How To Make The Trendy Butterfly Cut Work For Short Hair

Since the early 2020s, we've seen the rise of many throwback hair trends, but none have seemed to hold quite like the butterfly cut. We've seen it all over Hollywood, including It Girls Zendaya, Sabrina Carpenter, and Sydney Sweeney. And it doesn't look like the cut is going anywhere anytime soon.

The butterfly cut consists of one simple formula: Two sections of layers at the top of the head, cascading down into textured curtain bangs, with the final effect mimicking the appearance of — you guessed it — butterfly wings. Though the vintage style is typically loved by those with long hair, it actually translates really well to those with short hair, too. The easiest way is with the butterfly bob. While there's less length, it still incorporates lots of layers, fringed ends, and the quintessential curtain bang. "The butterfly bob is a heavily layered bob, especially around the face," Jenna Spino, Stylist at Maxine Salon in Chicago, exclusively tells Women.com. "The layers create lots of texture, making it a looser casual bob." 

One of the reasons that we love the butterfly cut so much is that it works well on any hair type, especially those with curly hair. "This cut works well on wavy/ textured hair because the layers create movement that flows well with wavy textures," stylist Jenna Spino tells Women.com. "This can be done on any texture hair though. Super thick hair will require more texturizing to get the look."

In fact, Spino explained that thicker, curlier hair could hold the shape of the butterfly bob even better than fine hair. This is because very straight hair has a harder time holding the many layers that are signature to the trending hairstyle. As far as styling your natural texture, Spino recommends using a diffuser and taking advantage of some good product. "Oribe curl control silkening cream is a great curl cream to enhance your natural curl," she says. 

If you're all about layers, the butterfly bob is your best bet to maximize volume in a short cut. Styling this choice is fairly easy, too. "This cut looks great blown out with a round brush, all big and voluminous. It really shows off the layers," Jenna Spino exclusively tells Women.com. "I would use a mousse like Kerastase Densimorphose before blow drying and Trademark Beauty Velcro Rollers once hair is dry to help lock in the voluminous look." Velcro rollers actually work best on short hair, so you're in luck. Simply let your hair cool in the rollers to snatch that volume. In terms of ongoing maintenance throughout the day, Spino has another product recommendation: "Oribe Dry Texture spray is a good product to have on hand to refresh your look with." 

Curtain bangs are one of the defining characteristics of the butterfly bob. The shaggy, face-framing fringe derives aesthetic inspiration from the '70s, and is remarkably easier to work with than traditional, straight-across styles. "Curtain bangs are the gateway to bangs, because they're super versatile," stylist Emily Heser told Glamour. "They're long enough to grow out or pin back if you want, but they can also be cut into a shorter look." Best of all, they really do work well on every hair type and every face, so it's not something you need to fret over too much. 

Typically, with a butterfly bob, "the length at its shortest would be at the chin, and at its longest would be just above the shoulders," Spino explains to Women.com. The butterfly style layers add volume you don't usually see on other short cuts, like the sleek French bob. This feature also makes it slightly more adaptable to a variety of face shapes.

That said, there's not really a one-size-fits all for how long your short butterfly cut should be. You could go as long as your shoulders or as short as your chin.  Spino suggests consulting with your stylist about the right length for your short butterfly cut, and mentioned that bringing in photos for inspiration always makes the process easier. That way, both you and your stylist have a unified approach to the final outcome. 

Since the butterfly bob is a shorter cut, expect more frequent visits to the salon to maintain it. "In order to keep the length where it is and keep its shape, you would need to get regular trims about every 4-8 weeks," stylist Jenna Spino exclusively tells Women.com. With short layers on the top of the head, and face-framing curtain bangs, regular trims will help snatch this look and keep things fresh.That said, since its core appeal is that it is shaggy and relaxed, it's fine if it looks a bit disheveled in between cuts, especially if you're trying to grow out your hair.