STYLE : LOOKS : Return of the Shag

As devoted readers of fashion magazines know, the shag--that multi-layered, face-framing blow-and-go cut of the ‘70s--is making a comeback. Here in Southern California, it’s become the cut of choice at trendy hair salons.

Actress-singer Michelle Phillips recently opted for the look once identified with Jane Fonda and Rod Stewart. Other converts include fitness guru-actress Raquel Welch, shown here, and journalists Barbara Walters and Jane Pauley, who all sport variations of the ‘do.

Unlike the old helmet-head shag, the updated version is fluffier. Stylists are snipping to flatter individual faces, creating additional body with perms and styling tools. The thinning razor has been replaced with scissors for a blunt edge that enhances fullness. This new volume is a natural backlash to those limp, close-to-the-head bobs now falling out of favor. New shags surround the face with wispy bangs and layers, forming a fringe around the cheekbones and jaw line.

Gill Brook-Jones, co-owner of Taboo salon in Los Angeles, says the cut is perfect for women who’ve been growing their hair out and need some style to counteract the unkempt look. The shortest version skirts the nape of the neck, while the longest dances around the shoulders.

“Shaggy feels good now. People are into hair you want to touch,” says Mitch Fields, owner of Antenna salon in Burbank. And one of the style’s most appealing characteristics is that it works on almost every face shape and looks good on women of all ages.