What is the ‘wolfie’ haircut and could you pull it off?

I’ve had the same shoulder-length hairstyle for longer than I can remember, so I didn’t even know I was craving a change until I came across the “wolf cut” splashed all over Jayne Matthews’ Instagram. Matthews takes willing victims in one hand and a razor in the other and transforms manes into masterpieces. It is pure addiction to watch, and I’m in!

My stylist Philip Barwick and colourist Damien Rayner are warned about the imminent change, and I tell them actor Jenna Ortega is my inspiration. Barwick takes to my hair with a razor while still maintaining its length. “Using a razor will give a softer, shaggier texture due to the hair being cut with a series of strokes instead of a blunter finish with scissors,” he says. “We get a real buy-in here to the fur texture that inspires this look.”

He goes on to explain how the style got its name: “The shaggy texture combined with rebellious shorter layers and a fringe dropping into gruff lengths resembles a wolf’s mane.”

So it’s a cut that combines the choppy layers of a shag with the length and texture of a mullet. According to Barwick, another winning feature of this style is that it works well with most hair textures. My own hair is fine, but there is a lot of it and it has “natural movement” (i.e. it’s slightly wavy).

Tips for styling include not overdoing it to maintain its undone rock-star appeal. Barwick suggests “blow-drying with more texturising product than you think you need and using your fingers instead of a brush to push the lived-in feel. If your hair has natural movement, consider letting it air-dry at the end so you don’t blast out your wave or curl. If you want a more polished finish, tong it.”

Must-haves for creating the “wolfie” are a heat-protection spray (try GHD Bodyguard Heat Protect Spray, $45), a texturising spray such as O&M Surf Bomb ($38), and a finishing spray like O&M Desert Dry Texture Spray ($42) to create definition and show off the cut’s furry features. To create extra body and volume, try using a Vidal Sassoon Unbound Cordless Autocurler ($180).

On the colour front, Rayner can’t wait to get his hands on my newly chopped hair. He says, “You need to approach colouring this cut differently from traditional methods. It needs asymmetric colouring techniques and clever placement to work best.” As Metallica so aptly sang, “Seek the wolf in thyself.” I am there!