Wolf cut hairstyles are a mix of two popular current haircut trends, aka the shag haircut and the mullet. Both these trending hairstyles feature a mix of layers and bangs. While the mullet is a short haircut, the shag haircut can be short, long, or mid length.
The Korean Wolf Cut hairstyle is a popular men's hairstyle that originated in South Korea. It features a short layered cut with a fringe and is usually parted in the middle. This hairstyle is often worn with a fade on the sides and back and is traditionally styled with wax or pomade.
“Essentially, the wolf cut gives you more volume at the crown, less at the sides, with lots of movement and layers throughout, worn long or short.”
The main difference between the updated "wolf cut" and your classic mullet is where the layers sit. Instead of the style being layer-heavy only at the top of the head, they're spread throughout.
What is a wolf cut? A wolf cut is a creative version of a mullet. It's inspired by the choppy texture of a mullet and follows a similar pattern and shape but has the softness and wearability of a shag cut. You'll see lots of volume on top, daring shorter layers at the front and a tapered, wispier finish at the bottom.
Straight hair also works really well with the wolf cut, especially if you have thin hair, because it's a haircut designed for volume—so ask your hairstylist for a bunch of shaggy layers. The differing lengths will add body to your hair, which can be especially flattering if your hair has thinned out over the years.
A wolf cut generally works for all face shapes, but it's especially fantastic for oval, square, and round faces because it creates movement around the chin and jawline and softly frames the face.
“The best thing about the wolf cut is that it works for everyone,” says Lordet. “This is because the layers are meant to frame your face while working with your hair's natural texture, which compliments everyone.”
In fact, if the mullet and shag had a baby, they'd create wolf cut hair. How would I ask for it? You'd ask for choppy, short layers on the top of your head, and longer, but still choppy layers around the sides and back, with a fringe (that works with your face shape).
Any face shape will look great with wolf cuts if the proper haircut correction is made. Oval faces can rock any version of the wolf cut, while square faces should choose wispier layers to soften the strong jaw. Heart-shaped faces should add more hair layers around the chin level to fill it out visually.
What Type of Hair Works Best with a Wolf Cut? The wolf cut is edgy and is a great option for almost all types of hair – from straight to curly and hair lengths. However, if you have very fine hair, this style may not be the best for you.
The shag also maintains a lot more volume around the face, which is a key difference that sets it apart. The wolf cut doesn't actually have an exact sort of definitive shape. It is basically a combo of choppy and short layers, starting from around the crown of the head, cascading from front to back.
Hair Trends and Nostalgia
Also known as the Korean mullet, the wolf cut gained traction in the late 2010s but was present in the mainstream media as early as the 2000s. In fact, the many variations we see today take inspiration from the Korean pop stars and actors who continue to headline the look.
A side-swept pixie haircut is the most popular Korean haircut.
The Wolf Cut originated in Japan, is all over TikTok, and fast becoming a popular request in salons across the world. The heavy layers, asymmetrical fringe, and hair that flips or floats up in the back has a sense of looking edgy, yet chic, plus requires minimal styling.
While it works on most types and textures, since the cut relies heavily on layers and volume, those with thicker hair that has a bit of a wave or curl will look best with a wolf cut, Johnson says. “Straight hair will likely require a bit more styling time to create movement or volume at home,” she adds.
A cross between the mullet and shag cut, the wolf cut is a low-maintenance look known for its versatility.
The jellyfish haircut sports disconnected layers that resemble a short bob with longer layers underneath. If the name is any giveaway, it truly resembles the round body and longer, billowy tentacles of a jellyfish.
The wolf cut has depth and dimension due to the choppy waves and wispy layers. This can make your hair look thicker and more voluminous. The wolf cut combines short layers on top with longer layers as you go further down your scalp.
A butterfly haircut combines short layers with long layers to give your hair dimension, movement and body. The short, wispy layers hit around the chin to frame your face, highlight your features and even contour a round face shape.
If you have a mixture of curly and wavy hair textures, this wolf cut hairstyle is perfect for you. It enhances your natural hair texture and helps eliminate frizz too thanks to the genius layer work.
This hairstyle is a modernized version of the mullet, but with a ton of volume at the top and fringe layers towards the bottom, making it a prime option for cutting off some length for your summer 'do.
Try a long choppy pixie cut for a fat face, in order to narrow your cheekbones and slim down a full jawline. The long fringe and choppy pieces throughout the crown visually elongate a chubby face.