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TikTok has made wolf cut hair this year’s hottest style. Read on to learn what it is, see examples, and learn how to style this choppy, layered cut. Should you lead the pack or steer clear of this trend? We’ll show you below.
What’s the Wolf Cut Hair Trend All About?
It’s funny to see how hair trends morph over time. One year, it’s all about straight, sleek, and shiny. The next, choppy layers with tons of texture are in. Right now, there’s a TikTok hair trend sweeping the world in a wild way: The wolf cut.
The wolf cut hearkens back to the 70s-style shag and reminds us a bit of the emo/scene days. It’s a heavily textured, layered haircut that emits the call of the wild with its shaggy ways.
So… is the wolf cut hair trend right for you? Or are you better off leaving this TikTok trend to the Billie Eilishes of the world? We’ll fill you in on all you need to know about this trending style in our visual guide below.
What Is a Wolf Cut?
The wolf cut is a tapered haircut with choppy, short layers that start at the crown and gradually get longer toward the ends. It blends components from the shag cut of the 1970s, the choppy emo/scene haircuts of the 00s, and the revamped mullet.
Stylists agree that while there is a lot of variation in wolf cuts short, long, wavy, curly, straight, etc. the key components are:
- Tons of volume and lift at the roots and crown
- Lots of short layers and tapered ends
- Curtain or blunt bangs to frame the face
Basically, it gives you a look that’s a cross between Farrah Fawcett and Elvira. It might seem like an unlikely combo, but it’s a flattering look that is suitable for most face shapes.
Since the overall length of the cut and the height of the layers can be adjusted, a good stylist can ensure your wolf cut perfectly suits your face shape and styling preferences.
Wolf Cuts vs. Mullets
Wolf cuts are different from mullets. While both feature short, heavily layered hair in the front, there’s a big difference between the two due to how they’re layered. The wolf cut is more like a shag cut than a mullet.
| Wolf Cut | Mullet | |
|---|---|---|
| Style in Front | Bangs, short, heavily layered | Short, heavily layered |
| Style in Back | Gradual layers that get longer in the back | Long hair |
| Symmetry | Symmetrical all around | Unbalanced |
| Key Features | Face-framing layers | Long "tail" in back |
The wolf cut features short layers and curtain or blunt bangs in the front to frame the face, which isn’t part of most mullets.
And instead of long hair in the back, wolf cuts feature layering throughout that gradually gets longer toward the ends. Wolf cuts are a more “even” and symmetrical haircut than mullets.
Read Next: Mullet Haircut Ideas and The Modern Mullet
10 Ways to Wear the Wolf Cut Hair Trend
Wolf cuts can be worn a number of ways, depending on the length of your hair, your hair texture and type, the depth and length of layers, and bang/fringe variations. We found 10 gorgeous ways to wear this year’s hottest hairstyle. Check them out!
1. Classic Wolf Cut
Michelle Aleksa/Shutterstock
Shoulder-skimming length, the choppiest of layers, a nice curtain bang, and tons of textured volume up top yep, it’s the classic wolf cut. We love the undone look of this messy, tousled style.
2. Chin-Length Wolf Cut
Hank Shiffman/Shutterstock
The ideal haircut for air drying, this shorter version of the popular wolf cut is a great way to wear the trend. Choppy, short layers are cut around the top and progressively lengthen toward the ends. A full fringe in the front completes the look.
3. Shaggy Wolf Cut
Pixpan_creative/Shutterstock
This shoulder-length style is thinned out at the ends to keep the volume concentrated up top. The result is a flattering style that plays up the tousled, textured ends without looking too wild.
4. Tamed Wolf Cut
Amelia Fox/Shutterstock
This wolf cut is a little more tame with the short layers starting lower down on the hair shaft. The result is less oomph up top, but a similar relaxed-yet-wild look. If you’re worried the classic wolf cut is a little too much for daily wear, this version is perfect.
5. Sleek Wolf Cut
Valua Studio/Shutterstock
Here’s an interesting take on the trend: A sleek, straightened version of the wolf cut! If you don’t want to wear undone waves or curls every day, you can always opt for this sleek, straightened style.
Just run a flat iron (don’t forget the heat protectant!) over your layers and slightly turn the ends under for this look.
6. Blunt Bang Wolf Cut
Lunamarina/Shutterstock
It’s more common to see curtain bangs with a wolf cut, but we really love the way full blunt bangs look with this cut too. Long, shaggy layers create the perfect canvas for textured waves.
7. Curly Wolf Cut
Sanneberg/Shutterstock
Intense natural curl gives the wolf cut a completely different look than waves or straight hair. If you’re of the “the bigger, the better” mindset, the ultra-short layers and bangs of this style could be perfect for your ringlets.
8. Messy Wolf Cut
Nas Creatives/Shutterstock
Full bangs, longer face-framing pieces, and tons of choppy layers make this version of the wolf cut unique. For a boost of volume at the crown like the model pictured, tease the hair at the roots and style it forward.
9. Wolf Cut & Micro Bangs
Maralem/Shutterstock
Ultra-short bangs are the focal point of this shaggy style. Perfect for women with curly hair, this textured style reminds us of a mullet with the longer layers in the back.
10. Coily Wolf Cut
Flamingo Images/Shutterstock
Coily hair can easily pull off the tapered wolf cut thanks to the self-supporting texture of the hair. Add short bangs to balance the style and perfectly frame your face!
Should You Get a Wolf Cut?
The wolf cut is a bold, fresh look that is trendy for a reason but is it right for you? To find out if you should get one yourself, you need to think about it from a few angles first. Here’s what you should consider before rocking the style:
- The wolf cut requires daily styling are you up for it? If you aren’t blessed with natural texture, body, and volume, this haircut can become tiresome because it requires daily styling to create the intended look. The number of choppy layers involved in this cut mean that it won’t have that bodacious wolf cut look unless you heat style it. Without creating waves, curls, or body with hot tools, this style will lie flat with layers sticking out at odd angles. You should consider whether or not you’re willing to work daily to keep your hair looking its best.
- Determine how you’ll style it. If your hair has a lot of natural texture from waves or curls, you might be able to get away with air-drying this type of cut. But most of us will have to style it to get the look we want, so it’s helpful to think of how you’d style it before you commit to the cut. We recommend working a good hair serum or mousse through your locks first and spraying with a heat protectant. Then, you can use a flat iron to clamp the roots for added volume and create soft, textured waves throughout. Lift up random sections and spritz with a volumizing spray or sprinkle texturizing powder into the roots for more lift.
- Your hair texture and type determine how it’ll look. Once you look at a few photos of wolf cuts, you start to get an idea of how it’ll look on you. But have you taken your hair’s texture and type into account? Super curly or coily hair will look very different with a wolf cut than fine, pin-straight hair or dense, beachy waves. Make sure you look at examples of wolf cuts on different hair types so you know how your hair will look in this style!
- You can customize it for your face shape to make it more flattering. Wolf cuts can work on any face shape as long as you make the right adjustments. Round faces should focus on creating volume with shorter layers on the top to make the face appear more oval; square faces should opt for wispier layers that soften the strong jaw; oval faces can rock any version of the cut, and heart-shaped faces should add more layers around the chin level to visually fill it out.
- Trends come and go. Are you sure you want a wolf cut? While the old hair adage “it grows back” definitely applies here, getting a wolf cut can be a little more of a hair commitment than you think. The ultra-short layers cut into the hair will all grow out differently and create a particularly challenging grow-out phase. You may find that you’re better off cutting your hair short once you tire of a wolf cut due to all the choppy layers.
Is a Wolf Cut Right for You?
So, is the wolf cut one of those trends you can’t wait to try, or one that you love to hate? We think it’s a breath of fresh air. Don’t get us wrong we love the ever-popular tousled beachy waves and sleek, straight styles.
But there’s something wild, feminine, and fresh about the wolf cut.
If you like the look and are up for daily styling, the wolf cut could be a great new look for you. Just make sure you’re working with a trustworthy stylist who knows how to manage your hair type and texture properly. This ensures you get a flattering version of the cut that suits your face shape and hair type.
And one final word don’t try to DIY your next ‘do. Doing it at home will probably result in a choppy mullet look instead of the bold, edgy wolf cut you want.
Make sure you bring a few inspo photos to show your stylist (hopefully you grabbed a few screenshots from this guide). They’ll be able to help consult you on any modifications you might need to make to the cut so it’s more flattering for your face and hair type!