A shoulder-length shag on wavy hair can air-dry with a little sea salt spray and still look piecey on day two, which is why it’s the cut I do most at medium length. Medium shag haircuts work best on hair with some wave or thickness, though fine, straight, and curly hair can wear one with the right cutting.
1. Classic Medium Shag With a Curtain Fringe
I razor a classic medium shag with curtain bangs from the cheekbone down so the layers feather, with the length at the shoulder and bangs that split in the middle. The crown layers stay short for lift. Medium to thick hair with wave and oval or long faces suit it. Air-dry with a sea salt spray and scrunch. Of all the medium shag haircuts, this is the one I cut most. Trim every 8 weeks.
2. Medium Shag With Wispy Fringe
The medium shag with wispy bangs has short razored layers at the crown, longer pieces down to the shoulder, and thin see-through bangs at the brow. I take a narrow bang section so the forehead shows through. Fine to medium hair with wave and round or square faces suit it. Air-dry with a light mousse, twisting the bangs apart. The bangs get trimmed every 4 weeks, the shag every 8.
3. Medium Shag With No Fringe
The medium shag without bangs keeps the face-framing pieces at the cheekbone and razors the layers from there down to the shoulder. With no fringe, the shape stays open around the face. Medium to thick hair and oval, square or heart faces suit it. Scrunch in a texture spray and air-dry, or diffuse it. Shaggy haircuts medium length without bangs also grow out cleanly. Trim every 8 to 10 weeks.
4. Shoulder-Length Wolf Cut
The medium wolf cut is a shag with more weight pulled out of the crown. I razor the top layers short, leave the length at the shoulder with wispy ends, and cut curtain bangs that curve from the brow to the cheekbone. Thick, wavy hair and oval or long faces suit it. Air-dry with a mousse and scrunch, or diffuse. A grown-out wolf cut loses its shape, so trim every 8 weeks.
5. Fine-Hair Medium Shag
The medium shag for fine hair is cut with light point cutting from the crown down and never a razor, so the layers feather without thinning the ends. The length sits at the shoulder. Fine hair with wave and oval or long faces suit it. Air-dry with a volumizing mousse and scrunch, then flip the roots. Trim every 8 weeks so the ends never look thin.
6. Thick-Hair Medium Shag
The medium shag for thick hair has the interior razored to take out bulk, with the outer layers feathered from the cheekbone to the shoulder. Skip that interior work and thick hair puffs into a triangle. Thick, coarse hair with wave and oval or square faces suit it. Diffuse with a curl cream and scrunch. Trim every 8 weeks and have the inside thinned every visit.
7. Straight-Hair Medium Shag
The medium shag for straight hair gets all its texture from the cut, because there is no wave to help. I razor deep into each layer and point cut the ends so they separate, with the length at the shoulder. Straight, medium density hair and oval or long faces suit it. Blow-dry with a texture spray and piece the ends out with a paste. Trim every 6 weeks.
8. Wavy-Hair Medium Shag
I cut a medium shag for wavy hair dry so I can see where the waves land, with razored layers from the cheekbone down and curtain bangs. The wave does most of the styling for you. Medium density 2A to 2C hair and oval, heart or square faces suit it. Air-dry with a sea salt spray and scrunch. Trim every 8 weeks.
9. Medium Shag for Curls
I cut a medium curly shag dry with short layers at the crown so the curls stack high, and longer pieces at the sides. Every layer is point cut, and the bangs are cut to the cheekbone because they will shrink. Medium to thick 3A to 3C curls and oval or long faces suit it. Diffuse with a mousse and shake the roots. Trim every 8 weeks.
10. Medium Shag With a Side Fringe
The medium shag with side bangs has razored layers from the cheekbone to the shoulder and a long fringe swept across the forehead. I razor that fringe so it drops in pieces. Medium to thick hair and round, square or heart faces suit it. Air-dry with a mousse, pushing the fringe to one side. The fringe gets trimmed every 5 weeks, the shag every 8.
11. Medium Shag With Micro Fringe
The medium shag with micro bangs has the fringe cut an inch above the brow and the rest razored into feathered layers down to the shoulder. The short bangs put the eyes on show. Medium to thick hair with wave and oval or long faces suit it. Scrunch in a sea salt spray and air-dry. The bangs get trimmed every 3 weeks, the shag every 8.
12. Medium Shag With a Bottleneck Fringe
The medium shag with bottleneck bangs has feathered layers to the shoulder and bangs that stay narrow at the top and flare out at the cheekbones. I cut the center at the brow and let the sides get long quickly. Medium to thick hair and long or oval faces suit it. Blow-dry the bangs with a small round brush and air-dry everything else. Trim the bangs every 5 weeks.
13. Heavily Layered Shoulder-Length Shag
The shoulder-length shag with heavy layers brings the crown layers down to three inches and stacks everything from there to the shoulder. I razor every section. Thick hair with wave and oval or long faces suit it, because the height adds length. Diffuse with a mousse and shake the roots. Shaggy layered haircuts medium length with this much crown lift need trimming every 6 weeks.
14. Soft Medium Shag With Subtle Layers
The soft medium shag with light layers holds the crown layers at five inches and feathers only the last three inches of length, so it reads soft instead of choppy. I point cut rather than razor. Fine to medium hair and oval, round or heart faces suit it. Air-dry with a light cream and scrunch. Trim every 8 to 10 weeks.
15. Shag at the Collarbone
The collarbone shag puts the length at the collarbone and razors the layers from the cheekbone down, with a soft curtain fringe. Any shorter and it starts to read as a shaggy bob. Medium to thick hair with wave and oval, round or square faces suit it. Air-dry with a texture spray and scrunch. Trim every 8 weeks.
16. Shag at the Shoulder Blade
The shoulder-blade shag holds the length just below the shoulder and starts the layers at the cheekbone, so the shape runs long and feathered. I razor those layers and leave the ends wispy. Medium to thick hair with wave and oval or long faces suit it. Scrunch in a mousse and air-dry, or diffuse it. In a ponytail the layers fall out around the face. Trim every 10 weeks.
17. Round-Face Medium Shag
The medium shag for round faces builds height at the crown with short razored layers and keeps the face-framing pieces at the chin or below, so nothing adds width at the cheeks. The bangs are curtain style and long, to the cheekbone. Medium to thick hair suits it. Diffuse with a mousse, lifting the crown with your fingers as it dries. Trim every 8 weeks, keeping those crown layers short.
18. Square-Face Medium Shag
The medium shag for square faces softens the jaw with feathered pieces that land on the corners of the jaw and curtain bangs that sweep to the cheekbones. I razor the front pieces. Medium to thick hair of any texture suits it. Air-dry with a texture spray and scrunch the front pieces toward the face. Trim every 8 weeks, and if the hair is colored, cover the roots every 5 weeks.
19. Oval-Face Medium Shag
The medium shag for oval faces takes any bang and any layer height, so I cut for the hair texture. Straight hair gets deep razor work and wavy hair gets light point cutting, with the length at the shoulder. Any density suits it. Air-dry with a mousse or diffuse on low. Shaggy layered haircuts medium length on an oval face hardly ever need correcting. Trim every 8 weeks.
20. Heart-Face Medium Shag
The medium shag for heart faces balances a wide forehead with full curtain bangs and adds width at the chin with feathered layers that flip out there. I razor the layers. Fine to medium hair with wave, in straight or wavy texture, suits it. Air-dry with a mousse, twisting the chin-length pieces outward while damp. Trim every 8 weeks, with the bangs done every 5.
21. Medium Shag for the Over-40 Set
The medium shag for women over 40 keeps the crown layers a little longer, at four inches, so the shape stays soft, and razors the ends to the shoulder with a curtain fringe. Fine to medium hair with wave and oval, round or square faces suit it. Air-dry with a light mousse and scrunch. Trim every 8 weeks and cover the roots every 5 weeks.
22. Medium Shag for the Over-50 Set
I razor a medium shag for women over 50 from the cheekbone down so the layers feather, with the length at the shoulder and a soft side fringe that covers forehead lines. Medium to thick hair with wave and oval or long faces suit it. Air-dry with a texture spray and scrunch. Trim every 8 weeks, and gloss every 8 weeks if the hair is gray.
23. Medium Shag on Blonde Hair
I cut a blonde medium shag after the color so I can see where the light pieces fall. The layers are razored from the cheekbone to the shoulder and the ends point cut, since blonde ends are fragile. Fine to medium hair with wave and oval or heart faces suit it. Air-dry with a mousse over a heat protectant. Trim every 8 weeks and book a toner every 6 weeks.
24. Medium Shag on Brunette Hair
The brunette medium shag needs deeper razor work than a blonde one, because dark hair hides layers. I razor the crown short and feather the ends down to the shoulder with a curtain fringe. Medium to thick hair with wave and oval, square or long faces suit it. Air-dry with a texture spray and add a shine spray. Trim every 8 weeks.
25. Medium Shag on Copper Hair
The copper medium shag pairs a bright copper with razored layers from the cheekbone to the shoulder and a curtain fringe. Because the color shows every layer, I keep the steps even. Fair to medium skin and medium density hair with wave suit it. Scrunch in a texture spray and air-dry. Copper fades quickly, so a gloss every 4 weeks is needed. Trim every 8 weeks.
For related looks, check long layered haircuts with face framing and short wavy haircuts.
Medium shag haircuts on wavy hair can air-dry with a little sea salt spray and still look piecey by the afternoon. IMO the copper version is the fun one, with razored layers from cheekbone to shoulder. That cut keeps the movement without any heat styling.
