We’ve had the wolf cut, we’ve had the mullet, and now the latest trend in shaggy bedhead hair is taking over Pinterest – the octopus cut. Pinterest predicted that the octopus cut would become one of the biggest hairstyle trends of the year amongst Gen Z-ers following the success of the wolf cut last year.
The latest celebrity to undergo a major hair transformation is Emily Atack, who took the plunge and her trademark long blonde locks into a much shorter and edgier chop.
Emily debuted her latest look on Instagram on Monday to her 1.9 million followers as she teased the start of a new adventure, and fans were quick to pick up on her new hairstyle. Her long wavy hair had been chopped short into a messy layered bob that framed her face, with plenty of volume on top.
If you’re wondering what makes the octopus cut different from the better-known wolf cut or mullet, you’re not alone. But the answer is simple; it’s all about volume and texture. Both the mullet and the wolf cut have a much rougher, choppier texture, whilst the octopus cut goes for a sleeker, softer finish.
The mullet also typically relies heavily on some very short top layers, and the wolf cut has layers throughout, whilst the octopus cut focuses mainly on longer, voluminous layers on the crown of the head, before thinning out into much lighter ends. The octopus cut, on the other hand, manages to combine the retro, cool-girl style of both hairstyles, but is less severe than a traditional mullet look.
Although the cut is inspired by the retro shag style, Emily proves it can be just as versatile to style, too. In one photo she rocks her new hair with a 70s-inspired white satin shirt and trousers, before teaming her new hair with a black baseball cap, oversized sunglasses and a statement bag just a few photos later.
Emily may have chosen to go for a dramatic chop, but the style can work on longer lengths too. It’s typically easiest to style on those with wavy or straight hair, but you can curl it, straighten it, or let your natural curls give it even more volume, making it a pretty universal cut. If you’re thinking about going for the chop, make sure you ask for plenty of layers throughout to give it the same movement as its namesake.
If you’re not quite sure about the dramatic difference in volume from top to bottom, you can also ask your stylist to lengthen the layers slightly, which gives it a more seamless, blended transition from top to bottom. Air drying is also the best way to give this cut the texture and movement that gives it the octopus name, making it the perfect no muss, no fuss hairstyle for those of us who want a low maintenance ‘do.
We’ll take one octopus cut please!
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