Combining choppy layers with a tapered length.
Published:The wolf cut can be particularly effective on textured hair, with strategic layering helping to enhance natural curl patterns rather than working against them.
Chris Grimley, Textured Hair Specialist and Owner of Fusion Hair Co, shares her approach to creating the look.
A hybrid of the shag and mullet, the wolf cut combines choppy layers with a tapered length and typically features curtain bangs or softer pieces that blend into the overall shape.
According to Grimley, the style works particularly well on textured and Afro hair, where its strategic layering can enhance the natural curl pattern and create volume through the shape.
For curly wolf cuts, moisture is key to achieving definition and controlling frizz. Grimley recommends starting with a curl cream or gel to help define the style before working through the hair section by section with a bounce-back brush.
Designed for wavy, curly and coily hair, the brush’s side grooves or lateral edges help separate the hair into sections and encourage the curls to clump together. Grimley recommends pulling the brush through with gentle tension while rotating the wrist, before shaking or scrunching the hair to allow the natural curl clumps to spring back into place.
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Once the curls have been defined, Grimley recommends diffusing the hair on a medium heat. The technique aims to set the curl pattern while minimising the risk of heat damage and allows the styling products to form a protective cast before frizz develops.
Slow, controlled movement is important. Moving too quickly or shaking the dryer can disrupt the curls, so Grimley advises guiding the curls into position and allowing them to dry without repeatedly touching or moving the hair.
Small claw clips or salon pins can also be placed at the roots while the hair dries to create additional lift.
Shrinkage is an important consideration when creating a wolf cut on curly and Afro hair.
As curls contract significantly as they dry, layers can appear considerably shorter than they were when wet. Grimley notes that type 4 hair can experience up to 75% shrinkage, making it particularly important to account for the finished curl pattern when determining the length of the layers.
This is especially relevant for a wolf cut because the silhouette relies on shorter, voluminous layers around the crown. Cutting or assessing the shape without allowing for shrinkage could result in the crown springing up higher than intended and disrupting the overall silhouette.
To complete the look, Grimley recommends using a light texture spray to define the layers without adding weight to the crown.
The finished approach combines the distinctive, choppy silhouette of the wolf cut with techniques designed to work with natural curl formation, preserve definition and manage shrinkage.
For more info visit fusion-hair.co.uk.
Read Now: The Crown A Journey Through Texture.
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