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.
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.
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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.
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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.
How To: Butterfly Haircut
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?!The popularity around the Farrah Fawcett cut, ‘90s supermodel blowout, and the jellyfish cut, prove that voluminous hair will never go out of style. If layers are your go-to method of adding movement and body to your look, you should consider the butterfly cut, one of 2023’s biggest haircut trends.
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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. “It has short layers on top, through the crown, that are blended through to longer layers on the bottom.”
The continued momentum for the butterfly cut on TikTok (#butterflycut has been hashtagged more than 17 million times) might make you think it’s a new cut, but Derrick Keith, celebrity hairstylist and Hairstory stylist says face-framing layers started in the ‘90s and grew in popularity with the Rachel cut from
. The layered cut has a shaggy texture and gets its name from the face-framing layers around the chin that mimic the insects' delate wings when they flutter. The longer layers that fall below the shoulders create the appearance of a long hairstyle.
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Ahead, TZR reached out to a couple hairstylists for the inspiration behind the butterfly cut, what texture works best for it, and tips on how to style it.
Trending upwards since summer 2022, the butterfly cut has cascading layers to give strands movement. “It’s a fun cut to be able to fake shorter hairstyles, without cutting off all your length, ” Spino says of the layer placement.
Another benefit of the cut is it doesn’t grow out awkwardly. “You’re not going to necessarily know when it starts to grow too long, because the layers are very graceful, so it’s not going to be obvious when your hair is too long, ” says Stephen Knoll, celebrity hairstylist and founder of Stephen Knoll New York. Even though it grows out well, Knoll recommends going in for a shaping every five to six weeks to prevent split ends.
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According to Rodger Azadganian, the founder of äz Craft Luxury Haircare, face-framing layers add softness to the face shape and bone structure allowing you to accentuate the cheek bones and eyes. “It’s a very versatile style, as it can be worn up or down because the length at the bottom is conserved and really works for any face shape and texture, adjusting the face framing for each individual client.”
Medium to thick density, wavy, curly, or straight, the butterfly cut works well for anyone. Keith recommends the cut especially for curls and thicker hair as it's great at removing bulk to give curls shape and movement. However, if you have short hair (like a bob), it might not be the best style because the experts agree it’s best for shoulder-length hair to fully see the layering technique. Knoll also advises against the cut for thin hair. Due to the layers, it will make hair look even thinner and more sparse.
Aside from going to the salon for reshaping, upkeep is rather minimal for the butterfly haircut. Knoll recommends working in Stephen Knoll Ultra Shine Treatment Oil daily or whenever your hair needs an extra shine boost. Volumizing sprays or creams are another great product to have on hand. Azadganian suggests applying äz Craft Luxury Haircare Elevate Luxe Mousse on damp hair using a medium-to-large round brush to roll away hair in a twisting motion so the ends of the layers sweep outward. And for frizz, curls, or dry hair, remember to work in a smoothing serum to calm strands without sacrificing body or volume.
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As the cut adds movement by enhancing natural texture and adding in layers, it is extremely versatile and can be worn down, pinned up, or in a ponytail. There are also a few ways you can achieve these styles: an air dry, a classic blow dry, or velcro rollers.
“To style you can simply air dry and finish with a texture spray, lifting the hair up and spraying to show off the layers, ” Spino tells TZR. Another option to style the cut is with a blow dryer like Trademark Beauty Easy Blo with a round brush and IGK’s Big Time Volume and Thickening Mousse to create more fuller results. After cleansing your hair, prime strands with a heat protectant to smooth hair and avoid heat damage.
For extra volume, spritz in a root-lifting product or texturizing spray and take a round brush and blow dry hair upwards away from the face to give it height. You can curl the ends of your hair outwards with a round brush to further encourage the layers and bounce. For curls, Keith recommends using a diffuser to ensure curl definition and enhanced movement. “A wash and go will encourage the natural texture of the hair to its very best, ” says Keith who recommends texture sprays like Hairstory Undressed.
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If a blow dryer and round brush does not work for you, you can also utilize hot rollers to your ends and layers. For at least 15 minutes, keep rollers in hair and add heat to let it set. After 30 minutes or more, take rollers out and flip hair upside down a few times to motivate movement and volume. And if you need a deeper curl, go over ends with a one-inch or one-and-a-half inch curling iron. Finish off with hairspray and an anti-frizz gel to keep flyaways at bay.
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