Getting a haircut can be exciting or nerve-wracking (or perhaps even a little of both?). What’s more, the thought of chopping off your tresses before anxiously waiting for them to grow back in — which can take years! — can feel overwhelming for some folks (yours truly, included!)
However, one haircut I’m genuinely excited about — as is the rest of the Internet —is the butterfly haircut. The latest and greatest hair trend has taken TikTok and Instagram by storm, and it’s easy to see why. This style practically screams effortlessly cool, and, best of all, it’s easy to achieve.
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Keep scrolling for more insight on this Insta-famous haircut: We tapped some of our favorite hairstylists, who are spilling the tea on everything you need to know.
Tiktokers Are Putting This Two Step Diy Butterfly Cut Technique To The Test And The Results Are Surprising
While the butterfly cut continues to take over your social media feed, it’s actually not new. In fact, Los Angeles-based hairstylist Genevieve Garner tells
Additionally, according to Devin Toth, a stylist at Salon SCK in New York City, “A butterfly haircut is a long layered haircut that has some shorter, angled layers in the front.” He continues, telling
, “The layers seamlessly flow from shorter in the front to longer in the back.” Put simply, this ‘90s-inspired cut is designed to “give the hair as much volume and movement as possible, ” thanks to an abundance of layers, explains Nunzio Saviano, stylist & owner of Nunzio Saviano Salon in New York City.
Beauty Beat: Tiktok's Butterfly Haircut Trend
Since the look features lots of layers, the butterfly cut works best on longer, thicker hair, explains Saviano. Think of it this way: “The longer the hair, the more of an effect you can create because there’s more room to spread out and distribute a shorter-to-longer angle with your layers, ” says Toth. However, that’s not to say you can’t rock the butterfly cut with thinner strands. “The great thing about the butterfly cut is that almost everyone can have their own version of it, ” adds Garner.
So, if your hair is on the thinner side, don’t fret. Per Toth, “As long as the angle is cut properly in the front, the hair should easily flow away from the face.” Plus, says Garner, you can always “amp up the volume with your favorite texture spray!”
Ready to take the plunge and try the butterfly haircut for yourself? Simply ask your stylist for a basic long layered haircut angled around the face. More specifically, Saviano recommends keeping the starting length around the face “an inch or so below the chin and add[ing] layers all over, around the crown and sides.” Meanwhile, if you want to play up the volume even more, Garner suggests asking for shorter layers.
Would You Try The Butterfly Cut At Home?
To keep your haircut looking just as incredible as it did when you first stepped out of the salon, reach for your handy blow-dry brush, which, per Garner, will “be your bestie.” Afterward, go in with some texturizing spray, et voila.
No blow-dry brush? No problem. Saviano recommends using a round brush followed by Velcro rollers to add body, volume, and movement — “especially around the face.” Meanwhile, Toth suggests using a large curling iron to style the hair “up and away” instead of “down and towards” the face.
Lauren Dana Ellman is a freelance writer and editor based in New York. If she’s not writing about the latest hair and makeup trends, she’s either trying them out or attempting to organize her expanding makeup collection. You could never have too many cream blushes, right?!When you visit the site, Dotdash Meredith and its partners may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. Cookies collect information about your preferences and your devices and are used to make the site work as you expect it to, to understand how you interact with the site, and to show advertisements that are targeted to your interests. You can find out more about our use, change your default settings, and withdraw your consent at any time with effect for the future by visiting Cookies Settings, which can also be found in the footer of the site.
Trending: Butterfly Haircut For Redheads
Amanda Ross is a news freelance writer for . Her work has appeared in Nylon, Bustle, Avenue, BuzzFeed, Tab Media, Austin Monthly, The Current, and more.
Though it's filled with seriously useful gems, TikTok beauty trends are usually a toss-up on IRL wearability, especially if your day-to-day vibe is decidedly casual. Every now and then, though, a viral trend takes over in large part thanks to its genuine versatility, and those often become trends that define the
, not just the moment. Think curtain bangs, graphic eyeliner, and all-over slugging. 2022 is only half-over at this point, but it looks like the TikTok viral butterfly haircut is here to dominate the rest of it. Somewhere between a '70s-style approved shag and the intricate long layered looks of the late '90s, the butterfly cut is winning FYPs over with its flattering angles, bouncy volume, and massive crossover appeal. Put it this way: if Rachel Green were born in 1999, she'd probably have a butterfly cut at this very moment.
I Wanted To Be Trendy So I Tried The Viral Butterfly Cut... It Was A Disaster, I Had To Rush To The Hairdresser Later
For a complete look at the butterfly trend, turned to two top stylists to explain the ins and outs of the viral trend. Below, everything you need to know about TikTok's butterfly haircut.
Sometimes referred to as the octopus cut or a thousand-layer haircut interchangeably, the butterfly cut (coined by hairstylist Sunnie Brook) features contrasting sections of short, face-framing layers on top with longer bits beneath. By concentrating the choppier layers around the face, the butterfly cut allows for both length
Serious volume and movement. With butterfly cut TikToks already pulling millions of likes on the app alone, it's poised to become one of the summer's biggest haircuts. Matt Swinney, Global Creative Director for RUSK, thinks the cut owes its popularity to a combination of playfulness, how well it gels with the layer trend as a whole, and the resurgence of defined haircuts in general. Thefocushas beenoncolor for so long but now, he says, having a beautiful haircut makes a statement like no other.”
Butterfly Haircut: So Feiert Diese Star Frisur Jetzt Ihr Comeback Auf Tiktok
Because the butterfly cut pulls from so many decade-defining looks of the past (Farrah Fawcett's floppy shag and Pamela Anderson's piled-high layered updos come to mind), it's one that already looks and feels so familiar. Both Swinney and celebrity stylist Clariss Anya Rubenstein note that the butterfly cut feels like a modern take on The Rachel in particular. I think we are having a resurgence of '90s trends andthis was amajor one, Rubenstein explains.
Part of why the butterfly cut has gone so viral is just how flattering it is on so many bone structures and hair types. While there's a version of the butterfly cut (just adjust layer placement) to suit every face shape, Swinney says some may like how it looks more than others. “This haircut will be most flattering on oval and square-shaped faces because of how the layers frame and sculpt the face, he explains, adding that it also works well on hair types 2-4.
If you're trim-averse, this could be the perfect haircut for you. The thing that’s great about these layers is that they require little maintenance and can go up to 12 weeks without a trim, Swinney tells . This look grows out beautifully and is great for all hair lengths, ” Rubenstein adds that the butterfly haircut is one that grows out very well too (not unlike the curtain bangs it's often paired with), making it a low-risk choice for those looking to experiment with layers.
Flutter Into Summer With 'butterfly Hair,' The Season's Hottest Style
So you've decided to go for the butterfly cut—all that's left is actually getting one. If possible, definitely try to prepare for your salon appointment by gathering photos of exactly what you're looking for. Rubenstein says a visual reference is key, as well as discussing the desired look with your stylist. They can assess if the cut will work for your hair type, she says. I would tell your stylist you want to keep the length, add shorter face-framing layers around the front that graduate to longer layers in the back.
TikTok and Instagram might be full of butterfly cuts styled into glossy, curled blowouts, but the layers lend themselves well to a wide range of styles. Starting with a foundational blowout, though, even before an updo, is the best way to maximize those ultra-voluminous layers. Swinney says classic blowouts and mid-height ponytails are particularly complementary to the cut thanks to how alive and vibrant they make the layers look. Just like with makeup, laying the right groundwork is the trick to easy styling and all-day hold. Priming your hair with theRUSK Volumizing Mousse($19) andRUSK Puremix Blooming Sunflower Volumizing Mist($18) is the best way to prep for any hairstyle, Swinney advises.
To go all-in on the '90s glamour of the butterfly cut, Rubenstein loves the look of everyone's favorite retro accessory. This cut is also super cute pulled halfback with a claw clip, she says. It shows offthe length and the layers and lets a little fall out around the face. For bouncy blowouts that stick around
