The Butterfly Haircut Is Trending—Here’s Why Everyone Loves It (2024)

We've heard of hairstyles named after sea creatures (jellyfish haircut) and home furnishings (curtain bangs)—now we're moving on to winged creatures. Coined the “butterfly haircut,” it's all the rage in salons these days—and it's surprisingly wearable. The versatile, voluminous look was coined by celeb hairstylist Sunnie Brook. It’s gained popularity because it allows clients to grow their shorter strands out into longer layers, while also having the option to tuck parts underneath and wear it “short.”

The ‘90s-inspired look has been compared to the iconic “Rachel” cut from Friends, as well as Pamela Anderson's hair during her Baywatch days. The chop has been blowing up since summer, and #butterflycut has already been hash-tagged at least 17 million times on TikTok.

Need further proof of its popularity? Sabrina Carpenter and Kaia Gerber wear the look effortlessly, and Swedish social media influencer Matilda Djerf epitomizes how to style it to its max potential. Keep reading for everything you need to know about the butterfly haircut, straight from celebrity hairstylist Glenn Ellis.

What is the butterfly haircut?

If the edgy jellyfish haircut isn’t for you, rest assured, the latest animal/insect-inspired style may be more to your liking. The look is meant to emulate the shape of a butterfly’s fluttering wing. But in technical terms, “It’s a haircut with a lot of layers, first and foremost,” says Ellis, who regularly styles Aubrey Plaza and Josephine Skriver. “The shortest layer will be no shorter than the face frame. Think of it as an outward version of the Rachel haircut. The hair is pulled away instead of towards.”

But the voluminous ‘do isn’t one-size-fits-all. There can be variations depending on where you want the face frame to start. Regardless of what version you opt for, Ellis suggests considering your schedule before getting the cut. “It takes a lot of time to perfect each morning if you want to wear it the way it’s truly designed to look,” he says.

What hair types are best for the butterfly haircut?

When it comes to our luscious locks, celebrities are often our biggest source of inspo. But before making a mad dash to snag someone else's styled strands, it’s important to note that, like most cuts, the butterfly haircut is definitely better suited on some more than others.

“It’s good for medium texture with a slight coarseness, and hair that lays flat but isn’t so naturally wavy,” Ellis explains. “The longer the hair, the better, in order to pull this off best. And I definitely don’t recommend it on thin hair because when you layer, it will only look thinner.”

What should you ask your stylist for when you head to the salon?

It’s important to once again remember there are different variations of this look. You’ll want to start by finding an image of someone with the butterfly haircut online with your similar face shape and hair length, and then asking your stylist how to achieve that look in a way that will best complement your own face. “I personally don’t find this cut to be flattering on oblong or rectangular face shapes,” Ellis says. “So if you have an issue there, explain it to your stylist and ask them for a similar cut that would be better suited for your face.”

How do you style a butterfly haircut?

To reiterate what Ellis mentioned above, “It’s a haircut that requires a lot of maintenance and blow-drying,” he says. “Use a large round brush, and brush away from the face with a blow dryer.” To expertly style this cut, Ellis recommends GHD Helios™ 1875W Advanced Professional Hair Dryer. Before styling, he suggests applying R+Co Magnifier Thickening Spray, regardless of your hair type. Then add Oribe Supershine Moisturizing Cream, and start styling.