The butterfly haircut is the cut that lets you keep your length and still get all the movement. Short, airy layers around the face flick out like wings, while the long hair underneath stays put. This butterfly layered haircut works because the top layers start at the cheekbones and the bottom stays long, so the hair moves as you turn your head.
Below you will find fifteen butterfly haircuts for women, each one photographed on a real woman, from a butterfly haircut long hair version with soft waves to a butterfly haircut with face framing layers starting at the chin. If you have been growing your hair out and you are bored of one flat length, this is the cut to ask for at your next appointment.
Quick Picks
Best for keeping length: Classic Long Butterfly Cut — wings start at the cheekbones.
Easiest to grow out: Butterfly Cut with a Center Part — the part does the styling.
Most volume: Butterfly Cut for Fine Hair — short top layers lift the crown.
Best for curly hair: Curly Butterfly Cut — layers let each curl spring up.
Boldest texture: Textured Butterfly Shag — choppy ends and a lived-in finish.
How to Choose the Right Butterfly Haircut
Before you book, match the cut to your hair and your mornings. A butterfly haircut for straight hair needs a round-brush blowout to show the wings, while a butterfly haircut medium length air dries into shape on its own. The five points below will help you pick the right cut.
Hair type: straight hair shows the layers best with a blowout, wavy hair gets the shape for free, and curly hair needs dry cutting.
Length: keep it long for the full wing effect, go medium length for a lighter feel, or try the short butterfly bob for a fresh change.
Face shape: cheekbone-start layers lift round faces, chin-start layers soften square jaws, and a center part suits oval faces.
Styling time: a blown-out butterfly cut takes fifteen minutes with a round brush, while a wavy or curly version needs five minutes and some cream.
Grow-out: the layers grow out softly because the length never changes, so stretch appointments to ten or twelve weeks.
1. Classic Long Butterfly Cut with Face-Framing Layers
This is the classic butterfly cut, and the photo shows why. The long black hair falls past the shoulders in loose waves, with the shortest layers starting at the cheekbones and flicking outward. The face-framing pieces open away from the face like wings, while the length underneath stays full.
Ask your stylist for butterfly layers, shortest pieces at the chin, soft feathered layers through the length, keeping as much length at the back. Blow dry the front pieces away from your face with a large round brush, and finish with shine spray.
Best for: Keeping long hair moving
Face shapes: Oval, round, heart
Tools & products: Round brush, shine spray
Skill level: Beginner
Time: 15 minutes
Tip: Dry the front layers first, rolling them away from your face, or they fall flat.
Image credit: via Pinterest
2. Butterfly Cut with Curtain Bangs
Curtain bangs make the butterfly cut softer — the fringe already opens away from the center. In this photo the brown hair is parted in the middle, with the bangs sweeping to each side and blending into the face-framing layers. The layers curl gently under, so the whole cut reads as one soft shape.
Ask for a butterfly haircut with curtain bangs that start at the cheekbones and connect to the front layers. Blow dry the bangs with a round brush, rolling them back and away from your face, and let the rest air dry with cream.
Best for: Softening a strong forehead
Face shapes: Oval, square, heart
Tools & products: Round brush, smoothing cream
Skill level: Beginner
Time: 10 minutes
Tip: Keep the curtain bangs slightly long — they spring up as they dry.
Make it your own: wear the bangs tucked behind your ears on busy days.
Image credit: via Pinterest
3. Butterfly Cut with Wispy Bangs
If curtain bangs feel like too much commitment, wispy bangs are gentler. This light brown cut has a soft, see-through fringe across the forehead that melts into the butterfly layers. The feathered ends keep the whole shape light, and the bangs grow out cleanly.
Ask your stylist for a butterfly haircut with bangs cut wispy and piecey, never blunt, the fringe blending into the face frame. Dry the bangs forward with your fingers, then push them aside once they are almost dry.
Best for: First-time bangs
Face shapes: Oval, long, heart
Tools & products: Blow dryer, fingers
Skill level: Beginner
Time: 5 minutes
Tip: Wash the bangs alone on day two if they go flat — the rest will still hold.
Image credit: via Pinterest
4. Medium-Length Butterfly Cut
The butterfly cut does not have to be long. This medium-length version keeps the hair at the shoulders, with the same short face-framing layers flicking out at the ends. Seen from the side, the layers stack into a soft wing shape, and the cut feels lighter than a long butterfly cut without losing its character.
Ask for a butterfly haircut medium length with the shortest layers at the cheekbones and the perimeter at the collarbone. Style it with a round brush, turning the ends out, or let it air dry with texturising spray.
Best for: A lighter feel, not short
Face shapes: All, especially round and square
Tools & products: Round brush, texturising spray
Skill level: Beginner
Time: 10 minutes
Tip: The medium length shows the layers best when the ends are turned out.
Make it your own: add a deep side part for a dressier version of the same cut.
Image credit: via Pinterest
5. Sleek Butterfly Blowout for Straight Hair
Straight hair shows the butterfly shape best, because every layer is visible. In this photo the long dark brown hair is blown smooth and glossy, with the layers curving softly under and the front pieces sweeping away from the face. The result is polished and bouncy.
A butterfly haircut for straight hair needs a proper blowout to show the wings, so ask for long layers, shortest pieces at the chin. Dry section by section with a large round brush, rolling the ends under, and finish with a flat iron pass on the very ends.
Best for: Straight hair, polished looks
Face shapes: Oval, heart, long
Tools & products: Round brush, flat iron
Skill level: Intermediate
Time: 20 minutes
Tip: Use a heat protectant before the blowout — straight layers show damage first.
Image credit: via Pinterest
6. Wavy Butterfly Cut with Soft Movement
Wavy hair and butterfly layers were made for each other. This long auburn cut has loose, natural waves running through the layers, so the wings form on their own. The layers stop the waves from clumping into one heavy curtain, and the colour catches the light differently in every layer.
Ask for a butterfly haircut wavy hair version with layers cut to follow your natural wave pattern. Scrunch curl cream through damp hair and let it air dry, or diffuse on low heat for more volume. Do not brush it out dry.
Best for: Wavy hair, wash-and-go days
Face shapes: All, especially oval and heart
Tools & products: Curl cream, diffuser
Skill level: Beginner
Time: 5 minutes
Tip: Scrunch the waves upward while they are damp, or the layers drop flat.
Make it your own: add a few face-framing highlights to make the waves pop.
Image credit: via Pinterest
7. Curly Butterfly Cut with Layered Curls
The butterfly cut works on curls too, if the layers are cut dry. In this photo the dark curls are layered so each one has room to spring up, with shorter pieces around the face that frame it. The shape is full and round, with the curls falling in defined spirals.
Ask your stylist to cut the curls dry, shortest face-framing pieces at the cheekbones. At home, scrunch curl cream through soaking wet hair and diffuse on low heat, or let it air dry untouched. Never brush the curls out dry.
Best for: Thick curly hair
Face shapes: All, especially oval and heart
Tools & products: Curl cream, diffuser
Skill level: Beginner
Time: 10 minutes
Tip: Never brush a curly butterfly cut dry — use your fingers once it is dry.
Image credit: via Pinterest
8. Butterfly Cut for Thick Hair
Thick hair can make this cut look heavy, but the right layers fix it. Seen from the back, this ash brown cut has long layers stacked through the length that take out weight without losing fullness. The hair still looks thick, but it moves in separate pieces instead of one solid curtain.
A butterfly haircut for thick hair needs layers cut through the back as well as the front — bring this photo to your appointment. At home, blow dry with a round brush, lifting at the roots, and use a light texturising spray instead of heavy creams.
Best for: Very thick hair
Face shapes: Oval, heart, round
Tools & products: Round brush, texturising spray
Skill level: Beginner
Time: 15 minutes
Tip: Dry the underneath layers first, or the top goes frizzy while the bottom stays damp.
Make it your own: ask for the layers to start higher if your hair feels too heavy at the crown.
Image credit: via Pinterest
9. Butterfly Cut for Fine Hair
Fine hair is where the butterfly cut earns its keep. In this photo the blonde hair is lifted at the crown to show how the short top layers create volume fine hair never has on its own. The layers stay long enough that the ends still look full, and the flipped-out finish makes the hair look thicker.
A butterfly haircut for thin hair needs longer upper layers and a fuller perimeter, so the ends stay full. Ask for the shortest layer at the chin, not the cheekbones, and style with volumising mousse at the roots.
Best for: Fine hair, adding volume
Face shapes: Oval, round, long
Tools & products: Volumising mousse, round brush
Skill level: Beginner
Time: 10 minutes
Tip: Flip the ends out with the brush — flipped ends make fine hair look fuller.
Image credit: via Pinterest
10. Butterfly Cut with Blonde Highlights
Blonde highlights make every butterfly layer visible. In this side view the long blonde hair moves from a darker root into bright balayage ends, and each layer catches the light differently. The cut keeps its full length while the colour shows the shape.
Ask for a butterfly haircut long hair shape with balayage woven through the layers, brightest at the face. The highlights need a toner refresh every eight weeks, and purple shampoo once a week keeps the blonde from turning brassy.
Best for: Blonde hair, showing layers
Face shapes: All, especially oval and heart
Tools & products: Purple shampoo, heat protectant
Skill level: Beginner
Time: 15 minutes
Tip: Put the brightest highlights on the face-framing pieces — that is where the eye goes.
Make it your own: keep the roots darker for a lower-maintenance grow-out.
Image credit: via Pinterest
11. Brunette Butterfly Cut with Caramel Balayage
Caramel balayage is the warmest way to wear this cut. This long brunette cut has caramel ribbons running through the layers, so the face-framing pieces glow while the underneath stays deep brown. The layers flick out softly at the ends, and the colour shows the movement.
Ask for a butterfly layered haircut with caramel balayage painted through the mid-lengths and ends, keeping the root dark. Style it with a round brush, turning the ends out, and use a colour-safe shampoo so the caramel does not fade.
Best for: Brunette hair, warm dimension
Face shapes: Oval, square, heart
Tools & products: Round brush, colour-safe shampoo
Skill level: Beginner
Time: 15 minutes
Tip: Caramel fades fastest on the face frame, so book a gloss refresh between colour visits.
Image credit: via Pinterest
12. Textured Butterfly Shag
The butterfly shag is the butterfly cut with attitude. Seen from the back, this blonde balayage cut has choppy, textured layers that flick in every direction instead of curving under. The shape is still a butterfly — short on top, long underneath — but the finish is lived-in.
Ask for a butterfly haircut wavy hair version with choppy ends and texturising through the layers. Work texturising spray through damp hair, scrunch, and let it air dry. The messier it looks, the better this version works.
Best for: Wavy hair, edgy looks
Face shapes: Oval, square, heart
Tools & products: Texturising spray, wide-tooth comb
Skill level: Beginner
Time: 5 minutes
Tip: Do not smooth a butterfly shag with a flat iron — the choppy texture is the point.
Make it your own: add a few shorter pieces at the crown for even more volume.
Image credit: via Pinterest
13. Butterfly Cut with a Side Part
A side part changes the balance of a butterfly cut. In this profile view the black hair is parted deeply to one side, so the layers sweep across the face and tuck behind the ear. The cut looks more dramatic than a center part, and it suits anyone whose hair falls to one side.
Ask for butterfly layers, shortest pieces at the cheekbones. Part the hair while it is wet, blow dry the long side forward over the cheek, and tuck the short side behind your ear with smoothing cream.
Best for: Hair falling to one side
Face shapes: Oval, round, heart
Tools & products: Smoothing cream, paddle brush
Skill level: Beginner
Time: 10 minutes
Tip: Part the hair while it is wet, or the part drifts back by lunch.
Image credit: via Pinterest
14. Butterfly Cut with a Center Part
The center part is the classic way to wear this cut, letting both sides mirror each other. In this photo the long brown hair is parted cleanly down the middle, with the face-framing layers opening symmetrically like two wings. The waves keep it soft instead of severe.
Ask for a butterfly haircut with face framing layers starting at the cheekbones and blending into the length. Blow dry each side away from the face with a round brush, and keep the part straight by drying the roots forward.
Best for: Symmetrical faces, classic looks
Face shapes: Oval, heart, long
Tools & products: Round brush, shine spray
Skill level: Beginner
Time: 15 minutes
Tip: Use a comb tail to keep the center part straight while you dry the roots.
Make it your own: flip the part slightly off-center on day two for a softer, lived-in look.
Image credit: via Pinterest
15. Short Butterfly Bob
The short butterfly bob proves the cut works at any length. This chin-length brown bob has the same short face-framing layers as the long versions, but the perimeter stops at the jaw, so the wings sit higher and the cut looks fresh. It is the butterfly cut for anyone who wants a change without growing their hair out.
Ask for a butterfly haircut medium length cut to the jaw, shortest layers at the cheekbones. Blow dry with a small round brush, turning the ends out, and finish with texturising spray for lift at the crown.
Best for: A fresh change
Face shapes: Oval, heart, square
Tools & products: Small round brush, texturising spray
Skill level: Beginner
Time: 10 minutes
Tip: The short butterfly bob needs a trim every six weeks, or the wings lose shape.
Image credit: via Pinterest
Quick Comparison
| Item | Difficulty | Time | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Classic Long Butterfly Cut | Beginner | 15 min | Keeping long hair |
| Butterfly Cut with Curtain Bangs | Beginner | 10 min | Softening the forehead |
| Butterfly Cut with Wispy Bangs | Beginner | 5 min | First-time bangs |
| Medium-Length Butterfly Cut | Beginner | 10 min | A lighter feel |
| Sleek Butterfly Blowout | Intermediate | 20 min | Polished looks |
| Wavy Butterfly Cut | Beginner | 5 min | Wash-and-go days |
| Curly Butterfly Cut | Beginner | 10 min | Defined curls |
| Butterfly Cut for Thick Hair | Beginner | 15 min | Removing bulk |
| Butterfly Cut for Fine Hair | Beginner | 10 min | Adding volume |
| Butterfly Cut with Blonde Highlights | Beginner | 15 min | Showing off layers |
| Brunette Butterfly with Caramel Balayage | Beginner | 15 min | Warm dimension |
| Textured Butterfly Shag | Beginner | 5 min | Edgy everyday looks |
| Butterfly Cut with a Side Part | Beginner | 10 min | Dramatic balance |
| Butterfly Cut with a Center Part | Beginner | 15 min | Classic symmetry |
| Short Butterfly Bob | Beginner | 10 min | A fresh change |
Mistakes to Avoid
Cutting the top layers too short: Layers starting above the cheekbones look choppy and leave the crown too light. Keep the shortest layer at the cheekbones or the chin, never higher, or the wings turn into a shag.
Skipping the blowout: Butterfly layers need a round brush to show their shape. If you let them air dry flat, the cut looks like ordinary long layers and the butterfly shape is lost.
Thinning the ends: Thinning shears at the ends make butterfly layers wispy and ragged. Take weight out from the inside layers, never the perimeter, or the cut loses its fullness.
Asking for a wolf cut by mistake: A wolf cut is choppy all over with a short crown, while a butterfly cut keeps the length long. Show your stylist a butterfly photo, not a wolf cut photo, or you will leave with the wrong haircut.
Parting it the wrong way: A center part needs symmetrical layers, and a side part needs longer layers on the heavy side. If your part and your layers disagree, the cut never sits right — decide the part first.
Final Tips
Blow dry the front layers away from your face with a round brush — that outward flick is the whole butterfly effect.
Ask for the shortest layer to start at your cheekbones, and check it in natural light before you leave the salon.
A little texturising spray at the roots keeps the wings lifted all day without stiff hairspray.
Trim every ten to twelve weeks to keep the layers opening; the length can grow, the layers cannot.
Photograph your cut from the back too, so your stylist sees how the layers fall when they grow out.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a butterfly haircut?
A butterfly haircut is a layered cut with short, airy layers around the face and long layers underneath. The short pieces flick out like butterfly wings while the length stays long, so you get movement and volume without losing length.
Does a butterfly haircut work on straight hair?
Yes, and straight hair shows the layers best of all. A butterfly haircut for straight hair needs a round-brush blowout to make the wings flick out, so allow fifteen to twenty minutes for styling on wash days, more than wavy hair needs.
Will a butterfly haircut suit thin hair?
Yes, if the layers are kept long enough. A butterfly haircut for thin hair uses longer upper layers and a fuller perimeter so the ends stay thick, and the short top layers add volume at the crown that fine hair never has on its own.
How do I ask my stylist for a butterfly haircut?
Say: long layers with a butterfly shape, lots of face framing starting around the cheekbones, and keep the overall length. Bring a photo of the exact version you want, and agree on where the shortest layer starts before the cutting begins.
How do I style a butterfly haircut at home?
Blow dry the front layers away from your face with a large round brush, turning the ends out. For wavy or curly hair, scrunch a curl cream through damp hair and let it air dry. A little texturising spray at the roots keeps the lift all day.
Find the Butterfly Cut That Fits Your Hair
Fifteen cuts, one idea: short layers on top, long hair underneath, and movement every time you turn. Whether you pick the classic long version, a curtain-bang butterfly or a short butterfly bob, the shape does the work for you.
Save this list, take your favourite photo to your stylist, and ask for the butterfly cut by name. Your length stays — and your hair moves.
