21 Twisty Curly Shag Hairstyles
Looking to embrace your natural curls while adding serious style points?
The twisty curly shag combines the best of both worlds—the effortless coolness of a shag cut with the dynamic texture of your natural curls.
This versatile, layered style works across curl patterns and face shapes, offering that perfect balance of structure and carefree movement.
Discover 21 ways to customize this trending cut to your unique curl pattern and personal style.
1: Classic Curly Shag with Curtain Bangs
Embrace the quintessential shag silhouette with this perfectly balanced cut featuring face-framing layers and softly parted curtain bangs.
The strategic layering enhances your natural curl pattern while creating that iconic shag shape.
You’ll appreciate how the curtain bangs grow out seamlessly, blending with your layers for easy maintenance.
This versatile combination flatters most face shapes, especially oval and heart-shaped faces.
Apply a curl-enhancing cream to damp hair, scrunching gently to encourage your natural pattern while directing the bangs to frame your face beautifully.
2: Voluminous Curly Wolf Cut
Channel retro vibes with this dramatic interpretation featuring heavy layers throughout and plenty of volume at the crown.
This wolf-inspired variation creates striking height and movement that showcases your curls.
You’ll make a statement with this bold cut that combines the edginess of a mullet with the texture of a shag.
The distinctive silhouette works particularly well for medium to tight curl patterns.
Style by diffusing upside down to maximize volume at your roots, then use a pick comb at the crown for that perfect 70s-inspired height that defines this eye-catching variation.
3: Curly Shag with Micro Bangs
Create edgy contrast with this contemporary combination featuring ultra-short, straight-across bangs with longer, layered curls throughout.
The structured fringe balances the carefree texture of your curls.
You’ll love how this unexpected pairing adds architectural precision to an otherwise carefree style.
The micro bangs draw attention to your eyes while the layered curls add movement and personality.
Keep your micro bangs slightly longer than traditional straight hair versions to account for shrinkage when they dry.
Style them with a small flat iron for definition that contrasts beautifully with your curls.
4: Long Layered Curly Shag
Maintain your length while embracing the shag’s layered aesthetic with this versatile cut featuring long layers that enhance your curl pattern.
This approach creates movement without sacrificing your overall length.
You’ll find this option particularly flattering if you’re not ready to go shorter but want the texture and volume benefits of a shag.
The strategic layers prevent the heaviness that can weigh down curly hair.
Ask your stylist for face-framing pieces starting at your cheekbones, with layers gradually lengthening toward the back for that perfect balance of shape and length.
5: Rounded Curly Shag
Embrace a softer silhouette with this deliberately rounded shape that enhances your curls while creating a beautifully balanced frame around your face.
The curved outline softens the sometimes-harsh angles of traditional shags.
You’ll appreciate this refined approach if you have a square face shape or prefer a less severe interpretation of the shag trend.
The rounded layers create movement without sharp transitions.
Style with finger-coiling techniques on your larger front pieces to define your face-framing curls, enhancing the soft, rounded silhouette that defines this feminine variation.
6: Curly Shag with Deep Side Part
Add dramatic asymmetry with this side-swept variation featuring a deeper-than-usual side part that creates volume and movement.
The off-center approach adds contemporary edge to the classic curly shag.
You’ll create striking dimension with this simple styling change that completely transforms the silhouette of your curly shag.
The deeper side placement allows for beautiful cascading curls across one side of your face.
Establish your side part when hair is wet, then diffuse with your head tilted toward the opposite side to enhance the voluminous effect that makes this variation so flattering.
7: Curly Pixie Shag
Go shorter with this cropped interpretation that maintains the shag’s signature layers while embracing a pixie-inspired length.
This bold combination creates maximum texture with minimum length.
You’ll find this low-maintenance option particularly liberating if you have tighter curls that spring up significantly when cut short.
The layered approach enhances your natural texture while creating a shaped silhouette.
Ask your stylist to keep enough length on top to show off your curl pattern while tapering the sides and back for that perfect pixie-shag hybrid shape.
8: Curly Shag with Wispy Layers
Create soft movement with this delicate approach featuring fine, wispy layers throughout that enhance your curl pattern without harsh lines.
This feminine interpretation adds texture without heavy chunking.
You’ll appreciate this subtle version if you want the texture of a shag without the sometimes-severe appearance of blunter layers.
The wispy technique creates natural-looking dimension that moves beautifully.
Style with a diffuser on low heat, scrunching gently to enhance your natural curl pattern while maintaining the soft, wispy effect that defines this romantic variation.
9: Asymmetrical Curly Shag
Make a bold statement with this intentionally unbalanced cut featuring noticeably different lengths from one side to the other.
The deliberate asymmetry adds contemporary edge to the classic curly shag.
You’ll turn heads with this fashion-forward approach that creates visual interest through its architectural design.
The uneven lengths add personality while the shag layers enhance your natural texture.
Ask your stylist for a more dramatic length difference than you initially think you want—curls will naturally soften the asymmetry, creating a more wearable version of this striking variation.
10: Curly Shag with Blunt Ends
Create striking contrast with this unique approach that combines internal shag layers with bluntly cut ends.
This technique adds volume and texture through the interior while maintaining a strong perimeter line.
You’ll love this modern interpretation that offers both the texture of a shag and the strength of a more geometric cut.
The blunt ends create a shaped silhouette while the interior layers allow your curls to spring free.
Style by focusing volumizing products at your roots and mid-lengths while using a heavier defining cream on your ends to emphasize the structural contrast that makes this variation so distinctive.
11: Curly Mullet Shag
Embrace the revival of the mullet with this hybrid approach featuring shorter front and sides with noticeably longer back length, enhanced by your natural curl texture.
This edgy combination creates striking dimension.
You’ll make a confident statement with this trending style that works particularly well with medium to tight curl patterns.
The “business in front, party in back” approach creates a distinctive silhouette.
Enhance the mullet effect by using different styling products on the shorter top sections versus the longer back—lighter mousses in front and richer creams or gels on the longer sections.
12: Face-Framing Curly Shag
Highlight your features with this flattering variation featuring extra-defined layers around your face that gradually blend into the rest of your hair.
The strategic framing draws attention to your eyes and cheekbones.
You’ll appreciate how this technique instantly brightens your complexion while creating that perfect curl cascade around your face.
The graduated approach creates movement exactly where you want it most.
Ask your stylist to start the face-framing pieces at your cheekbones or jawline, depending on which feature you prefer to highlight with your most defined curls.
13: Curly Shag with Volume Crown
Create dramatic height with this 70s-inspired variation featuring extra volume and layers concentrated at your crown.
This architectural approach adds significant height while maintaining the shag’s signature texture.
You’ll channel retro vibes with this statement-making silhouette that’s both nostalgic and thoroughly modern.
The volumized crown creates flattering proportion while the layers enhance your natural curl pattern.
Style by focusing your diffusing efforts at the crown, using a pick comb for additional lift at the roots once your hair is completely dry for maximum height impact.
14: Curly Shag with Peek-a-Boo Color
Add unexpected dimension with strategically placed color peeking through your curls.
This playful approach incorporates vivid or pastel tones beneath your top layer, creating glimpses of color as you move.
You’ll love how this creative technique adds personality to your curly shag without requiring all-over color commitment.
The hidden placement creates a surprising element that reveals itself primarily in movement.
Consider colors that complement your natural shade for a subtle effect, or choose contrasting hues for maximum impact when your curls separate and move.
15: Geometric Curly Shag
Add architectural precision with this structured approach featuring more defined, geometric layers that create a deliberately shaped silhouette.
This contemporary interpretation adds intentional design to the typically carefree shag.
You’ll appreciate this modern approach if you prefer a more polished, designed appearance rather than the completely undone look of traditional shags.
The geometric precision creates interesting lines while still enhancing your curl pattern.
Ask your stylist for more deliberately placed layers at specific points rather than the random, choppy approach of classic shags, creating a more sculptural finished appearance.
16: Curly Shag with Disconnected Layers
Create dramatic texture with this bold approach featuring deliberately disconnected layers that create striking separation between different lengths.
This technique adds maximum movement and piece-y definition.
You’ll make a statement with this high-impact variation that showcases your curl texture through intentional disconnection.
The dramatic layers create beautiful dimension that enhances your natural pattern.
Style by applying different products to different sections—lighter formulas on shorter pieces and richer creams on longer sections—to emphasize the disconnected effect.
17: Curly Shag with Fringe Benefits
Frame your eyes with this flattering variation featuring a full, curly fringe that blends seamlessly into the rest of your layered cut.
The textured bangs add playful personality to the classic shag silhouette.
You’ll find this face-framing approach particularly complementary if you have a higher forehead or want to draw attention to your eyes.
The curly fringe creates softness while the layers add movement throughout.
Cut your bangs slightly longer than you think you need to account for shrinkage when your curls dry, allowing them to fall at the perfect eye-highlighting length.
18: Short Curly Bob Shag
Combine the structure of a bob with the texture of a shag in this chin-length variation that creates maximum impact with minimum length.
The hybrid approach offers versatility with distinctive style.
You’ll appreciate this practical option that keeps your length manageable while maintaining the signature texture and movement of a shag.
The shorter length creates bouncy volume that enhances your curl pattern.
Ask your stylist for interior layers that remove bulk while maintaining the bob’s perimeter shape, creating that perfect balance of structure and texture.
19: Curly Shag with Money Piece Highlights
Brighten your appearance with face-framing highlights that accentuate your curly shag’s layered structure.
This strategic color placement enhances your cut while illuminating your complexion.
You’ll love how this technique draws attention to your most flattering curls—those that frame your face and define your shag’s signature shape.
The brightened pieces create beautiful dimension as your curls move.
Consider lighter shades that complement your base color for the most natural-looking enhancement that grows out gracefully with your layered cut.
20: Octopus Cut for Curly Hair
Embrace this trending variation featuring shorter, voluminous layers on top that gradually transition to longer, tentacle-like pieces at the bottom.
Your natural curls enhance the distinctive octopus-inspired shape.
You’ll create maximum impact with this statement-making silhouette that showcases your curl pattern in a thoroughly modern way.
The distinctive shape features body at the crown with piece-y, defined ends.
Style by focusing volumizing products at your roots and crown while using more defining products on the longer “tentacle” sections for enhanced separation and definition.
21: Natural Texture Curly Shag
Celebrate your unique curl pattern with this customized approach that works with—not against—your natural texture.
This personalized variation enhances your specific curl type while incorporating the shag’s signature layering.
You’ll appreciate this bespoke approach that considers your individual curl pattern, face shape, and lifestyle to create the most flattering and manageable version of the curly shag for you.
Consult with a curl specialist who will cut your hair dry to see exactly how your curls behave, creating a tailored shag that enhances your natural pattern while minimizing daily styling time.
Conclusion
Whether you prefer bold volume or subtle texture, these 21 twisty curly shag variations offer endless possibilities for embracing your natural curls.
Remember, the perfect curly shag combines strategic cutting techniques with the right products for your specific curl pattern—creating effortless style with maximum personality!
