#ButterflyCut
The butterfly cut—a layered haircut featuring face-framing pieces and volume at the crown—became TikTok’s breakout hair trend in 2021. The style combined ’90s nostalgia (Farrah Fawcett flips) with modern texture.
The Cut
Butterfly cut characteristics:
- Short layers at the crown (lift and volume)
- Longer layers around face (curtain bang-adjacent)
- Blunt or textured ends (depending on hair type)
- Movement and body (works on straight, wavy, and curly hair)
TikTok Virality
The trend exploded via:
- @hairby_chrissy (Texas stylist, 30M+ views on tutorials)
- Before/after transformations (dramatic volume boost)
- Accessibility (suited most hair types, easy to style)
Styling Requirements
The butterfly cut requires:
- Blow-drying with a round brush (lift at roots)
- Texturizing spray (Oribe Dry Texturizing, R+Co Rodeo Star)
- Curtain bang styling (face-framing pieces swept outward)
Celebrity Adoption
- Sabrina Carpenter (2021, defined the trend)
- Megan Fox (2022, added edge with curtain bangs)
- Sydney Sweeney (2022, paired with blonde balayage)
Distinction from Other Cuts
- vs. Shag: Butterfly has more structure, less choppy
- vs. Wolf Cut: Butterfly focuses on volume, wolf is edgier
- vs. Rachel: Butterfly has modern texture, less ’90s flip
Longevity
Unlike fleeting TikTok trends, the butterfly cut remained popular through 2023 due to its flattering versatility.
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