TikTok has a new hair obsession every week, but the wolf cut has been one of the few hairstyles with staying power. In fact, Rodney Cutler, the owner of Cutler Salons in New York and California and Redken Ambassador, describes this style as “the hottest style of 2024.”
According to Jennifer Korab, a professional hair stylist and colorist based in New Jersey, the wolf cut started making a resurgence around 2022 thanks to social media and celebrities like Billie Eilish, Keke Palmer, Jenna Ortega and more. However, the wolf cut has been around a lot longer than the past few years.
“The wolf cut started in South Korea,” explains Jennifer Nast, a senior stylist at Sharon Dorram Color at Sally Hershberger Salon in New York City, “A few K-Pop stars rocked the look for the first time in the mid-2000’s.” The style takes inspiration from shags and mullets, which were popular in the eighties and nineties.
Ahead, find our beauty team’s 21 favorite wolf cuts and tips from experts on how to try the style for yourself.
Featured experts
- Rodney Cutler is the owner of Cutler Salons in New York and California and a Redken ambassador
- Jennifer Korab is a professional hair stylist and colorist based in New Jersey
- Jennifer Nast is a senior stylist at Sharon Dorram Color at Sally Hershberger Salon in New York
What is a wolf cut?
“The ‘wolf cut’ is a very layered haircut, typically with a fringe,” explains Nast, “It has been described as a mix between a shag and mullet. This haircut will give you lots of texture and movement.”
The wolf cut boasts layers of varying lengths, typically shorter layers framing the face with longer layers towards the back. The result is a shaggy, tousled look, explains Korab.
How to style a wolf cut
“As long as you work with the cut and you’re okay with it being more disheveled, it is a fairly simple cut to style,” says Cutler.
Korab suggests keeping an armor of texturizing products on hand, like sea salt or texture sprays, to enhance movement.
For an everyday “I woke up like this” style, Nast recommends using a leave-in conditioner and a mousse on wet hair. The Redken Full Volume Mousse ($27) gives your strands some added lift.
“Then, use your hands to scrunch the natural texture into your hair and use a diffuser on low to slowly dry the hair,” she recommends, “Once dry, add texture spray to up the volume.”
With all of the layers in the cut, it’s easy to get lots of movement and piecey texture. “Using styling products can help you to get lift and longevity. Don’t be shy,” says Nast.
Who is the wolf cut right for?
Cutler recommends the wolf cut for anyone who wants to add some edge to their look. Because of this style’s versatility, it can be suited to any face shape or texture.
“If you have sharp features, a wispy fringe can help to soften your look. If you have round soft features, going with choppy fringe and lots of face framing pieces can be very flattering,” recommends Nast.
Whether you want something bold and edgy or soft and understated, our inspiration photos below showcase a variety of takes on the wolf cut.
What to ask for when you want a wolf cut?
When asking your stylist for a wolf cut, Korab recommends first communicating your desired overall length and layers length. Because the style can be tailored to your personal preference, it is paramount that you are specific about what you are looking for. Both Nast and Cutler recommend bringing in photos of the type of style you are looking for so nothing is left up to the imagination.
Korab also suggests asking for the texture and choppiness you desire to achieve the look you are looking for.
“Lastly, discuss your styling routine and how you would like to wear your cut,” she says. This ensures that you know exactly how to style this cut moving forward.
21 celebrity wolf cuts we love
