Brad Pitt. Jim Morrison. Adam Driver. All swaggering men of storied talent and good looks. All possessed of the same Samson-like locks—shoulder-skimming, windswept, and almost universally flattering, even if you don't have a Star Wars villain's physique or a matinee idol's jawline. Call it the shag: a longer, looser cut that's popping up everywhere as part of the laid-back backlash to surgically precise barbershop fades.

Kit Harington, master of the flow. Norman Jean Roy

Chances are you aren't already working with a Jesus-length mane, so if you want to try it, you'll need to spend the summer growing your hair out. (Lucky for you, scruffier looks get a free pass when temperatures rise.) Amy Komorowski, celebrity stylist to Adam Driver and spokes-stylist for Axe hair products, recommends occasional touch-ups in the interim.

"You want to take out bulk in the sides so it doesn't get too poufy," she says. And you'll probably need to cheat on your barber, too. "I'd go to a stylist for this one," Komorowski says. "Barbers can get a little buzzer-happy—they love to cut o hair."

When the promised day arrives and your hair starts hitting your shoulders, head back to the salon for a full cut. Tell them you want layers—stylist-speak for "different lengths in different areas"—and bring in a picture for reference (permission to print out this page: granted). There's not much more to it. Yes, some products might take you to the next level, but that's the beauty of the shag: Once you've got the cut, all you really have to do is let it hang.

To properly tame your flow, invest in the proper tools. First a firm hold gel, like this Malin + Goetz one ($22, malinandgoetz.com). It won't flake or crunch like the stuff you used in high school, and it'll smooth down stubborn hair as you grow it out. When you've got the length, invest in a salt spray—Bumble and Bumble's is the one to beat ($27, bumbleandbumble.com). Spritz and work through damp hair. By the time it's dry, you'll have a slightly dirty, messed-up texture that'll make you look like you just walked off the beach.

Jon Roth Jon Roth is a writer and editor based in Brooklyn.

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