As celebrity and editorial hairstylist Neil Moodie explains: “A wolf haircut is a mix of the
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.
What Is a Wolf Haircut? "The wolf haircut is a mix between a vintage shag and a slight mullet," celebrity hairstylist Sarah Potempa and founder of The Beachwaver Co. tells InStyle. "Essentially, it's like taking two different periods (the '70s shag and '80s mullet) and smashing them together into a modern-day look."
This style has been gaining popularity on social media platforms, especially TikTok, and for good reason – it's stylish and versatile. The wolf cut is inspired by two iconic trends – the classic 80s mullet and the 70s shag cut. It's basically a hybrid of those two styles. This unique cut might vary, nowadays.
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.”
In case you missed it, everyone in Hollywood has the wolf-cut hairstyle now. The edgy, shaggy style has been spotted on the likes of Miley Cyrus, Billie Eilish, Keke Palmer, and more, so it's officially time that you took note of one of the biggest 2022 hair trends.
There may be someone for everyone, but 2022 has shown us that there is a haircut/hairstyle for everyone as well. We went from the Jellyfish trend to the Hime haircut and now there is the “wolf” cut for the fall. The wolf cut is a chic hybrid of the mullet and the shag but with a choppy and layered appeal.
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.
The "Butterfly" cut can be described as a modern take on the classic shag. The name comes from the layering effect that frames the face effortlessly with an overall seamless blend. The "Wolf" cut, is the perfect mix between a textured shag with the shape of a mullet.
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 hairdresser for longer, softer shapes and layers if you're worried about a drastic change,” he advises. “A longer shaggy cut below your collarbone is very wearable or, alternatively, a shorter layered 'baby mullet' or 'wolf cub' cut with shorter layers will give you a fun and fashion-forward look, too!”
The main difference between those and the wolf cut is that, with the wolf cut, the focus isn't on extremely short layers to create heaps of volume at the back of the head but rather on using the short layers to frame the face. It's why you'll often see the cut accompanied by longer curtain bangs.
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.
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.
A cross between the mullet and shag cut, the wolf cut is a low-maintenance look known for its versatility.
The broccoli haircut, also known as the zoomer perm or bird's nest cut, is similar to the indie-inspired looks of the 00s, featuring shaved or faded sides and a whole lot of volume and length on top.
Wolf cut hairstyles are a mix of two popular current haircut trends, aka the shag haircut and the mullet. Both these trending hairstyles feature a mix of layers and bangs. While the mullet is a short haircut, the shag haircut can be short, long, or mid length.
The angel cut with layers is a signal that women use to notify their hairdressers that they are in an abusive relationship or are a victim of domestic abuse.
Similar to a mullet, the style features more body and volume at the crown of the head (the head of the octopus) and then longer, thinner, shag-like layers from the mid-shaft to ends (the tentacles). Though the octopus haircut is inspired by both the mullet and shag, it is neither.
How to style a wolf cut? Styling-wise, the cut does a lot of the hard work for you. You might be able to get away with misting in some texturiser and roughing up your hair with your hands. However, just know, if your strands are naturally straight and sleek this won't be a wash and go situation.
First, brush your bangs forward. Next, hit them with a blowdryer, brushing down with the round brush as you go. Once you get to the ends, flip the brush up and dry from below. For that perfect feathered aesthetic.
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. Take a look at the various takes on the wolf cut here.
If you'd like to keep the hair long, cut only about 2 in (5.1 cm) off of the end. If you want to lose some length, go for 4 in (10 cm).