Just because you’ve successfully grown out of your rebellious phase doesn’t mean you can’t still have fun. Embrace all the life and versatility of a rock-and-roll shag cut with an elegant twist, thanks to the polished shag—the edgy-girl grown-up we predict will be a huge hit in 2025. Learn more about it with insight from experts ahead.
Featured Experts
- Kim Kimble is a celebrity hairstylist and creator of the Kim Kimble Hair Collection
- Elisha Smith is a hairstylist and Balmain master educator
- Kylee Heath is a celebrity hairstylist and ANATOMY ambassador
What Is a Polished Shag Cut?
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When you think of a shag haircut, certain names probably come to mind—after all, everyone from Taylor Swift to Stevie Nicks has rocked this iconic cut. But if you’re seeking a modern, feminine update to this rock-and-roll classic, let us introduce you to the polished shag.
“This is the ‘pretty girl’ version of the shag while still being ‘rock and roll,'” explains hairstylist and Balmain master educator Elisha Smith. “I particularly love this rendition because I love to mix it up with clothes and hair to avoid looking like you are wearing a costume. It still carries the rebelliousness of a shag, but the structure is less piecey.”
Celebrity hairstylist and creator of Kim Kimble Hair Collection by HairUWear, Kim Kimble, adds that the polished shag tends to be a longer length. “Atypical shag has many more layers and is typically shorter,” she notes. “And in contrast, this cut has less layering.”
Which Face Shapes Does This Cut Flatter?
There’s a reason why the shag and its more elegant sibling, the polished shag, are worn by so many people. “The shag is very versatile,” says celebrity hairstylist and ANATOMY ambassador Kylee Heath. “The layers can be cut and customized to your face shape. It can also be worn long or short, based on what you like.”
“I will note that tiny faces may get lost in the cut,” warns Kimble. “But there are a lot of ways to frame your face with a shag, which makes it a great cut for most face shapes.” Smith adds that there’s a foolproof way to customize this look to your face shape. “You have to balance out the face shape where the shortest layer falls,” she says. “For example, a round face would want the layers to fall at the cheekbone to break up the circle and a triangular cut bang would elongate the circle.”
How Professionals Style the Polished Shag
The name “polished shag” might have you thinking of a flat, kind of boring styling job. But really, there are many ways to add interest to this style. “To style the polished shag, I would create waves and texture to really make the look stand out,” says Kimble.
To create this kind of texture, Heath suggests using a round brush during your blow dry. “This style looks great blown out and then pieced out and ‘polished’ with a leave-in cream like ANATOMY.”
“After using a rough, dry method to blow dry, I would follow with a small barrel wand to add bend and texture wherever it’s lacking shape,” Smith adds. “I would finish with a styling powder at the roots and a texturizing volume spray through the ends. If the client is looking for a more rebellious look, you could add the Balmain Silk Perfume ($65) to break down the style and emulate a more ‘rock and roll’ vibe.”
