Stylist. The wolf cut, in a nutshell, is a mixture of two currently most popular and edgy haircuts – the mullet and the shag. Supposedly originated in South Korea, the wolf haircut features loads of chunky, shaggy layers on the top and wispy, wavy ends at the back.
So, we know what a wolf cut looks like, but what actually is it? As celebrity and editorial hairstylist Neil Moodie explains: “A wolf haircut is a mix of the shag haircut and a mullet, but generally created on longer hair. It has shorter choppy layers on the top and longer choppy layers around the sides and back.”
“A wolf cut is simply a shaggy mullet or mullety shag,” confirms LA's coolest hair stylist and king of layered cuts, Sal Salcedo.
The edgy, rebellious wolf haircut is here to stay! You may have seen it popping up on social media and even seen a few DIY versions, especially after it became a viral sensation on TikTok back in 2022. However, this much loved and versatile cut is definitely best left to the professionals!
Born in Korea and popularized on social media, the wolf cut is the newest hair trend. This post-quarantine hairstyle took over TikTok due to the level of ease of the DIY cut, but now celebrities like Billie Eilish and Jenna Ortega have joined the pack.
'The wolf cut is a combination of the mullet and shag haircut,' says Katie. 'It is typically a mullet with its short layers and shag with its heavy fringe, and even though the shape is discounted it still flows.
If you already have thick hair, it would be best to avoid getting a wolf cut unless you truly want to add volume to your hair. Wolf cuts do not need much styling and have a carefree, laid-back appearance. They are also suitable on all hair lengths, albeit too short hair tends to seem less unkempt than longer hair.
The perfect medium shag haircuts for women over 60 that want volume and texture is the wolf cut with crown layers. A cross between a shag and a mullet, the wolf cut is a choppy, fierce, and feral look for women that want to embrace their wild side.
What Face Shape Is Wolf Cut Good for? A wolf cut generally works for all face shapes, but it's especially fantastic for oval, square, and round faces because it creates movement around the chin and jawline and softly frames the face.
The choppy, short layers around the face make the wolf haircut a flattering choice for a round face shape. If you have an angled jaw or sharper features, a wolf cut can help to soften those. If you have an oblong face shape, opt for a shorter wolf cut so you're not elongating your face.
Wolf cut with short bangs are perfect for all. This textured style can be matched with all hair textures, hair colors, and outfits. You can choose to wear your hair down or tie your hair in a ponytail for a simple yet modest look.
Ask your stylist for a lot of shaggy layers with bangs. You can go as far as you want with the trend, so you can request more texture or keep it simpler with just a few face-framing layers. If you're not sure if the wolf cut is right for you, ask your stylist for their opinion.
While both feature short, heavily layered hair in the front, there's a big difference between the two due to how they're layered. The wolf cut is more like a shag cut than a mullet.
The jellyfish haircut is made of two very distinct, separated layers: one resembles a classic bob (you can customise it however you want making it blunt, choppy, or – if your volume allows it – even slightly layered) with the lower sections of your hair left to hang long and flowy underneath.
Another defining difference is that butterfly tends to use feathered ends, whereas the wolf cut is more choppy. What's the difference between a wolf cut and a shag? Click here to find out. Style a wolf cut with some volume mousse and a blow dry brush like the Mermade Interchangeable Blow Dry Brush.
How would I ask for it? You'd ask for choppy, short layers on the top of your head, and longer, but still choppy layers around the sides and back, with a fringe (that works with your face shape). The cut should create volume at the crown and have a rocker, edgy look to it.
A butterfly haircut has layers that are back and away from the face, forming the shape of a butterfly's wings.
If that's the case, you'll be wild about the wolf cut—an audacious hybrid of a tousled shag and a modified mullet that's currently taking TikTok by storm. “It's a great choice if you have medium-length hair,” says Lund. “The choppy layers create movement around the chin and jawline, which helps soften a round face.”
While it works on most types and textures, since the cut relies heavily on layers and volume, those with thicker hair that has a bit of a wave or curl will look best with a wolf cut, Johnson says. “Straight hair will likely require a bit more styling time to create movement or volume at home,” she adds.
Medium-length cuts are easy to manage and offer much greater versatility of styling compared to short haircuts. Work in some volumizing spray and go with messy waves or pair sassy side fringe with a discreet low bun – both hairstyles will give away mature elegance and style confident women over 50 can boast of.
The wolf cut has become really popular for very good reasons—it's super low-maintenance and it looks fantastic! If your hair is naturally wavy or curly, you don't have to do much to style the wolf cut, especially if you're going for a shaggy look.
The wolf cut can appear very close to a shag, but there are some key difference. Wolf cuts tend to cross into more of a “mullet territory” as they aren't afraid to get shorter and choppier. Think less hair hugging the face, even more layers and shorter layers at the crown, and a purposeful disconnection in length.
The wolf cut is a bit more similar to the shag, where the cut is a bit edgier and the locks have a bit more variation in terms of the layers. Meanwhile, the hush cut is more distinct in how the overall look follows a more traditional, romantic style (long, lush). The layers are softer and longer too.