If you’ve been scrolling through Instagram lately, you may have noticed that a retro revival is happening in the hair world. All our favorite cool girls have been keeping the ‘70s influence alive and well with their shaggy cuts — a style that has quickly become the haircut of 2021.
In February, Cara Delevigne debuted a ridiculously chic shag and a new brunette hair color. Last month, Billie Eilish literally broke the Internet when she ditched her signature lime green roots in favor of a very on-point platinum blonde shag. And just last week, Kristen Bell took the retro cut to the next level with the addition of some wispy bangs.
Just as cool as it sounds, the shag is characterized by choppy layers, a fuller crown, and tons of texture. It’s a cut that’s very rock ‘n’ roll —think casual, messy, effortless —and when styled to perfection, gives off a major “I woke up like this” vibe.
As for why this ‘70s style is literally everywhere right now? Well, Australian hairstylist Belinda Mills, says people want styles with “more personality” now. “Haircuts that create movement, volume, and shape. Haircuts that enhance their natural texture,” she adds.
At Mills’ salon, Pipsqueek in Saigon, the shag has been a popular request among clients. “If they aren’t asking for shags, they are definitely asking for more texture hair cuts,” she says.
According to Mills, achieving the perfect shag for your clients all comes down to educating yourself on the hairstyle.
“The key as a stylist is to understand the haircut itself. Educate yourself and your staff as much as you can, as strong haircuts are coming back!” she explains. “Shags are all about short layers and texture. So, understand how the hair reacts when you take weight out and educate your client on what products and techniques they need to style it.”
To see more of Belinda’s work, be sure to follow @bel_pipsqueekinsaigon on Instagram.
