Expert: Dana Sear - 11/2/2009

Question
I used to wear my hair in a "shag" in the 70's and wanted to revisit the style. My hair is medium short. Is there a difference in the way a shag is cut versus a layered cut? I took my stylist a photo of me wearing a shagas a model, but the result is lacking something. Is there a trick to cutting a shag?

Thanks very much for your input!

Answer
Hiya Susan,

A shag is a layered cut but it is the way angle of the layers that makes all the difference in the style. Since you took a photo in, one of two things happened: the stylist didn't know how to cut it in the style from the photo, or 2: (and more likely) the stylist tried to put a more modern spin on a photo from the 70's and you don't like it as much.

Another thing to consider, your hair has most likely changed a bit in texture. Even if you have not started to gray, it is unlikely that your hair is exactly as it was; my hair, for example, is a totally different texture now than it was years ago, which suggests that if the stylist tried to mimic the style in the photo, it simply wouldn't work.

Try finding some more current photos of shags that you like and show them in addition to the one you already have.   It will help a lot to have more than one photo as well. One little hint; when clients look at photos, they see an entire story. A lifestyle, a personality, a statement. When we look at photos, we break down the style; layers here, fullness there, fringe, light wispy layers, strong angles, etc. Be prepared to tell the stylist exactly what you like about the style and how it is different from what you have now.

Good luck,

dana

Susan,

Without seeing what your idea of a shag is, it would be difficult for me to give you a step by step technical on the cut itself. And, if you go in to see a stylist and give them specific instructions, i.e., " inverted 90 here, parallel with fingers at a 45 there, you are going to run into some major resistance. If you are not a stylist yourself, the chance of you communicating what you want is much more likely if you let the stylist know what you like and what you don't like and let them decide the best way to make it happen. Growth patterns, density, texture, daily routines, etc., will affect the execution of the cut. Even when we use detailed technical diagrams, we alter them to suit the client.

To complicate matters even more, a shag is different things to different people. Ask 10 people to cut a shag, you are going to get 10 different opinions. The classic shag is a basic 90 degree haircut. I'm fairly certain that is not what you are looking for. If you were to show me a pic of the haircut you wanted, I may be able to tell you how that was cut, but unless I were the one to do the actual cut, it's unlikely someone else would interpret it the exact same way.

I know that isn't much help but I didn't want you to think I was just ignoring your question.