This Low-Maintenance Haircut Is Set to Be Huge in 2022

If you had asked any beauty insider back in January what the big hair trends for the year ahead would be, it’s unlikely anyone would have said grown-out roots, wonky fringes, and patchy box dye jobs. Yet here we are. The year is finally drawing to a close, and it’s safe to say that the face of beauty has changed substantially over the past 11 months, most notably when it comes to our hair. Whatever your signature style, whether you started the year with ice-white lengths or a sleek, glass-like bob, chances are 2020 has messed with your hair game.

Sure, we all started this ride feeling optimistic that we would be able to return to our trusty stylists and get our signature locks back just as soon as things "blew over," but as time has moved on so have our hair priorities. The truth is chic but high-maintenance styles just aren’t cooperating with the rest of our lives right now. We are having to deal with a lack of salon appointments and social events, but above everything else, we just can’t be bothered to style our hair every day.

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(Image credit: @DIANE.KARI)

So how do we proceed? Well, most experts we have spoken to advise that 2022 could be time to embrace a hair change. However, unlike big hair trends of yesteryear (blunt bob, we’re looking at you), the It style for 2021 is set to be a whole lot easier to deal with. At a time when we’re all looking for a hairstyle that’s fuss-free, easy to manage, and versatile, it’s no surprise that the iconic '70s shag is making a comeback. Revlon Professional global artistic ambassador Mark Leeson says, "The shag is the ultimate undone statement haircut. It’s choppy and full of texture and makes for a refreshing change to long, one-length hair. On a daily basis, you don’t need to do much to a well-cut shag style, as the texture and shape are already cut into it.”

"The feathered texture works for most lengths and is great for curly and Afro hair, too. To keep it modern, combine voluminous curls with a short, face-framing, ringlet fringe,” says Leeson. The key to executing the style in 2021? Keep things textured and carefree but opt for a softer cut. "You have to make sure your stylist doesn’t cut in too many layers because this could really date the look,” he adds.

Convinced? Keep scrolling for the very best shag hairstyles out there and to get some serious inspiration ahead of your next (and long-anticipated) hair appointment.

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(Image credit: @SUKIWATERHOUSE)

Suki Waterhouse's blown-out bangs make for the ultimate face framers.

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(Image credit: @JULIESFI)

A long, tousled shag looks just as great thrown up into a ponytail as it does when it's worn down.

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(Image credit: @INTHING_)

While the iconic '70s shag was a little longer, this super-choppy, undone pixie cut has all of the low-maintenance shag inspo you need if you favor shorter styles.

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(Image credit: @ZENDAYA)

Zendaya's curly shag has proven one of the most sought-after styles of the past decade, and we're still not over it. 

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(Image credit: @SABINASOCOL)

Give your shag cut a French-girl touch by incorporating a simple root stretch. Not only does it look chic, but it also helps minimize the contrast when your blonde starts to grow out.

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(Image credit: @WAITYOUNEEDTHIS)

If you prefer to keep things understated, keep layers long, and don't go in too short around the face.

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(Image credit: @LOULOUDESAISON)

This is all of the proof you need that a grown-out shag cut looks just as chic as it does when it is first styled.

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(Image credit: @GABIFRESH)

This is exactly the sort of cool, modern style Leeson is talking about when he recommends a short ringlet fringe.

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(Image credit: @HALLEBERRY)

If you ask us, Halle Berry is the queen of the 21st-century shag. Sure, she might be better known for her iconic pixie cut, but we think her tousled, honey-tinted lengths look just as great.

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(Image credit: @THATCURLYTOP)

Leeson says the key to maintaining a healthy shag is in ensuring you keep strands nourished and strong with hydrating masks and treatments.

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(Image credit: @CAITLINMIYAKO)

The best bit about a long, wavy shag cut is that it requires minimal styling. Keeping things minimal and messy is the way. 

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(Image credit: @HUNGVANNGO)

Julia Stegner's retro style epitomizes the laid-back, cool-girl vibe that the shag cut has come to represent.

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(Image credit: @AYSHA.SOW)

Tousled, voluminous curls look impossibly chic when cut into a choppy shag. Opting for a wispy, slightly parted fringe creates a softer look.

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(Image credit: @ALEXACHUNG)

She's been rocking the same shag-style cut for years, and Alexa Chung's signature look is just as chic now as it was 10 years ago. 

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(Image credit: @TROPROUGE)

We couldn't be more in love with this soft, fluffy look if we tried. The short layers, the wispy curls, the flyaways over the face… It's perfection.

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(Image credit: @COUTUREKULTEN)

We're getting serious '70s vibes from this blonde shag, and we're not mad about it. The wavy, parted fringe is laid-back hair goals.

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(Image credit: @CIARACHERISE)

Teaming a textured shag with a short, full fringe is seriously on-trend right now.

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(Image credit: @CAMILLECHARRIERE)

If your hair is fine and poker-straight, leave things simple and just create a bit of texture in the ends for serious French-girl vibes.

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(Image credit: @VICTORIABECKHAM)

She's had her fair share of iconic hairstyles over the years, but Victoria Beckham's choppy, balayage style is, by far, our favorite.

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(Image credit: @JEANETTEMADSEN)

A shag is the ultimate way to create some shape and take some weight out of thicker styles.

Shop Styling Products Perfect for Shag Hairstyles

This post originally appeared on Who What Wear UK

Next up, 9 Things to Consider Before Getting This Classic French Haircut.

Freelance Beauty Editor

Shannon Lawlor is a renowned beauty journalist and has contributed to Who What Wear’s beauty content since 2020. As a leading beauty editor, expert and brand consultant, she has over eight years of experience working for some of the industry’s most esteemed titles, including Who What Wear (of course), Glamour UK, Stylist, Refinery29 and Fabulous.

Having also worked behind the scenes with some of the industry’s biggest brands and retailers, Shannon has a unique insight into what people really want from their beauty routines. Understanding that beauty lovers seek honest, open and responsible advice, she has it made her mission to demystify the intimidating world of beauty, taking a no-frills approach to the most relatable topics.

While Shannon is the first to admit she doesn’t hold the answer to every beauty question out there, she is dedicated to sharing her expert insights in a bid to help. As a self-proclaimed lazy girl, Shannon has an affinity for easy-to-use, foolproof beauty products and has made it her mission to scope out the best of the best.

When she’s not working, Shannon is likely soaking in the bath or giving no-holds-barred beauty reviews on Instagram from her bathroom floor.