Everything worth knowing before asking your stylist for the Off Campus haircut.
Television has always had a way of turning fictional hair into real salon requests. We saw it with The Rachel years ago, and more recently with Topanga’s layers and Carolyn Bessette Kennedy-inspired blonde shades. Now another screen look has people reaching for inspiration photos. Allie Hayes’ shag in Off Campus has quickly become one of the season’s most talked-about haircuts. Here’s what makes it special and who should give it a try.
@marisacut
For the past few years, polished hair has poured through social media nonstop. Slick buns, laminated edges, glossy blowouts, and strong-hold gels have been everywhere. The Off Campus haircut makes a 180‑degree turn and goes the opposite way. It has volume, movement, fluffy bangs, and texture that doesn’t look overly polished. This change alone has made it stand out.
The haircut also celebrates natural texture instead of asking you to smooth it away. The layers encourage waves and curls to spring up, giving the hair shape and bounce. If you’ve spent years trying to tame your texture, this trend almost feels like permission to enjoy it again. “Truly have never asked for my natural hair texture to be styled before 🤭 thank you Allie Hayes and the Off Campus hair and makeup team for giving me the confidence to wear my natural wavy hair more often!!” says @citygirlcr8ive.
Another reason people can’t stop talking about it is the balance between softness and structure. The tousled finish looks romantic, but the silhouette is full and defined thanks to dense bangs, shorter layers around the crown, and a strong perimeter.
The Off Campus haircut takes the classic shag and turns the volume up. Heavy layers are concentrated around the top of the head to create lift, then blend into longer lengths that still look full. Dense bangs frame the eyes, and the front corners are cut short enough to hug the cheeks. Unlike a wolf cut, the length doesn’t disappear into wispy ends. The outline is strong, which gives the haircut its signature shape.
@blooming_hair_co
This style shines on medium-to-thick hair with natural waves, curls, or coils because these textures bring the layers to life. Straight hair can absolutely wear it too, though you’ll need a little styling to recreate the same airy finish.
One bonus that often gets overlooked is how good it looks once it’s tied back. Ponytails, messy buns, and half-up styles still show off the fringe and face-framing layers.
@mika.abdalla
The dramatic layering can be a little too much for very fine hair. Since the cut removes a fair amount of weight, low-density hair may lose fullness through the ends and appear stringy.
Straight hair usually needs extra help with mousse, texture spray, or a curling tool to bring out the signature shape.
If you’re thinking about the bangs, remember that Allie’s fringe is styled before every scene. Expect to spend a few minutes with a blow dryer or round brush each morning.
Love the overall look but not the fringe? Plenty of stylists are already creating versions with longer face-framing layers instead.
If your hair has natural texture, start with a leave-in conditioner and a curl cream or mousse. Scrunch the product through damp hair, diffuse until it’s almost dry, then let the rest air dry. Finish with a texture spray if you want even more volume around the crown.
@sophiesocoh
Straight hair benefits from volumizing mousse before blow drying. Add loose bends in alternating directions with a curling iron, then separate them with your fingers and finish with a light texture spray. Your goal isn’t perfect curls. A little softness and movement bring the haircut to life.
@hairbyv.l3igh
Curious how the Off Campus haircut would look on you? Upload your photo to our virtual hairstyle try-on and see the transformation before booking your salon appointment.
