The Best Shag Haircut for Your Face Shape

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Taylor Swift blonde shag haircut — Photo: Kevin Mazur/Getty Images

Long, short, with or without bangs, the shag is one of the few haircuts that's not defined by length. And that's exactly what makes it such a versatile cut. Instead, the shag is characterized by heavy, face-framing layers that give any hair type extra texture and movement.

"The length can really transform the feeling of the cut, but a shag works for all lengths because it's just adding layers and face-framing to an existing length," explains Erickson Arrunategui, hairstylist at Bumble and bumble New York. "You can go extreme or light, depending on what you want."

Length isn't the only way to customize a shag. Another big reason the cut looks amazing on everyone is that the layers are tailored to your specific face shape. "Use your facial features to decide where you want the hair to fall and what features you want to bring out," explains Arrunategui.

If you've yet to consider the shag for your next haircut, you will after you see these celebrity cuts. Keep reading for the 15 best shags for any face shape.

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Choppy Shag Haircut

Gabrielle Union shag pixie cut with side part and long pieces at the top — Jon Kopaloff/Getty Images

Gabrielle Union's choppy pixie features more length on top, plus a side part that mimics the look of side-swept bangs.

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Wavy Shag Haircut

Michelle Pfeiffer long blonde shag layered hairstyle — Gregg DeGuire/Getty Images

Michelle Pfeiffer's shaggy layers and soft waves give her cut an overall effortless vibe.

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Bob-Length Shag Haircut

Lana Candor short black bob with bangs and layers — Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images

A bob, bangs, and tons of layers? Lana Candor is nailing three hair trends all at once.

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'70s Shag Haircut

January Jones long blonde layered curtain bang hairstyle — Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images

Instead of going full-on '70s, take a page out of January Jones's shag playbook. Her lob includes subtle layers and short, wispy curtain bangs.

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Pixie Shag Haircut

Kerry Washington shaggy pixie cut hairstyle — George Pimentel/Getty Images

Now, this is how you do a shaggy pixie. Kerry Washington's cut includes a ton of volume on top and face-framing layers.

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Layered Shag Haircut

Natasha Lyonne curly voluminous ginger layered shag hairstyle — Rodin Eckenroth/Getty Images

For Natasha Lyonne's curly, voluminous shag, ask for angled layers around the face, and textured full bangs.

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Shag Haircut with Bangs

Halle Berry long honey blonde shag layered hairstyle — Earl Gibson III/Getty Images

Halle Berry is an example of one celeb who understands the power of the shag. Throughout the years she's experimented with the cut in a myriad of ways, including her signature pixie and this long version with featured bangs.

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Shag Haircut with Face-Framing Layers

Julianne Hough blonde curtain bang layered shoulder length shag hairstyle — Frazer Harrison/Getty Images

If your blunt bob is beginning to feel boring, face-framing layers and long curtain bangs will completely transform your existing cut.

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Curly Shag Haircut

Ciara long defined curly layered shag hairstyle — David M. Benett/Getty Images

Yep, the shag looks amazing on curly hair, too. Just look at Ciara's face-framing layers and bangs.

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Shag Haircut with Curtain Bangs

Courteney Cox black shoulder length minimal layered shag hairstyle — Kevin Mazur/Getty Images

If you're not into heavy layers, Courteney Cox's cut is a subtle take on the shag. Along with minimal layers, she has soft, low-maintenance curtain bangs that blend into the rest of her hair.

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Beachy Shag Haircut

Taylor Swift blonde layered shag with bangs hairstyle — Kevin Mazur/Getty Images

Along with her classic matte red lip, a shag with bangs makes up Taylor Swift's signature beauty look.

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Curly Shag Haircut with Bangs

Zendaya undefined curly shag with bangs and layers hairstyle — Steve Granitz/Getty Images

Zendaya's curly bangs and face-framing layers bring out her caramel highlights.

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Lob-Length Shag Haircut

Alexa Chung shaggy lob layered hairstyle — Dominique Charriau/Getty Images

Along with her vintage-inspired outfits, Alexa Chung's shaggy lob has a cult following. Her layers enhance her effortless, just-woke-up-like-this waves.

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Mid-Length Shag Haircut

Meg Ryan mid length wavy layered shag hairstyle — Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/Getty Images

Meg Ryan's shag is just as iconic as her film career. The actress has worn the cut at various lengths over the years, like this mid-length wavy shag with grown-out bangs.

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