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The "Butterfly Cut" Is TikTok's Favorite Throwback Hair Look for Summer

allure.com

The Butterfly Cut Is TikTok's Favorite Throwback Hair Look for Summer

All products featured on Allure are independently selected by our editors. However, when you buy something through our retail links, we may earn an affiliate commission. Summer is finally here, so it's time we start asking ourselves the important questions: should I plan a vacation? Fall in love? Refresh my hairstyle? The answer is yes, yes, and definitely yes. If you're craving a new cut, look no further than the trendy butterfly haircut. This layered look has endless styling possibility, and is the rare cut that lets you switch things up without having to chop it all off. (Though that can be fun, too!) Just spend a short time scrolling TikTok, and you're bound to come across a creator with ridiculously bouncy, butterfly layers. "More and more clients are asking for a butterfly haircut, and they're all learning about it on TikTok," says Drea Dettmers, a hairstylist based out of Tallulah East Collective in Salt Lake City, Utah. Addison Rae and Matilda Djerf are two TikTok stars that have popularized the layered look, as have celebrities like Sydney Sweeny and Kaia Gerber. While the hype is new, the cut is not. "If you look back to '90s glam, or Rachel from Friends, you’ll see the face-framing, voluminous layers that make the butterfly cut what it is," says Teryn Tucker, a hairstylist at Alchemy Salon in Orlando, Florida. This time around, the cut has been coined the "butterfly haircut" by hairstylist Sunnie Brook for its duality as both a short and long haircut. Just like a caterpillar and butterfly, this one haircut gives you two completely different looks, depending on how you style it. A butterfly cut (also known as a thousand layer or octopus haircut) is a very layered haircut that strikes a balance between shag and long layers. The cut has two obvious sections: long layers that fall below the shoulders to give the illusion of length, and short layers that hit two to three inches below the chin to frame the face and add volume. This content can also be viewed on the site it originates from. The refined layers of a butterfly cut are a shift from the beachy, lived-in waves that have dominated for years. "As we move out of the pandemic, we're wanting to shake up our look without making any serious commitments," says Dettmers. "Butterfly layers let you change it up without a drastic cut." This content can also be viewed on the site it originates from. The butterfly cut is great for anyone who wants to create the illusion of fuller, healthier hair without sacrificing length. "It creates volume and shape, while removing damage from every level," says hairstylist Ashley Lynn, a hairstylist with a specialty in curly, textured hair at Ashley Lynn Haircare in Charlotte, North Carolina. This content can also be viewed on the site it originates from. Anyone can try this look, but our experts agree that it works best for those with naturally dense and/or curly hair. "There are so many layers, you need full density to get the full effect," explains Dettmer. "Fine hair may look stringy." If you want this cut but your hair is on the finer side, just stock up on your favorite texturizing spray. Allure suggests the Best of Beauty-winning Verb Volume Dry Texture Spray or Kristin Ess Dry Finish Working Texture Spray. Charlottesville, Virginia-based hairstylist Shannon Roadcap adds that it is an ideal cut for people with round faces who want to "contour the fullness of their cheeks." It's also effective in softening facial features and hiding fine lines. "Forget Botox, get hairtox," jokes Roadcap. And if you're growing out your curtain bangs or a hime haircut, the butterfly haircut is a "natural next step," says Tucker. With less styling needed, a butterfly haircut can give you and your hair a break. The length and dimensions are perfect for playing with new tools and techniques, but if you're having a rushed morning, these layers make for an effortlessly cool ponytail, too. For hair-up looks, the long layers pull back while the shorter layers fall to frame the face. This makes it easy to achieve a "voluminous, cascading ponytail with little-to-no styling needed," says Dettmer. Better yet, you can unleash your inner Pamela Anderson by piling your layers into an effortlessly fun bun. To get the most out of your updo, try these Allure Best of Beauty-winning favorites: IGK Big Time Volume and Thickening Mousse for amped-up volume, Fekkai Shea Butter Intense Oil to smooth down flyaways, and R+Co Bleu Featherlight Hairspray to lock it all in. For hair-down looks, a blow-drying brush is key. Arguably your butterfly cut's best friend, a blow-drying brush will add even more bouncy volume to your layered look. Allure recommends Revlon Salon One-Step Hair Dryer and Volumizer or Hot Tools Professional 24K Gold One-Step Pro Blowout Styler. This content can also be viewed on the site it originates from. Plan to add color to this cut? If so, our experts have some advice. Dettmer warns that extreme layering may cause highlights to look streaky. "Keep hair to a single color or ask for soft dimensions with no more than two levels of difference to avoid high color contrast," she suggests. This means keeping your added color similar to your natural shade for a blended, natural appearance. Tucker adds asking your stylist to cut your layers before coloring so you don't cut out, or compromise, your new hue. Keep your length, maximize volume, and unlock new styling possibilities? This all makes the butterfly haircut seem like a total no-brainer for summer 2022. Read more about haircut trends: And now, watch how to nail a shag cut on any hair texture: Don't forget to follow Allure on Instagram and Twitter.
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