Hair past 60 tends to go flat at the crown and heavy at the ends, and a shag handles both with short layers on top and weight taken out below. I cut these shag hairstyles for older women dry, so the layers land where your hair falls, and most air-dry with mousse or sea salt spray.
1. Classic Short Shag With Layers at the Crown
I cut the crown of this classic short shag to three inches on dry hair, point cut the sides to the jaw, and leave the nape soft. It is where I begin with shag hair styles for older women because the crown layers lift hair that has gone flat. Round or oval faces and fine to medium density wear it well. Rough-dry with volumizing mousse and push the crown up by hand. Trim every six weeks.
2. Long Shag With Curtain Bangs for Women Over 60
I point cut the layers of this long shag from the cheekbone to the collarbone on dry hair and cut curtain bangs that split at the brow. It is the long shag haircut with bangs older women can grow out between appointments, and the one I cut most often. Square or round faces and medium density wear it well. A round brush takes the bangs out and the rest air-dries with sea salt spray. Trim every eight weeks.
3. Collarbone-Length Shag for Fine Hair
I set the perimeter of this shag at the collarbone on dry hair, point cut three layers from the chin down, and hold the crown an inch shorter. Fine hair can wear shag hair styles for older women as long as the layers are point cut and never razored. Oval or long faces and fine density wear it well. A vent brush and root lifting spray do the drying, then rough up the ends. Trim every six weeks and gloss every eight.
4. Shaggy Bob Cut at the Jaw
I set this shaggy bob at the jaw on dry hair, point cut two layers through the sides, and razor the ends so nothing lines up. It is a bob with the weight taken out. Round or square faces and fine to medium density wear it well. Rough-dry with texture spray and push the layers toward the face. Trim every six weeks and gloss every eight.
5. Long Shag for Thick-Haired Women Over 60
I set this long shag at the collarbone on dry hair, razor long layers from the chin, and slide cut the interior so it dries lighter. For women over 60 with thick hair, the long shag haircut is all about removing weight. Oval or round faces and thick density wear it well. Air-dry with a light cream and a scrunch, or blow-dry with a diffuser on low. Trim every eight weeks.
6. Shag With a Wispy Side Fringe
I point cut the layers of this shag to the jaw on dry hair, then cut the fringe from the brow to the cheekbone with the shears held vertical. The wispy side fringe takes the hardness off the forehead without covering the eyes. Oval or heart faces and fine to medium density wear it well. A flat brush takes the fringe across and the rest gets a rough-dry. Trim the fringe every four weeks.
7. Curly Shag, Cut Dry
I cut this curly shag dry, curl by curl, taking the crown curls short for lift and point cutting the sides and back to the shoulder. Cutting dry means the layers land exactly where the curls sit. Type 3A to 3B curls and medium density wear it well. Curl cream on wet hair, a scrunch, and an air-dry or a diffuser on low finish it. Trim every eight weeks so the shape holds.
8. Shag With Blended Gray
I cut this shag to the collarbone on dry hair with point cut layers from the chin, then weave fine highlights and lowlights through the top. The gray blending hides the grow out line inside the layers. Most face shapes and fine to medium density wear it well. A rough-dry with texture spray is the only styling. Trim every eight weeks and refresh the blending every twelve.
9. Modern Shag With a Soft Mullet Line
I cut the sides of this modern shag to the cheekbone on dry hair, point cut the crown short, and leave the back at the shoulder with razored ends. The soft mullet shape keeps the sides short and the back longer. Oval or square faces and medium density wear it well. Rough-dry with sea salt spray and push the crown up. Trim every six weeks.
10. Short Shag for Women Past 70
I cut the crown of this short shag to two inches on dry hair, point cut the sides to the ear, and soften the nape scissor over comb. Short shag hair styles for older women over 70 are cut to air-dry, full stop. Round or oval faces and fine density wear it well. Towel-dry, add a light mousse, and push the top up by hand. Trim every five weeks and use violet shampoo weekly if the hair is gray.
11. Shag With Face-Framing Layers
I cut this shag to the collarbone on dry hair, point cut the front layers from the cheekbone down, and leave the back one length and longer. The face framing layers lead the eye to the cheekbones. Round or square faces and medium density wear it well. A round brush takes the front layers out and the back air-dries. Trim every eight weeks and gloss every eight.
12. Shaggy Pixie Cut
I graduate the sides and back of this shaggy pixie on dry hair, point cut the top to three inches, and razor the ends. It is a pixie with a longer, roughed-up top. Oval or heart faces and fine to medium density wear it well. Warm a little paste between your palms and push the top in every direction. Trim every four weeks and gloss every eight.
13. Medium-Length Shag With Full Bangs
I point cut the layers of this medium shag from the chin to the shoulder on dry hair, then cut the bangs at the brow with the shears vertical so they stay soft. Full bangs hide forehead lines and frame the eyes. Oval or long faces and medium density wear it well. A small brush dries the bangs flat and the rest gets a rough-dry. Trim the bangs every four weeks.
14. Air-Dry Wavy Shag
I point cut the layers of this wavy shag from the cheekbone to the collarbone on dry hair, following each wave, and add a little lift at the crown. Cut in the wave pattern, it air-dries into shape on its own. Type 2A to 2C waves and medium density wear it well. Scrunch sea salt spray into damp hair and walk away. Trim every eight weeks and gloss every eight.
15. Shag With Long, Side-Swept Bangs
I cut this shag to the collarbone on dry hair with point cut layers and leave the bangs long, point cut to the cheekbone. The long side swept bangs cover one cheek and take the edge off a square jaw. Square or round faces and medium density wear it well. A flat brush takes the bangs across and the rest gets a rough-dry. Trim every six weeks and gloss every eight.
16. Crown-Lifted Shag for Thin Hair
I point cut the crown layers of this shag to three inches on dry hair, hold the perimeter at the jaw, and leave the ends blunt. Thin hair in a shag needs the crown up and the ends full. Oval or round faces and fine density wear it well. Root lifting mousse and a blow-dry upside down, then push the crown up. Trim every six weeks.
17. Chin-Length Shag With Micro Bangs
I cut this shag at the chin on dry hair with point cut layers through the sides and take the bangs short with the shears vertical. Micro bangs sit above the brow, which is what makes them low upkeep. Oval or heart faces and fine to medium density wear it well. Rough-dry with texture spray and comb the bangs down. Trim every five weeks.
18. Layered Shag for a Round Face
I point cut the crown of this shag short on dry hair, hold the layers below the chin, and razor the ends. A round face wants height at the crown and length past the chin, and this gives both. Round faces and medium density wear it well. Blow-dry upside down for lift, then rough-dry with texture spray. Trim every six weeks and gloss every eight.
19. Curtain-Bang Shag for Glasses Wearers
I point cut the layers of this shag to the collarbone on dry hair and cut the bangs to the cheekbone with the client’s glasses on. Curtain bangs that split wide stay clear of the frames. Most face shapes and medium density wear it well. A round brush takes the bangs out and the rest air-dries. Trim every six weeks.
20. Short Shag With Feathered Ends
I cut the crown of this short shag short on dry hair, point cut the sides to the jaw with the shears vertical so the ends feather, and leave the nape soft. The feathered layers soften every edge. Oval or round faces and fine to medium density wear it well. A vent brush does the drying, with the layers pushed forward. Trim every six weeks and use violet shampoo weekly if the hair is gray.
21. Long Shag With Bangs for Thick, Gray Hair
I set this long shag at the collarbone on dry hair, razor long layers from the chin, slide cut the interior, and cut the bangs at the brow. Thick gray hair in a long shag with bangs needs its weight taken out through the layers. Oval or square faces and thick density wear it well. Air-dry with a light cream or diffuse on low. Trim every eight weeks and gloss every eight.
22. Side-Parted Shag Over 70
I cut this shag to the jaw on dry hair with point cut layers, part it to one side, and cut the heavy side a little longer so it sweeps. Past 70, the side part is what shows the crown layers. Round or square faces and fine to medium density wear it well. A flat brush takes the heavy side across. Trim every six weeks and use violet shampoo weekly.
23. Shoulder-Length Shag With Soft Bangs
I point cut the layers of this shoulder length shag from the cheekbone to the shoulder on dry hair and cut the bangs at the brow with the shears vertical. The soft bangs are cut so they grow out well. Oval or long faces and medium density wear it well. A small brush dries the bangs flat and the rest gets a rough-dry with texture spray. Trim every eight weeks, with the bangs done every four.
24. White Shag With Silver Lowlights
I cut this shag to the collarbone on dry hair with point cut layers from the chin, then weave fine silver lowlights through the crown and front. On white hair the lowlights make the layers read. Most face shapes and fine to medium density wear it well. A rough-dry with texture spray is the only styling. Trim every eight weeks and refresh the lowlights every twelve.
25. Razor-Cut Shag
I set the perimeter of this shag at the collarbone on dry hair, then razor the layers from the cheekbone down and razor the ends so nothing sits in a line. The razor gives it soft ends that move. Oval or round faces and medium to thick density wear it well. Air-dry with sea salt spray and a scrunch. Trim every eight weeks, since razored ends split sooner.
If you want more options, try bangs for older women with long hair and short spiked hair for women over 50.
Shag hairstyles for older women fix the crown-flat problem with short top layers and weight taken out below, and the razor ends never sit in a hard line. FYI, a collarbone perimeter with cheekbone-down razor layers keeps the movement going past noon. That dry razor work is what gives the shag its swing without daily heat.
