As women age, hair often becomes thinner and less voluminous, but that doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice style. The shag haircut, with its layered and textured finish, is making a major comeback and is a perfect option for older women who want a chic, low-maintenance, and youthful look. The shag cut adds volume, movement, and dimension to hair, which can help mask thinning spots and give the illusion of thicker hair. Whether you have short, medium, or long hair, there’s a shag cut to suit your unique style. Here are 12 trendy shag haircuts that will complement older women’s hair textures and face shapes.
1. The Classic Shag Cut
The classic shag cut is timeless and versatile, making it ideal for older women looking for a stylish and low-maintenance haircut. This cut is characterized by layers of different lengths, with the shortest layers on the crown and the longest layers near the ends. It creates a messy, voluminous look that doesn’t require a lot of styling.
For older women, the classic shag can give the hair a fuller, more youthful appearance by adding movement and volume. This haircut works well for women with fine to medium hair and can be styled with a simple blowout or air-dried for a more relaxed, natural look. A bit of texturizing spray can enhance the shaggy layers for an even more voluminous, textured finish.
2. The Shaggy Bob
The shaggy bob is a perfect option for older women who want a trendy haircut that still feels classic and sophisticated. This cut combines the sleek, timeless nature of a bob with the messy, playful texture of a shag. The shaggy bob is typically cut to chin or jaw length and features lots of layered textures throughout.
For older women, this style is especially flattering because it creates volume around the face, helping to soften facial features and create the illusion of a more lifted, youthful appearance. A shaggy bob can also be customized to fit different face shapes. For round faces, adding more volume at the crown can elongate the face, while for square faces, soft layers around the edges can help create balance and movement.
3. Shag with Fringe
Adding a fringe (or bangs) to a shag haircut can completely transform the look. A shag with a fringe is perfect for older women who want to frame their face while maintaining texture and volume. The fringe can be cut straight across or swept to the side for a more modern, soft look. This style works well for women with thin or fine hair because the fringe and layers add fullness to the overall look.
The shaggy texture helps prevent the fringe from looking flat, ensuring that it stays voluminous throughout the day. This haircut is also a great way to hide forehead lines or other aging signs on the face. You can style it with a bit of texturizing spray or a round brush for a voluminous, fresh look.
4. Long Shag Cut
Long shag cuts are perfect for older women who prefer to keep their hair long but still want a stylish, trendy look. The long shag is characterized by its layers, which add texture and movement to longer hair. This cut works especially well for women with wavy or curly hair, as the natural texture enhances the shag’s layered design. The key to making this cut work for older women is ensuring the layers are well-placed so they don’t weigh the hair down.
Long shags can be styled with loose waves for a relaxed, beachy vibe or straightened for a sleeker, more sophisticated look. Either way, the long shag offers volume and movement without compromising length, making it perfect for women who enjoy having longer locks but still want a youthful, modern appearance.
5. Textured Shag with Soft Waves
A textured shag with soft waves is a great haircut for older women who want to add some bounce and movement to their hair without sacrificing a low-maintenance routine. This style features longer layers at the ends with a light wave that enhances the shaggy look. The soft waves help prevent the layers from looking too choppy and give the hair a smooth, natural finish. The textured shag with soft waves works beautifully on women with naturally wavy hair, as the waves are enhanced by the layering.
For women with straight hair, a curling iron or wand can help add soft waves. This cut adds a youthful, carefree look while maintaining a polished and sophisticated vibe. It’s ideal for older women who want a fresh, modern update to their hairstyle while keeping things easy to manage.
6. Shaggy Pixie Cut
The shaggy pixie cut is a bold, modern choice for older women who want a shorter, more dramatic haircut. This cut is characterized by shorter layers throughout, often with longer bangs or layers around the face. The shaggy pixie cut is perfect for women who want to embrace their natural texture, as the short layers allow hair to have volume and movement.
It works particularly well for women with fine or thinning hair because the layers add depth and the cut creates the illusion of fuller hair. Additionally, the pixie cut is an incredibly easy style to maintain and style, requiring minimal effort to achieve a chic, messy look. For older women, the shaggy pixie cut can bring a youthful, edgy feel while still feeling sophisticated and modern.
7. Layered Shag with Highlights
Incorporating highlights into a shag haircut can add depth and dimension to your hair, making it look fuller and more vibrant. Layered shag cuts with highlights are perfect for older women who want to add brightness to their hair, especially as graying starts to occur. Highlights can help blend gray hair with your natural color and give the hair a fresh, sun-kissed look.
For a more natural appearance, opt for soft, subtle highlights that match your base color, or go for brighter tones if you want more contrast. The combination of the shag cut with highlights not only revitalizes the hair but also creates a youthful glow around the face, enhancing features and brightening the complexion.
8. Shag with Volume at the Crown
For older women dealing with thinning hair, adding extra volume at the crown with a shag haircut can make a significant difference. This style focuses on layering the hair with additional volume at the top of the head, giving the appearance of thicker hair. It’s a great choice for women with fine or thinning hair because it draws attention upward and provides the illusion of more volume.
The volume at the crown can be achieved through layering or using volumizing products, such as mousse or root-lifting sprays. A shag with added crown volume creates a youthful, fuller appearance while keeping the hair texture light and easy to maintain.
9. Choppy Shag for Fine Hair
Choppy shag cuts are ideal for older women with fine hair, as they add a playful, textured look that can make hair appear thicker. The choppy layers give the hair movement and volume, creating the illusion of more fullness. This style works well for women who want to keep their hair at a manageable length without sacrificing texture.
Choppy shags also help add a youthful vibe, making them perfect for older women looking for a trendy haircut that doesn’t require too much upkeep. Pair the choppy shag with a side part for a more contemporary look, or wear it tousled for an effortless, lived-in style.
10. Shaggy Lob (Long Bob)
The shaggy lob, or long bob, is a fantastic choice for women who want a medium-length cut that’s both trendy and versatile. With its signature layers and texture, the shaggy lob is ideal for those looking for volume without sacrificing length. This cut hits just above the shoulders and can be styled in multiple ways, from sleek and straight to soft and tousled.
For older women, the shaggy lob adds structure and movement to the hair while remaining easy to style and maintain. It works well for women with any hair type—whether fine, wavy, or thick—and can be customized with bangs or highlights for added flair.
11. Modern Shag with Side Swept Bangs
Side-swept bangs combined with a shag haircut can bring a modern and chic vibe to older women’s hair. The bangs help frame the face while the shag layers provide volume and texture. Side-swept bangs are a great choice because they can be easily adjusted to suit your facial features, and they add a soft, flattering touch to any shag haircut.
This combination works especially well for older women who want to soften their features, as the bangs draw attention to the eyes and cheekbones. Side-swept bangs can be styled with a round brush for volume, or left more natural for a relaxed, tousled look.
12. Shag with Tapered Sides
For a more refined and sleek look, consider a shag haircut with tapered sides. This style has the volume and texture of a traditional shag, but the tapered sides make the overall cut feel more polished and sophisticated. The tapered sides help elongate the face, making it an excellent option for older women with round faces or those looking to balance out facial features.
This modern take on the shag cut provides a youthful, trendy style that’s easy to maintain and can be dressed up or down depending on the occasion. The tapered sides create a clean, sharp silhouette while still allowing the layers on top to provide volume and movement.
Shag haircuts are a versatile, stylish, and low-maintenance option for women over 60 looking to revitalize their hair. From classic shags to modern pixie cuts, there is a trendy shag style that can flatter any face shape and hair texture. By incorporating layers, volume, and texture into the hair, a shag haircut can create the illusion of thicker, fuller hair, while also adding a youthful and fresh vibe. Whether you prefer short, medium, or long hair, there’s a shag cut that can help you look and feel your best.