The shag has long been the epitome of rock n’ roll aesthetic – casual, sexy and effortless. In 2021, however, this choppy, layered look from he ‘70s and ‘80s is making a comeback as the year’s most convenient cut. 

Globally, people have been unable to visit their hairdressers regularly, and many are looking for a style that’s low maintenance without sacrificing texture. Enter: the shag, an easy, messy style you can embrace as the triplet to loungewear and no-makeup makeup. And the best part is that a shag can be stretched out for months since it’s built around hair’s natural texture.  

“The typical features that make up a shag hairstyle include choppy, disheveled ends, layers around the crown and lots of texture,” explains Sam Ashcroft, creative team member at Brooks & Brooks, London. “The modern shag is choppy and has lots of texture but doesn’t make you look like everyone in an ‘80s hair metal band.”

The secret of the shag’s success is that it’s fantastic in any length and works on fine and thick, curly and straight hair. But as Ashcroft cautions, too many layers and the style can appear overly choppy and dated. “The key to getting this haircut right and bang on is the fringe. Get the fringe right and the haircut will always fall into place.” 

When it comes to color, there are endless options because a shag has so much movement and texture. Coppers and redheads will naturally look amazing with this cut. For others, the goal should be to create dimension, so hair contouring, or a money piece can really bring the style to life. Even a gentle touch of color on the fringe can be effective for mixing the retro and modern aspects of this trend.  

​Shags are a playful style by nature, but for those who want to adopt the rebellious side of this cut, Ashcroft says to go pink. From pastel rose to vibrant pink, a flash of bold color will turn heads.

The survey polled 2,000 men, where 20% said that if they could bring one popular hairstyle from a bygone decade back into fashion, it would be the ’80s mullet, ‘90s ‘curtain bangs’ (15%) and the 2010s undercut (10%).

OnePoll conducted the survey on behalf of Sport Clips Haircuts.
​
“While we’re seeing a lot of longer hairstyles in our stores, the truth is that styling men's hair, no matter the length, can be more complicated than it may seem,” explains Stacia Kelley, Sport Clips artistic director and stylist. “Longer hair still requires regular trims, shaping and home maintenance with high-quality products, such as conditioners to avoid breakage or light-hold texture creams that can give the hair some weight and tact.”

Top Five Best-Looking Hairstyles for Men

1. Undercut           3.18
2. Curtain bangs   3.15
3. Shag                 3.11
4. Pompadour       2.97
5. Long/Man bun   2.94

Top Five Celebrity Hair Inspirations for Men

1. Jason Momoa             40.10%           
2. Harry Styles                36.45%
3. James Dean                35.20%
4. David Beckham           35.00%
5. Drake                           31.75%

​from BeautyLaunchpad

One in Five American Men Want the Mullet to Be Back in Style, According to Survey 

Fifty-five percent of men surveyed admitted they want to change up their look but are afraid to try something new

It's synonymous with parties for a reason: one in five American men are ready for the mullet to make an official comeback.

In a survey of 2,000 men, 20% said that if they could bring one popular hairstyle from a bygone decade back into fashion, it would be the classic '80s mullet, followed by '90s "curtain bangs" (15%) and the 2010s undercut (10%).

But even those polled admit that the infamous bi-level look isn't for everyone; in a ranking of various hair trends, respondents found undercuts, curtain bangs and the '00s "shag" haircut to be more universally flattering 'dos.

And even though 39% of men have dabbled in adding highlights to their hair — making it the most popular color technique among those polled — it was also the least-liked hair trend of the entire survey, ranked just under the infamous "frosted tips" look.

It's not surprising that men have tried out some fads they ended up hating later; 55% admitted they want to change up their look but are afraid to try something new, while another 47% don't know what hairstyles would look good on them.

However, of the two-thirds of men who've experimented with a hair trend they were later embarrassed by, only a third said they regretted it afterward.

Conducted by OnePoll on behalf of Sport Clips Haircuts, the survey also revealed that men are experiencing a lot of similarly intense emotions about their post-pandemic haircut.

Not surprisingly, "relief" topped the list for 36% of men, while 32% also described themselves as "excited."

During the shutdowns and social distancing measures of the COVID-19 pandemic, 75% of men chose to forgo professional hair maintenance.

One in four men instead tried cutting their hair themselves — despite the fact that 55% don't think they do a good job at self-cuts — while 27% enlisted the help of a friend or family member.

With the increase of social distanced safety protocols and vaccine distributions, however, men are rediscovering more options for hair care.

Of the half of respondents who've already visited a barber since the pandemic first began, 85% cited it as a positive experience, with 27% describing it as "amazing."

In fact, one in three respondents said getting a new haircut makes them feel "smarter," while one in four admitted to feeling like "a better person" afterward.
​
Twelve percent even said they feel more inspired to ask for a raise after a haircut.

We know, we know…everyone is getting tired of thinking about and talking about and hearing about the pandemic. But it’s still a thing and it’s still affecting our daily lives and our behaviors – in particular, our hair! Sport Clips Haircuts recently talked to 2,000 men in the United States, and 32 percent said that before the pandemic, they had their hair cut by a professional every two to three weeks. Fast forward to 2021, and 24 percent of the men cut their own hair at home last year. I mean, we all remember how terrible those corona cuts were, right?

It just goes to show that you should leave the haircutting to the pros – like the stylists at Sport Clips. Now that things are almost, pretty much back to normal, more than half of the men we talked to have made their way back to their favorite stylist or barber and the majority say they had a “good” experience on that first visit back. In fact, most reported feeling “relieved” to finally get that first post-lockdown trim.

And then there were the guys – 22 percent of them, in fact – who chose to let their hair grow out. Those long, luscious locks may seem easy to maintain, but they require more care than most guys realize. “Long hair requires regular trims, shaping, at home maintenance with a quality shampoo and conditioner to avoid breakage, and an appropriate styling product,” explains stylist Brittany Fitzgerald, a Sport Clips Artistic Team member and North Texas Area Coach.

For others, emerging from lockdown and kicking of 2021 has them ready to try a new style, but a majority of the men surveyed said they were “afraid” to try something new because they don’t know what kind of style or cut would look good on them. Are you sure you can rock the long Jason Momoa locks? Do you have the right face shape to pull off Harry Styles’ look? This is where the expertise of a stylist can really help. “Your stylist can look at your face shape, your hair texture, and figure how to style or cut around a cowlick to make sure you get a haircut that flatters you best,” says stylist Dorian Curtis-Likens, Sport Clips Artistic Team member and Area Coach. “Stylists can also help you establish a new look with a routine of regular trims and the products that will help you confidently style and maintain your cut when you leave the store.”

Ultimately, a haircut should make you look good and feel good. Most of the men surveyed said they have a “surge of confidence” for four-to-six days after a fresh haircut. Many of them say they feel better about themselves and some even say they feel “smarter.” We’ll take their word for it on that one.
​
Men who shared their opinions in the survey conducted by One Poll ranged in age from 18-56+, varied in relationship status and were from all parts of the United States.

SportsClips

In case you haven’t heard (or seen on any of your feeds), the 70s are back, baby. We’ve seen wide-legged pants in every shade of corduroy, a full-fledged roller-skate renaissance, and enough frosty eye shadow to ice a cake—but nothing quite says 70s like some lush, fluffy, Farrah Fawcett-style curls. The trend is, of course, inspired by the blonde bombshell’s signature swoopy hairstyle, seen in decade-defining media like Charlie’s Angels (not to mention her iconic red swimsuit poster, which is the best-selling poster of all time).

Already taking over TikTok, the style is youthful, perfectly bouncy, and easy enough for anyone to achieve. And to make sure of that, we tapped Mischa G, top hairstylist and owner of Treehouse Social Club (and purveyor of all retro haircuts), to share her step-by-step advice for nailing the look, including her dos, don’ts, and product suggestions.

The Trend

The style’s signature lies in the curl pattern, volume, and flirtatious pieces that frame the face. Farrah Fawcett's feathered cut became a hallmark of the '70s, forever memorializing the decade, which then spun off into subsequent '80s and '90s versions. Fawcett personally credits legendary French stylist José Eber with first feathering her hair (though several other stylists have since claimed they were the ones to debut the cut).
​
The feathered hair craze has been compared to Jennifer Aniston's viral "Rachel" cut—a seemingly casual but also striking hairstyle made popular by actresses with girl-next-door appeal. Really, much of the Farrah cut's charm is its movement. As Mischa points out, this style is intended to flow, whether on a disco dance floor, skating down the pier, or just walking the city streets. It's casual and vaguely athletic but undeniably pretty. After more than a year of frantic pre-Zoom dry shampoos and homebody ponytails, the freedom of literally letting our hair down is just what we need.

And, of course, "The Farrah" fits in perfectly with a much wider '70s revival. We chronicled the resurgence of shags and afros, earth-toned manicures, and glittery makeup. Plus, pea green and orange velvet furniture are finding their way into modern apartments. And, who could forget "Dreams" by Fleetwood Mac going viral and reappearing on the Hot 100 last year for the first time this century?

The Trendsetters

In a welcome role reversal, it looks like celebrities are now taking many of their style cues from Internet trends instead of the other way around. As "The Farrah" takes off, we’ve seen the style on everyone from Ciara and Saweetie to Hailee Steinfeld and Lizzo. The hashtag #farrahfawcetthair has nearly 15,000 uploads to Instagram, countless Twitter mentions, and a staggering number of TikTok videos. This trend is quickly approaching critical mass—in other words, there’s never been a better time to try it out for yourself.

Much of the attention on this style is thanks to TikTok user @Groovy_Mal who uploaded her highly duet-able curl transformation last year. Almost immediately, scores of other uses with all hair types, colors, and lengths started trying her tutorial, uploading their results next to hers. Much of the trend's popularity is due to just how easy it actually is to pull off. According to Mischa, the only real prerequisite for the Farrah is a compatible cut.

Get The Look
​
As with any retro look, half the fun is sourcing your inspiration. Diving into the #farrahfawcetthair tag is a great place to start. It's full of photos of inspo from Farrah herself, people's own modern interpretation, and even lots of vintage shots of parents and grandparents wearing the style back in the day.

"Chat with your mom, favorite aunt, and grandma and see if they have any old pictures or beauty products to flip through and experiment," Mischa suggests. From there, it's time to assess the current state of your cut and see if it works for this style. According to Mischa, the shag-and-layered version of the Farrah works best on those with lots of layers already. "The shorter the face-framing, the better the style," she adds. "This is not for people with extra-long hair and minimal layering."

Before styling, Mischa recommends taking a few minutes to lay some product groundwork to guarantee grip and hold, both key for big, curl-focused styles. "I suggest using a styling product to build structure in the hair," she says. Finally, it's time for the styling to begin. To get your own Farrah, hot rollers or a velcro approximation are a must, Mischa says. She advises the following two methods:

Hot Roller Method

1. Apply mousse or another styling agent after rough-drying hair.
2. Using hot rollers, roll chunks of hair back away from the face—that's key.
3. Allow the rollers to cool completely before removal.
4. Once they're entirely cool to the touch, remove rollers and brush.

Velcro Roller Method

1. Apply mousse or another styling agent after rough-drying hair.
2. Using a small-to-medium round brush, blow the hair back with light tension.
3. Quickly wrap each piece of hot hair around a velcro roller and clip it into place.
4. Allow hair to completely cool, then remove rollers and brush through.

​If you're styling a wig, particularly a synthetic one, Mischa suggests using a slightly different type of roller:

• Roll hair back away from the face with vent rollers.
• Place a bag over the wig and steam the curls with a clothing steamer.
• Allow hair to completely dry, then remove rollers and brush through.

​Get The Products

Mischa laments the discontinuation of Farrah's own famous heat styler, the Schick Speed Styler, for which she did popular commercials featuring her feathered cut. "If the blow-dry brush that Farrah actually used in the commercial still were made now, that would be my number one choice," she tells us.

Luckily, you're still good with a small-to-medium round brush and quality blow dryer. "For brushes, I would use something medium-sized and one that doesn't pull too much (light tension)," she explains. For hair that's already straight and smooth, she recommends a metal brush like the Harry Josh Magnesium Thermal Brush 1.7 Inch ($55).

"If your hair is thicker and needs to be smoothed while adding bounce and fluff, I would use a boar bristle brush like the Spornette 856 Italian," Mischa says. We all know styling products are critical, and Mischa is a fan of Leonor Greyl's soft, volume-building mousse and heat-protecting Cult + King Setspray ($35), which doubles as a hairspray.
​
Above all else, Mischa recommends never taking any of it too seriously. "Have some fun with you hair and flip it out all sorts of ways!" she encourages. "It's meant to last for days! It looks and feels amazing while bouncing to every disco track!" With a few rollers and a little patience, we can all be dancing queens this spring.

The Very Short Bob
​
“I think we’re going to see a lot of short hairstyles, especially very short bobs – under the ears. Something like you see on Mathilda in the movie Léon. I love this look because it has the most effortless cool factor.” – Aaron Grenia

​The Shift

“Specifically, for spring 2021, we’re forecasting a shorter hair comeback. I like to think that the trend will be shorter hair with longer, disconnected lengths through the top including varying lengths and textures. I like to call this haircut the Shift as its ability to have versatile styling options, from something edgy and raw, to extremely polished and sophisticated. The idea with this is that the haircut can be finished to suit the individual’s personality and meet them for who they are within that day. This is a haircut we are also pushing through R+Co again, forecasting trends and the future.” – Adam Federico

This style is as loose and carefree as a day spent at the seaside. Here, Peter Thomsen (@pjthomsen) gave his client a light new balayage and soft face-framing layers.

 2. Delicate Curtain Bangs

Sometimes less is more, even when your client has long hair, as demonstrated by Chris Weber Mirlach (@chrisweberhair), who describes the bangs as "effortless."

3. Curtain Bangs with Style

Curtain bangs don't just look good when the hair is down--they can really add to the style when the hair is pulled up into a stylish updo or carefree pony, as shown by Rachel Williams (@rachelwstylist).

4. Bardot Bangs

Curtain bangs can add drama and depth to a sleek style, as shown by Sal Salcedo (@salsalhair), who calls these "Bardot Bangs."

5. Romantic Shag

Curtain fringe can add volume and natural wave to the hair, giving it a romantic, old world feel, as shown by the work of Lo Shabino (@classiclois_hairstylist). 

6. French Fringe

Paige Bureck (@pinkdagger) gave her client some decidedly French feeling with this cute cut. 

7. Fuller Fringe

Done correctly, a shag and curtain bangs can actually give the illusion of thicker, fuller hair, as seen on Holly Seidel's (@hollygirldoeshair) client.

8. Bold Color, Bold Fringe

Sometimes a client wants a complete transformation. And while this style from @mageofhair doesn't require lots of length to be lost, it certainly makes an impact—and one that's only enhanced with a bold color choice. 

9. Long Fringe, Short Hair

Belinda Mills (@bel_pipsqueekinsaigon) shows that short-haired girls can wear curtain bangs, too!

10. Farrah Fawcett Fringe

Mick Lewis (@hairbymickk) created this look that harkens back to the '70s when shags reigned supreme—but with a thoroughly modern twist. 

11. Voluminous Curtain Bangs

Go big or go home! Curtain bangs don't have to be subtle, they can be in-your-face, like this gorgeous cut from Brian Hickman (@brianhickman1)

These fun looks are at Beauty Launch Pad