There's no denying that the Wolf Cut Hair is a TikTok protege hair trend. Since we first flagged the choppy crop as a noteworthy cutback in May 2021, it has gone viral with over 1.2 billion views. When it comes to fashion and beauty, the phrase "history repeats itself" has never been more true. Originally set to the "I'm not going to do it...I'm just thinking about it" soundtrack, it looks like many of us "did it" - including celebrities Stans Miley Cyrus, Billie Eilish, and Keck Palmer.
With the explosion of styles, we've seen dozens of renditions to make the wolf cut fit your vibe: edgy, chic, or glam. So, what makes wolf hairstyles so special? Well, it gives us all the nostalgia we crave, but with a modern twist. It's similar to a mullet, but trust us, it's a lot cooler than the traditional "business in the front, party in the back" hairstyle you're probably familiar with. This hairstyle is more edgy, layered, and has that rockstar vibe that anyone can wear.
What is a wolf cut?
The wolf haircut is a mix of the vintage shag and light mullet, and the wolf cut is a bold mashup of two of the most drastic cuts currently in fashion: 70s shag and 80s mullet, fused in a very modern collaboration. As the name suggests, the wolf cut is a bit wild, thanks to the abundance of furry, wavy, disconnected layers that echo the slight mullet shape as they are cut shorter around the crown to create volume, and the back layer is longer. Typically, wolf hairstyles feature shorter layers at the top of the head for volume and texture and longer layers at the back. The result provides an edgy, almost unfinished, messy, rock vibe.
good news? It can be anything you want, depending on how short or soft you decide to go with the layers and your style. The general gist is to look just the right amount of wildness to give the style a relaxed, cool-girl feel, without being too aggressive to style the style. This is also a neutral hairstyle that can be customized in many different ways to your liking. We've seen it take a different direction, with glamorous girl-next-door curtain fringes, heavy rock bangs, and pixie micro fringes.
Are wolf haircuts suitable for all hair types?
"The wolf haircut will look better on people who need more volume and body, so most people with fine hair love this style, but, if you're looking for more volume, It can be rocked by any type of hair. Your hair," says celebrity hairstylist Lovett Candace.
That said, if you don't like moving hair and have a more "lifestyle attitude," this may not be for you, says Stenson. "If you're open to a more messy hair vibe and looking for a great way to spice up your look, you should give it a try," he says. This hairstyle is also suitable for all hair lengths. However, Pompeo said it's important to note that if you have shorter hair, the result will look choppier and looser
How do you style a wolf hairstyle?
Depending on your hair texture, you can style wolf hairstyles in several ways. For those with naturally curly or wavy hair, this cut is great for accentuating the texture of your hair. All you need is a leave-in conditioner and let it air dry for a playful, messy look, says Stenson. And since these hair types tend to be drier, you may want to use a spray like Matrix Miracle Creator Multitasking Spray to help control any potential frizz.
For those with straight and fine hair, you may need some extra hair products and tools to get the messy look. "If you have flat hair, you can use a heated tool like a shark hair dryer and bend it a little to give it more texture," Pompeo said. After the waves are created, you can add dry shampoo to add volume and sea salt or texturizing spray to make them look more like beachy waves.
You can also give yourself a big bouncy blowout with this hairstyle as there are no rules to style wolf hairstyles. It's all about having fun and trying new ideas. "Styling a wolf cut can be really fun because you can change the overall vibe with the way you style it," says Candice. "You can kick the end out and give it a nice, blow-dried look, or shake it up with a hot tool to give it the Miley texture she's been walking on."
Wolf haircut ideas to try:
Now that we know what a wolf hairstyle is, here are some inspirational photos you can use at your next hair appointment.
