There’s no denying that the wolf cut is one of social media’s biggest hair trends. Since its launch into mainstream beauty trends back in 2022, we’ve seen countless celebrities style the cut, including Jenna Ortega, Miley Cyrus, Billie Eilish and Whitney Peak.
We’ve seen dozens of renditions that make the wolf cut work whatever your vibe may be: grunge, glam, edgy, cutesy or somewhere in between. The edginess of the cut can even take you out of your comfort zone. As makeup artist and content creator Danielle Marcan, arguably one of the most prominent poster girls for the wolf cut, says in an Instagram post: “Got a wolf cut and a new personality today”.
For the uninitiated, we’ve put together everything you need to know before committing to the cut, as well as tonnes of wolf cut inspiration to get absorbed into.
What is a wolf cut?
The wolf cut is an audacious mash-up of two of the most drastic throwback cuts trending right now: the ’70s shag and the ’80s mullet, brought together in a very modern collab. “A wolf cut is simply a shaggy mullet or mullety shag,” confirms LA hair stylist and king of layered cuts, Sal Salcedo.
As its name suggests, the wolf cut is a little wild, thanks to loads of shaggy, wavy disconnected layers that nod to a slight mullet shape since they’re cut shorter around the crown to create volume, with longer layers in the back.
The good news? It can be as bold as you like, depending on how short or soft you decide to go with the layers and how messy you style it. The general gist is to look just the right amount of feral to give the style a relaxed, cool-girl feel, without going so radical that it’s impossible to style. But we’ve seen it taken in different directions with swooshy girl-next-door curtain fringes, heavy rocker bangs and micro fringes.
What should you know before getting a wolf cut?
Full disclaimer: a wolf cut is a commitment, especially if you’re taking the layers quite short around the crown, so it can take a while to grow out. But it promises months of enviable volume. And if you’re growing your hair out, it’s a great way to add some extra texture, keeping it fuller at the top and tapering the shape at the bottom.
Don’t want to fully commit? You have plenty of options for a softer nod to the wolf cut shape. You could ease yourself in with just a few choppy layers around the crown. This is especially true for curly hair types, where it’s best to stack your curls on top then trim them toward the bottom. Flicky, bob-length layers give hair structure while still feeling more laid back and less drastic than other renditions. Or ask for longer layers if you reckon you’ll want to switch it out again before the year’s out.
What face suits a wolf cut?
If you’re wondering if the wolf cut would work on your face shape, the answer is yes. The chop works on “any face” says Sal. “The trick is to work towards balancing the face,” he explains. To do this, “the hair stylist should aim to make the face into more of an oval shape,” Sal says, using layers and length to “bring balance.”
Will a wolf cut suit thin hair?
Choppy layers in fine hair can end up looking a little on the stringy side if it’s overdone, but a good hair stylist can counter this with some considered cuts. “The main point when cutting thin hair is to leave pieces more blunt in areas where the hair is the thinnest, creating more fullness there,” says Sal.
Is a wolf cut good for thick hair?
Thick hair is great for layering, but to create the airy, voluminous feeling the wolf cut is known for, some pruning is necessary. “Something to watch out for when working with thick hair is to work on removing weight from areas that are thickest as well as steering away from blunt ends or layers,” Sal explains.
How do you ask for a wolf cut at a salon?
They say a picture’s worth a thousand words, and certainly when it comes to communicating exactly what you want from your stylist, reference shots will do a lot of the heavy lifting. “I would recommend bringing in photos, videos or both, of hair you love and hair you don’t,” says Sal. “A lot can get lost in translation, so please bring wolf cut inspiration content to your stylist,” he advises.
Is a wolf cut supposed to be messy?
If you like a neat, prim chop, wolf cut hair is not for you. “The whole idea is for it to be effortlessly cool. Think of a thoughtful messy feel,” says Sal. “Too done is not cool, less is definitely more here.”
Does a wolf cut have curtain bangs?
The beauty of the wolf cut is you can personalise it to you, especially when it comes to face framing. “You can add a curtain bang for a softer look and blunter, piecier bangs for more of an edgy badass persona,” says Sal.
What length hair does a wolf cut work on?
The wolf cut works on all hair lengths, whether you want it long and witchy or we’ve seen wolf cut styles on short hair with more of a pixie cut influence.
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. “Everyone wants a wolf cut until they realise their hair will be flat unless they style it,” one TikToker named Maddy wrote.
So take some time to acquaint yourself with a new routine that works well with your chop. You’ll need a hair dryer and a lot of texturiser (sea salt spray, volumising mousse, dry shampoo, wax) to maximise the volume and that shaggy feel.
