The Salons Have Spoken – 2025 Will Be The Year Of The Sculpted Shag
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22 hours ago
A polished take on a retro classic
Ready for a 2025 hair transformation? Word from the salon says that we’re going to see more of the classics in the new year – but not as we know them. First up: the sculpted shag.
What Is A Sculpted Shag?
‘The sculpted shag is the more polished older sister of the renowned shag cut,’ explains Jamie Benny, Creative and Artistic Director of Benny & Co. ‘It differs from the purposely messy shag cut, instead opting for a more precise, architectural finish – think sharper angles, longer layers and clean lines. This creates a chic contrast with the voluminous, tousled textures for an effortlessly cool, yet sophisticated look. It blends a high-fashion, polished aesthetic with an underlying modern edge that captures the essence of the trend.’
And in a year where voluminous, playful hairstyles have been on-trend, shag haircuts in general have thrived. ‘In 2024, the shag was was wildly popular, whilst also looking pretty wild itself with the sheer amount of volume and texture which defines this “undone” cut,’ says Jamie. ‘The sculpted shag will be taking the spotlight in 2025, as this version of the styles goes hand-in-hand with big bouncy blow-drys. There’s lots of layers, lots of volume and lots of opportunities for styling!’
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Who Suits This Cut?
While anyone can give the cut a go, Jamie does warn us that some people might be more naturally suited to it than others. ‘The sculpted shag works for those with oval shaped faces as the wispy, disconnected layers harmonise the face’s slender frame and jawline, whilst drawing attention to the face’s features,’ he says. ‘And when is comes to hair texture, the sculpted shag works best with straighter hair to achieve that sleek, polished effect, while still incorporating the movement and definition of a shag cut.’
How To Ask For A Sculpted Shag In The Salon
‘When asking for a sculpted shag, I’d always recommend bringing a photo for inspiration to show your stylist what you’re after,’ emphasises Jamie. ‘It’s the easiest way for stylists to envision the end result and give advice on what they think will suit your face shape and hair texture.’ So make sure you have your Instagram and Pinterest folders ready to go.
@thehairbros 90’s Layers for the beautiful @Roxy Estella #thehairbros #haircut #hushcut #layers #fy #fypシ゚viral ♬ hospital beach – Cottonwood Firing Squad
How To Style A Sculpted Shag
It’s all about sleek glamour with this cut. ‘As mentioned, the sculpted shag is the more pristinely polished older sister of the shag cut – meaning it has longer. more disconnected layers. However, a lot of this is also down to the styling,’ explains Jamie. ‘With the shag, you’re looking for volume, texture and definition to create that “undone” look. The sculpted shag, meanwhile, has a bigger focus on shape and precisely placed layers that cascade down the hair. This cut looks gorgeous with a big bombshell blowout – use a large round brush to blow-dry the hair downwards to ensure that the cut maintains its smoothness and shape.’
Hair Inspiration
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Featured image: AW24 Copenhagen Fashion Week Streetstyle (c) Noor-u-Nisa
