Popular across genders, the wolf cut is thought to have originated in the salons of South Korea, taking its name from the wild, untamed look the heavy layers create, resembling the fur of its namesake. To take things further, the style is often set in place on loosely permed hair, to ensure an expertly tousled look.
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.”
What is a wolf cut? A wolf cut is a creative version of a mullet. It's inspired by the choppy texture of a mullet and follows a similar pattern and shape but has the softness and wearability of a shag cut. You'll see lots of volume on top, daring shorter layers at the front and a tapered, wispier finish at the bottom.
With the resurgence of hair trends from the '70s and '80s, it's no wonder this shag haircut is gaining popularity. Made famous by Davis Bowie and his alter ego Ziggy Stardust and re-established by Miley Cyrus in 2020, the non-binary cut celebrates androgyny and gives an edgier look to anyone who dares to try it.
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 difference between this sectioning technique and the triple Unicorn technique, is this Wolf cut technique is sectioning the hair in half. The triple Unicorn technique is still cutting all the hair at once, you're just moving the placement of where you tie it.
The wolf cut hairstyle is trending and everyone who's anyone is rocking the hair trend. Even celebs can't get enough of the wolf haircut style as it gives off a stylish edge that is personalised to suit every hair type, hair texture, and face shape.
A: The textured bob, the shaved side, the bold pixie cut, the braided updo, and the sleek center part are some of the most popular hairstyles among Gen Z.
The jellyfish haircut sports disconnected layers that resemble a short bob with longer layers underneath. If the name is any giveaway, it truly resembles the round body and longer, billowy tentacles of a jellyfish.
A butterfly haircut combines short layers with long layers to give your hair dimension, movement and body. The short, wispy layers hit around the chin to frame your face, highlight your features and even contour a round face shape.
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.
Second-generation idols like TVXQ's Jaejoong, Super Junior's Leeteuk and Eunhyuk, and SHINee's Taemin brought the shaggy cut back to the forefront of South Korean entertainment decades after soccer star Kim Byungji popularized its most extreme version in the 1990s.
The main difference between the updated "wolf cut" and your classic mullet is where the layers sit. Instead of the style being layer-heavy only at the top of the head, they're spread throughout.
The main difference are that the wolf cut uses short layering to frame the face, where as the butterfly uses short layers at the back to create volume. Another defining difference is that butterfly tends to use feathered ends, whereas the wolf cut is more choppy.
Straight hair also works really well with the wolf cut, especially if you have thin hair, because it's a haircut designed for volume—so ask your hairstylist for a bunch of shaggy layers. The differing lengths will add body to your hair, which can be especially flattering if your hair has thinned out over the years.
The Ragnar look, based on the character Ragnar Lodbrok, might be the most popular. To get this hairstyle for yourself, grow out your hair so it's at least shoulder-length. Shave the sides and back of your head, leaving the hair long on top. Make 3 braids with the top hair for the rough, Vikings look.
A bob cut, also known as a bob, is a short to medium length haircut, in which the hair is typically cut straight around the head at approximately jaw level, and no longer than shoulder-length, often with a fringe at the front.
The wet mop haircut is a modified bowl cut... Also nicknamed “the TikTok haircut", it's the 2022 men's hair trend that is all over the internet. This wet mop hairstyle, typically worn by men, has long hair on the top (usually messy, wavy or curly) and short hair on the sides and back of the head.
Also called the classic Karen cut, the original Karen cut is an inverted bob with side-swept bangs cut at an angle. What is this? Chunky highlights with a spiky cut at the back usually accompany this haircut. This is the most typical Karen haircut, and it's also the most recognizable.
What are Bardot bangs? Bardot bangs are a style of fringe inspired by the iconic Brigitte Bardot. They feature center-parted bangs and texture that has been cut to frame the face. They are loved for their ability to suit any face shape.
A wolf cut is a hairstyle that features choppy layers on top and longer layers around the sides of your head. Inspired by the retro rock 'n' roll look popular throughout the 1970s, the wolf cut concentrates volume on the top half of the head, becoming thinner toward the hair ends.
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.
Can you put a wolf cut into a ponytail? Unless the cut is too short, you can always pull a ponytail off. However, you shouldn't expect it to be incredibly neat since most of the layers will be loose.
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.