What is a butterfly haircut? The butterfly cut is a very layered, feathery haircut thats longest layers fall just below the shoulder. Shorter layers are cut around the crown of your head to create the illusion of having shorter strands.
Coined by hair stylist Sunnie Brook, the butterfly haircut has short layers around the top of the head to give the illusion of shorter hair and create volume. “The butterfly haircut is a very layered feathered haircut,” says Jenna Spino, stylist at Maxine Salon in Chicago.
The butterfly hairstyle is also good for those with coarse but flat and lifeless hair, as the layers will give the shape and movement that your locks need. However, this haircut isn't for everyone. It's not recommended for fine hair because the cut will only make the locks look thinner.
The butterfly haircut is the breakout hair trend of 2023 for exactly this reason. Its popularity rose because it gives those with long hair a new look without sacrificing length. The look is low-maintenance and the textured layers added create movement and an on-trend 70s vibe.
The main difference are that the wolf cut uses short layering to frame the face, where as the butterfly uses short layers at the back to create volume. Another defining difference is that butterfly tends to use feathered ends, whereas the wolf cut is more choppy.
The term 'butterfly haircut' was coined by hairstylist Sunnie Brook, but it's also been referred to as the 'octopus cut'. A comfortable fusion between an 80's blowout and the 90's 'The Rachel', the style has become something of a TikTok phenomenon as of late.
Coined by hair stylist Sunnie Brook, the butterfly haircut is defined by layering at the crown for a dramatic face frame and big volume. Unlike other layered cuts, where dimensions are blended for all around texture, the butterfly cut relies on high contrast between a chin length layer and longer locks.
The butterfly haircut works best with thick hair as it will need lots of volume to maintain plump and body in your mane even after such an elaborate layering work.
The butterfly haircut works with all hair types, though natural, curly and wavy textures tend to work best due to the defined, layered nature of the style. However, when it comes to thin hair, you might want to steer away from this cut. Adding lots of layers to already thin hair can make it appear even thinner.
The butterfly cut features shorter face-framing layers that cascade like wings with longer layers through the length of your hair. Since the goal is to remove weight, not length, ask your stylist for face-framing layers with wispy ends that begin at the chin and longer layers throughout the rest of your hair.
The butterfly cut can be adapted to virtually any hair texture. "This cut works on almost all hair types that are medium to thick density, wavy curly or straight," Brook says.
The gypsy shag haircut, which first gained popularity in the 70s, is characterized by its evenly progressing layers, resulting in an overall "shaggy" look.
The jellyfish haircut sports disconnected layers that resemble a short bob with longer layers underneath. If the name is any giveaway, it truly resembles the round body and longer, billowy tentacles of a jellyfish.
This haircut was inspired by one of our classic shape firefly. The beauty of firefly shape is to accentuate the perfect head shape throughout the crown and tapered into the nape and elongated the beautiful neck and with a feminine head shape.
Butterfly bangs are soft, swept to each side, and slightly resemble the shape of a butterfly's wing. They are often accompanied by the butterfly hair cut, comprised of curved 90s layers that enhance body and bounce.
Whether you look back fondly on early-aughts fashion or not, a top designed in the butterfly's literal form captures the creature's playful charm. Plus, Klarna's Gokey says it's an especially popular style as of late, sharing that searches for butterfly tops increased by 254% since the start of 2022.
With climate change, you may not see as many in your backyard as you used to, but luckily, you can enjoy them via fashion this spring. Butterfly prints, clothing, and accessories have fluttered back into style. They're a playful and colorful way to add some whimsy to your wardrobe.
Similar to a mullet, the style features more body and volume at the crown of the head (the head of the octopus) and then longer, thinner, shag-like layers from the mid-shaft to ends (the tentacles). Though the octopus haircut is inspired by both the mullet and shag, it is neither.
While the haircut is suitable for just about anyone, we would say that the butterfly haircut would look best on those with wavy or curly hair. Thanks to its face-framing layers, we would also recommend that this hairstyle is suitable for those with round face shapes.
Oval Face: An oval face shape is well-suited to the butterfly haircut, as most styles are flattering. Experiment with different layer lengths and partings to find the look that best complements your features.
Originally coined by celebrity hairstylist Sunnie Brook, the butterfly haircut went viral on TikTok last year as a more approachable alternative to short haircuts. It's a versatile, modern take on several different throwback hair trends.
Having already been hashtagged over 20 million times on TikTok, the butterfly cut really is the viral hairstyle of the season. It is frequently touted as a modern version of the iconic "The Rachel" cut, and forgot reason. It's a haircut that showcases the impact of layers.
Users part their hair horizontally in a straight line from behind one ear to behind the other, and the bottom section of hair is gathered in a high pony at the top of the head, while the top section is tied into a ponytail in the center of the forehead.