70s Shag Haircut: 22 Glamorous Styles to Try in 2024

When you think about 70s hairstyles for women, the hair design that comes to the forefront is the shag haircut. The hairstyle was first introduced by hairstylist Paul MacGregor when he gave this hairdo to Jane Fonda for the character of  Bree Daniels in the 1971 movie, Klutz.

The haircut shot to fame right after and is still popular to this day. It is a layered haircut where the front and back usually have short layers while the crown area has long feathered layers.

The 70s shag haircut is a timeless style that is known for its versatility, low maintenance, and longevity. This hairdo suits most face shapes and hair types; making it a beloved design for everyone.

If you are interested in the 70s shag, you have arrived at the correct destination. Keep scrolling and you will find out everything you need to know about this hairstyle. Happy reading!

Why is 70s Shag Style Still Popular?

There are various reasons why the 70s shag hairstyle is still so popular among women of all demographics. They are versatile, low maintenance, and easy to accomplish. Following are some of the reasons why they have maintained their popularity after so many years.

Timeless Style

One of the major reasons behind the shag cuts’ popularity is their timeless quality which has kept them in fashion for decades. Its layers and feathered look create an effortless look that appeals to everyone.

Celebrity Influences

Various celebrities like Kate Bush, Farrah Fawcett, and Jane Fonda have worn shag hairstyles for years which have influenced others to wear shag cuts as well. They have worn these hair designs which were later mimicked by their fans and keep them in the public eye to maintain their popularity.

Low Maintenance

Shag hairstyles are one of the most low-maintenance hairdos out there which is very easy to accomplish. It requires minimal styling and little to no care, making it easy to maintain without constant attention.

Versatility

The shag haircut is very versatile and can be worn with different hair types like curly, wavy, straight, and fine hair. It also suits most face shapes, making it a popular design for women of all demographics.

70s Popular Celebrities with Shag Haircut

For a hairstyle to become a global trend, it must have a lot of celebrity influences that skyrocket its popularity. That is the case for the shag hairstyle as well. There were numerous singers and actresses during the 70s who regularly wore different variations of shag hairdos. These celebrities are the reason behind the popularity of shag haircuts that is still going and might not go out anytime soon.

Kate Bush’s Wavy Shag with Swoop Bangs

Catherine Bush who is better known as Kate Bush is an English singer, dancer, songwriter, and record producer who is one of the pioneers of shag haircuts which later gained popularity amidst the mass and became the trendy hairstyle it is today.

She has worn different types of shag cuts over the years, I will discuss the wavy shag cut with swoop bangs which was a recurring hairstyle. The hair is cut in stepped layers that give a voluminous appearance.

The hair on the front is shorter in length compared to the rest and it is worn in a swoop bang that is swept toward one side. The hair on the back reaches the shoulders and the wavy textures give a desirable feathered look.

Farrah Fawcett’s Choppy Shag with Curtain Bangs

The Late Farrah Fawcett is known for her role in the drama series Charlie’s Angels as the character of Jil Munroe where she sported a choppy shag with curtain bangs and influenced millions to follow her footsteps and wear shaggy hairstyles.

The hair on the front is cut short compared with the rest and it is styled in curtain bangs by parting them in the middle. The rest of the hair is cut in stepped layers that give a voluminous look. That creates the choppy shag on the back with curtain bangs on the front, a hairstyle that influenced thousands to pursue it.

Jane Fonda’s Swept Bangs with Short Shag

Jane Fonda, the American actress is most known for two particular reasons. One is for her social activity like her participation in anti-Vietnam war protests and the other one is her shaggy hairstyle. She has described in her autobiography how she got the famous shag haircut in 1971 from Paul McGregor.

It was a short shag with swept bangs on the front. The front hair was swept toward one side, creating swept bangs while the hair on the sides barely went past the ears. The hair on the backside was short as well and reached the shoulder. It was a new hairstyle that became a trend right after she appeared with it.

Stevie Nicks’ Long Shag with Fringe Bangs

The American singer and member of the band Fleetwood Mac, Stevie Nicks is another celebrity who is the reason for the shag haircuts influence for so many years. She has worn different types of shag haircuts over the years but most of them were long shag cuts which she would wear with different types of bangs.

In the image, she is wearing a long shag hairstyle which is worn with fringe bangs. The hair on the back and the sides are cut in choppy layers which creates a wavy texture to the hair and makes it look dense. The front hair is shorter in length and worn with fringe bangs.

Jacqueline Bisset’s Messy Curly Shag

The British actress Jacqueline Bisset is one of the talented actresses of the late 70s and 80s. She has received many accolades for her acting career but her fans know her for her glamorous looks. She wore her hair in different shag haircuts but the one for which she is most memorable is the messy curly shag style.

The hair on the front is cut shorter but kept in a messy curly state that creates curly fringe bangs. The hair on the back is cut in steeped layers that create a curly shag haircut which was later mimicked by millions

Chrissie Hynde’s Fringe Bangs with Short Shag

The American singer Chrissie Hynde is most known for being a member of the band The Pretenders where she was the lead vocalist, and primary songwriter. She has an illustrious music career and her fans know her for sporting short shaggy hairstyles.

She has worn multiple shaggy hair designs but here we will discuss fringe bangs with a short shoulder-length shag. The hair on the front is cut in fringe bangs that reach the eyebrows. The hair on the back is kept longer and worn loosely into a short feathered shag cut

Debbie Harry’s Feathered Shag with Swoop Bangs

Debbie Harry is another American musician who has influenced many to mimic her hairstyle and get a shag cut, making it one of the trendiest hairstyles in the world. She wore short shaggy hairstyles and they would often be combined with bangs, making her look astonishing.

She is wearing a feathered shag hairstyle with swoop bangs in the given image. The hair on the back is cut in a bob size length that does not reach the shoulders. The hair on the front is styled with a swoop bang by sweeping all of the hair toward one side. The wavy hair is styled messily, making it a feathered shag hairdo.

15 Amazing 70s Shag Haircuts to Try

There are numerous 70s shag haircuts out there but I want you to have the very best designs for yourself. For this reason, I will provide you with a list of 15 hairstyle ideas that can give you the retro look of the 70s and mesmerize everyone!

Blunt Bangs with Textured Shag

The first shag haircut idea we will discuss is blunt bangs with a textured shag haircut. It is a pretty simple hairdo that is easy to accomplish but will provide you with a phenomenal look. This hair design is reminiscent of the 70s hairstyles where the hair on the front is cut in blunt bangs that will barely reach the eyebrows.

The hair on the sides and the back are longer, making it a shag haircut. The hair has a wispy texture to give it a boho vibe. This hair design is suited for wavy hair type which will provide you with voluminous hair.

Shaggy Lob with Curtain Bangs

Long bob cut which is also known as Lob cut looks amazing with the combination of the shag cut. It will provide you with an amazing look that you will cherish if it is done properly. Look at the following hair design where the hair is cut in a shaggy lob with curtain bangs to understand how amazing it appears.

The hair on the front is cut short in curtain bangs while the hair on the sides and the back are kept longer that reach the shoulders. It has a wavy, wispy texture that gives it a bohemian retro vibe often found in 70s hairdos.

Fringe Bangs with Shag Mullet

Shaggy mullets are undoubtedly one of the trendiest alt hairstyles at this moment that everyone is crazy about. It has some modern elements to it that make it trendy while still holding all of the great characteristics of the 70s shaggy hairstyles.

The hair on the front is cut in fringe bangs that do not reach the eyebrows. The hair on the sides is cut short as well while the hair on the back is kept longer that goes past the shoulder, making it a shaggy mullet. It is a great hairdo for wearing regularly but might not be suitable for a corporate job.

Shaggy Mullet with Curtain Bangs

The following hairstyle I will discuss is another shaggy mullet but this time, it is combined with curtain bangs that give this hair design a very different look from the previous one. The hair on the front and the sides are short compared to the hair on the back.

The front hair is styled in curtain bangs which are parted in the middle. The long hair on the back is kept longer and has a wavy texture that is essential for shaggy hair designs. This hairstyle is better with wavy hair type, if you have other hair types, I will suggest you curl your hair for this design.

Straight Cut with Curly Shag

Straight bangs with curly shag are another excellent hairstyle idea for getting the 70s shaggy hair design for yourself. The hairstyle is bold and unique which will provide you with a phenomenal look. The hair on the front is straightened and cut in blunt bangs.

The hair on the back and the sides are kept longer in its natural curly state, giving a messy curly shag. This hair design will look great on heart-shaped faces. Curly hair is the best option for this hairdo to have the optimal appearance. Try out this hair design right now before it goes out of trend.

Wispy Bangs with Feathered Shag

A feathered shag cut is another good option to style your hair with to get the perfect 70s hair design. The following hairdo is a feathered shag with wispy bangs that will give you an amazing look if it is done properly. The hair on the front is kept shorter compared to the hair on the sides and the back.

The front hair is cut in wispy fringe bangs that reach the eyebrows. The hair on the back and the sides are styled in a wavy texture that makes them appear as feathers clumped together, making it a feathered shag cut.

Fringe Bangs with Long Shag

Even though shag hairstyles were at first mostly worn with short or medium-length hair, they changed pretty soon and long hair variants also came into fruition. The following hairstyle is a great example of a long shag haircut that will give you a 70s vibe. It is a curly long shag with fringe bangs.

The hair on the front is cut short in fringe bangs that barely reach the eyebrows. The hair on the back is kept longer than the shoulders. The curly texture of the hair gives a boho chic vibe that will stun everyone. This hairdo is mostly suited for curly and wavy hair types.

Long Shag Cut with Choppy Bangs

Here is another long shag hairstyle that is worn with choppy bangs at the front, making it a perfect 70s hairstyle. This hairstyle is pretty simple and quite easy to accomplish. The hair is cut with choppy bangs on the front and the sides. They are quite short in length compared to the hair on the back.

The back hair is cut with stepped layers that make it alluring to look at and gives the hairstyle a bohemian vibe. This hairstyle will look extraordinary with wavy hair. If you have other hair types, I will recommend you get a wavy texture for optimal results.

Shag with Middle-Parted Bangs

Middle-parted bangs are one of the most good-looking bangs cut out there that can be worn with multiple fabulous hairstyles. A shag haircut is undoubtedly one of the prime choices to wear with middle-parted bangs that will give you a perfect 70s shaggy hairstyle.

in this hairstyle, the hair on the front is shorter in length compared to the hair on the back and the sides. It is cut in stepped layers where the front hair is the shortest while the back hair is the longest. The front hair is parted in the middle to create middle-parted bangs and the wavy texture of the hair makes it a perfect long shag haircut.

Curly Messy Shag

The next hairstyle is a messy curly shag which is an excellent example of a 70s shag haircut. It contains every aspect of the iconic hairdo and looks mesmerizing when it is done properly. The hairstyle is pretty simple and quite easy to accomplish. That is one of the reasons behind its current trendy status.

The hair on the front is cut short and worn loosely on the forehead. The hair on the sides and the back are kept longer, going past the shoulders. The hair is worn messily without brushing or combing, giving it a desirable bohemian look.

Short Shag with Fringe Bangs

Short shag hairstyles were the first shaggy hairstyle that got popularity among the mass and it has still held onto its place as a top haircut. Look at the following hairdo, where the hair is worn in a short shag with fringe bangs on the front.

This hairstyle is quite popular among women with fine hair, especially who are in their 50s. This hairstyle is very simple and quite easy to accomplish. That is one of the reasons behind its popularity for women with fine hair. This hairdo also looks good with wavy hair. If you have a kinky hair type, I will suggest not getting this design.

Shag with Butterfly Bangs

Butterfly bangs are one of the best hairstyles to combine with a shag cut. It is also a middle-parted bang cut but the beautiful waves that create the butterfly bangs are undoubtedly the most alluring ones out there that will make you the focal point of any crowd.

The following hair design is a shoulder-length shag cut with butterfly bangs at the front. The hair is bleached which gives it a more exciting appearance. This hairdo will look amazing with wavy hair type. It works well with straight and fine hair as well but you will have to create the curl on the front bangs to create the butterfly bangs.

Wavy Shaggy Lob Cut

The lob cut which is short for a long bob cut is another great example of a 70s shaggy haircut. Look at the haircut where the hair is styled with a wavy shaggy lob cut that looks amazing. The hair is first cut in a long bob cut with fringes at the front.

After that, an iron curler is used to create the wavy pattern in both the front bangs as well as the hair on the back. That will create the perfect wavy texture for this shag hairdo. This hair design will look amazing with any hair type as long as you are prepared to create a wavy texture.

Feathered Shag with Straight Bangs

Here is another feathered shag hairdo where the hair on the front is cut in straight bangs, making it a feathered shag with straight bangs hairdo that will last a long time and give you a stunning appearance. This hair design is easy to accomplish which you can easily do at home.

The front hair is cut in straight bangs that reach the eyebrows while the hair on the back is lept longer and reaches the shoulders. The wavy texture of the hair makes it a perfect shag cut that will give the bohemian chic vibe.

Wavy Shag with Swoop Bangs

Wavy shag with swoop bangs is another excellent choice to style your hair with and look phenomenal. It is a great example of a 70s shag haircut that is still popular among women of all demographics. The hair on the front is cut shorter in length and styled in a swoop bang.

The hair on the back is kept longer that reaches the shoulders. The hair is cut in stepped layers that make the hairstyle look voluminous and a perfect way to wear regularly. This hairdo will look best with wavy and straight hair but you will have to do some touchups to create the perfect curls.

FAQ

Many of you must have a lot of questions that you need answers to if you are thinking of getting this hairstyle. I will be answering some of the frequently asked questions about this topic which might help you to find the information you were looking for instead of searching all over the internet.

Question: Which hair type is best for a shag cut?

Answer: Shag cuts are versatile and they can be accomplished with every hair type without much worry. Even if that is the case, wavy hair is the best option to wear your hair in a shag cut. The wavy texture gives you the perfect voluminous hair which will provide you with the boho chic vibe that is desired from a shag cut.

Question: How much does it cost to get a shag haircut?

Answer: The cost of a hairdo depends on a lot of circumstances like your living place, your hairstylist, the difficulty of the hairstyle, etc. considering all of these factors, a shag haircut will cost you from $20 to $100.

Question: Which face shape is best for a shag haircut?

Answer: Shag hairstyle is one of the most versatile hairdos and it suits almost every face shape. But in some cases, this hairstyle looks better on some face shapes than others. For example, a shag cut with fringe bangs will look better on oval faces than on round faces.

Concluding Statement

We have arrived at the concluding part of this article. If you have reached this section of the article, you already know everything there is about the 70s shag hairstyle and have already decided which design you want for yourself.

The only thing you need to care for is if the hairstyle matches your face shape, hair type, and personality. Shag cuts suit most face shapes and hair types except some designs might be unsuitable for round faces and kinky hair. Make sure you are not choosing those hairdos and you are all settled.

What do you think about these hairstyles? Which one is your favorite? Let us know!