient. Not quite ombre, not quite highlights, just a really beautiful in-between. The wispy curtain bangs are delicate and soft. All those choppy tousled layers give it a beachy feel that I am completely in love with. A gorgeous option for blondes who want more dimension without going too dramatic with it.
