Team Bob has found itself a new rival. After 2025 was dominated by the fluffy and razored iterations of the favored short chop, the wolf cut is emerging as the next hairdo for those who want to make a statement, without working too hard to do so. Elegant and edgy, wispy and workable—the wolf cut is the 2026 cool girl chop.
Hairdresser Larry King, founder of the renowned London Larry King salons, sees the shorter version of wolf cut gaining popularity fast. He’s just created a look for Tigerlily Taylor and Taylor Hill. For your reference, King sees Kristen Stewart as the OG, but also cites the grown out mullet a la Jacob Elordi as another androgynous look for the short wolf cut moodboard.
“A wolf cut balances attitude with softness,” celebrity hairstylist Charlotte Mensah previously told Vogue. A hybrid mix of a retro shag and a mullet, it feels distinctive, fresh, and edgy, while being easily maintained and styled. Face framing layers blended throughout create a textured, choppy finish, and with a slightly lengthened silhouette and sharp angles, your hair then naturally gets some soft volume without much zhuzhing.
“I think this is a natural progression for those growing out their pixie,” explains hairstylist Linus Johansson of the cropped version of the wolf cut. “We saw a lot of bixies last year, and I think this would be the next step. It’s also a great haircut for those who want to try something a bit shorter—not quite as short as a mullet, but more textures than a bob.”
While the likes of Cara Delevingne and Billie Eilish are strong proponents of the shaggy and cool wolf cut, Miley Cyrus and Jenna Ortega offer up the more cropped and compact version. Cyrus’s ’70s rockstar-esque hair sits just below her jawline, with feathery bangs and texture across the crown that feels undone but intentional. Ortega’s take on the wolf cut shows its softer and more feminine side, sleek and cut to just about graze her shoulders. That’s how versatile this hairdo can be. “It would suit people who are into more of an alternative style, as it’s a more statement haircut,” says Grace Amelia, stylist at Hershesons Fitzrovia.
And while it is a bit of an attitude ’do, it’s a haircut that actually works for everyone, whether you have fine and straight hair, or thick and curly. “It’s a great way to build volume and texture for straighter and finer hair,” says Johansson. “Equally, it works great for wavy, curly, and textured hair to bring out more of the curls. I think what it comes down to is styling and products to make this work for you and your lifestyle.”
Amelia believes it works best short on wavy or even curly textured hair, “to really showcase the cut in the best possible way,” she says. “With hair on the straighter side, you would definitely need some texture spray, or even curling tongs, to create some movement to show off the layers. But as a whole, the haircut would suit all hair types.”
“It is all about leaving flicks at the back, cutting sides away a bit [and] leaving a bit of length through the fringe, making it a heavier fringe,” explains King. What should you be asking your hairstylist for? “Loads of texture, loads of layers, keep it short at the sides and loads of length at back.” Sometimes, he says, undercutting the side and leaving the top to fall over gives it the shaggy wolf appearance you want.
If you’re seriously considering the wolf cut for the next time you sit in the hair salon chair, it’s a good idea to save pictures of wolfy haircuts you like—prioritizing those with similar hair textures to your own. “I think clients still feel a little embarrassed about bringing pictures of haircuts to their hairstylist, but we love it!” says Johansson.
When styling your shiny, textural new wolf cut, having a star product that works well with your natural hair texture is tantamount to keep it looking defined and wolfy.
Wolf cuts really suits clays, according to King. (Consider King’s own brand of finishing cream, My Social Life For Your Hair.) Reach for clays and mousses that encourage texture and separation, and try not washing your hair everyday for that real lived-in feel. If you have waves or curls, distribute a light curl cream through your hair so you can comb all of your layers into that effortlessly undone shape. If you have finer or straighter hair, boost your texture and volume by misting your crown and ends with a salt spray, drying it with a diffuser, and scrunching your hair as you go to amplify those lived-in layers and show off the shape. “Go in with a small tong in random sections to exaggerate the layers,” adds Amelia. “The key is not to over-style it–it should feel cool and a little bit undone.” For styling, Amelia also recommends air drying using the Hershesons Air Dry Spray: “It’s perfect for enhancing natural texture without making the hair feel crunchy,” she says. “It gives that effortless, slightly gritty finish that a wolf cut needs.”
Below, some more inspiration for those considering a short wolf cut—whatever your style, aesthetic, and hair texture.
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