You don’t need thick hair to wear a butterfly cut, 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.
How do you style a butterfly haircut?
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.
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 shade color similar to your natural hair color 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. 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.