If you’re looking to reinvent your hair in 2024, it might be time to embrace the nostalgic chic of the mid-length shag.

This imperfect style leans into the low-maintenance mood we love to sport over the summer. Think choppy layers, wispy framing pieces around the face and possibly a statement fringe. Whether you’re in your cowgirl curtains era or loving the 70s vibe, it’s a cut that can be tailored to suit everyone’s style.

Lulu Richards, hairstylist and mullet expert at Stā Studios in London, is a firm fan of the mid-length shag. “It’s grungy and messy and very versatile,” she says. While the cut “is very 70s, inspired by legends like David Bowie and Prince”, Richards notes that it can be shaped and styled to offer “more ‘2000s Tumblr’ vibes like Alexa Chung, or [a] more rock and roll [feel] like Miley Cyrus.”

The mid-length shag also suits both thin and thick hair, as the cut creates texture and movement. “Loads of short layers are perfect for someone with thin hair to give height and shape,” Richards explains. “Someone with thick hair can get this cut with weight removed to make it wispier and more lightweight.”

The mid-length shag cut is the ultimate cool-girl look