15 Trending Butterfly Haircuts for Medium Hair

A butterfly cut stacks short, face-framing layers over longer layers underneath, so the top of your hair moves and the lengths stay full. On medium hair, which sits between your collarbone and mid-shoulder blade, this matters more than on any other length. Long hair can swallow layers, and short hair has little left to shape.

The cut is also easy to get wrong. Layers placed too high leave thin, stringy ends, and layers placed too low look like a plain trim. The 15 looks below cover straight, wavy, curly, fine, and thick hair, so you can match the cut to your texture and the time you will spend styling it each morning.

1. Classic Shoulder-Length Butterfly Cut

This is the base version. Short layers start around the cheekbones and chin, and longer layers fall to the shoulders. It suits straight to slightly wavy hair of medium density, and it softens round and square face shapes by adding movement near the jaw.

It is not a good match for very fine, limp hair, because the short layers can make the ends look sparse. Plan a trim every 8-10 weeks to keep the shape, and use a round brush with a blow dryer for about 10 minutes to turn the front layers outward.

2. Butterfly Cut with Curtain Bangs

Curtain bangs part in the middle and sweep to each side, then blend straight into the shortest butterfly layers. This works well if you have a long or oval face and want to soften a high forehead. It also suits hair with a fairly flat crown, since the bangs add shape at the front.

Skip it if you have a strong cowlick at the hairline or a very low forehead, because the bangs will split or sit awkwardly. The bangs grow past your eyes in about 4-6 weeks, so book a quick fringe trim at that point. Many salons do this for free or a small fee between full cuts.

3. Soft Layered Butterfly Cut for Fine Hair

Fine hair needs fewer, softer layers so the ends keep their weight. Ask for the shortest layer to land at the chin and the rest to stay close in length, which gives lift at the crown without thinning the bottom. This suits fine, straight hair that tends to fall flat.

It is not the best choice if your hair is also very thin all over, since even gentle layers can reveal gaps. Skip heavy texturizing shears and ask for point-cutting only. Use a volumizing mousse at the roots and blow-dry for 8-10 minutes, then trim every 8 weeks so the ends stay blunt enough to look full.

4. Butterfly Cut on Wavy Hair

On 2B-2C waves, the layers give each wave room to form instead of stacking into a triangle. It suits wavy hair with medium to thick density, and the short face-framing pieces give the waves a clear, soft outline around the cheekbones.

Avoid it if your waves are very uneven in pattern and you want a flat, sleek finish, because the layers will show every change in texture. Ask your stylist to cut it dry or to check the shape once your hair air-dries. At home, scrunch in a curl cream on damp hair and diffuse for 10-15 minutes. A trim every 10-12 weeks is enough.

5. Curly Butterfly Cut

On 3A-3B curls, the layers stop the hair from forming one heavy pyramid and let each curl sit in its own spiral. It suits medium-density curls that are well hydrated and have a clear pattern. The shorter front layers frame the face with loose curls that spring up as they dry.

It is less suited to very dry or damaged curls, because short layers reveal broken ends quickly. Look for a stylist who cuts curls dry, one curl at a time, and expect the cut to sit shorter once the hair dries. Wash weekly with a sulfate-free shampoo, deep condition for 10 minutes, and get a shape-up every 12 weeks.

6. Butterfly Cut with Face-Framing Highlights

Lighter pieces placed in the shortest layers pull the eye toward your face and make the cut's movement easier to see. This suits light brown to dark blonde hair that is healthy enough to lighten. The brightness near your cheekbones can make skin look more lit, especially in winter.

It is not for hair that is already heavily bleached or brittle, and lightening dark or textured hair should be done by a professional colorist, since bleach can cause breakage and scalp irritation. Plan a toner refresh every 6-8 weeks, and use a purple shampoo once a week only if the blonde pieces start to look brassy.

7. Collarbone-Length Butterfly Lob

This version stops right at the collarbone, so the long layers brush your shoulders and flick slightly when you move. It suits anyone who wants layers but is nervous about losing length, and it works well on a short or average neck. The weight stays at the bottom, so the shape holds even on hair that does not hold volume.

It is a poor fit if you like to pull your hair into a tight low ponytail every day, since the shorter layers will slip out around the face. A trim every 6-8 weeks keeps the line crisp at the collarbone, and a flat iron or blow-dry takes about 10 minutes.

8. Bouncy Blowout Butterfly Cut

The blowout version relies on lift at the root and curved ends, finished with a big round brush. It suits straight to wavy hair with enough density to hold a bend, and it gives a fuller look to hair that normally lies close to the head.

If you do not want to style your hair most mornings, skip it, because the bounce fades by day two without heat or rollers. Allow 20-25 minutes with a 2-inch round brush, or use velcro rollers on towel-dried hair for 15 minutes. Add a heat protectant first, and keep trims at 8-10 weeks.

9. Butterfly Cut with Wispy Bangs

Wispy bangs are thin and see-through, cut just above the brows, and they blend into the front layers rather than sitting as a solid block. They suit fine to medium hair and heart-shaped or long faces. Because they are light, they do not weigh down a fine fringe the way blunt bangs do.

They are a poor match for thick, coarse hair or a very oily scalp, since the fringe clumps and separates within hours. Wash just the bangs in the sink between full washes, and use a tiny amount of dry shampoo. Trim them every 3-4 weeks to keep them clear of your eyes.

10. Deep Side-Part Butterfly Cut

A deep side part sweeps the longest front layer across one side of the forehead, which adds lift at the crown and a longer line across the face. It suits round and square faces, and anyone who wants layers without cutting bangs. The asymmetry also helps if one side of your hair grows thinner.

It is less helpful if your natural part sits in the center and fights you, because the hair will keep dropping back. Set the part on damp hair, blow-dry it in place, and finish with a light-hold spray. Plan 10 minutes to style and a trim every 8-10 weeks.

11. Sleek Straight Butterfly Cut

Straight hair shows the layers most clearly, so every step in the cut is visible. This works best on naturally straight, healthy hair, and it makes thick straight hair feel lighter without losing length. A smooth finish also hides slight unevenness in color.

It does not suit hair that is frizzy or wavy unless you are ready to heat-style it each time. Use a flat iron at 300-350 degrees F with a heat protectant, and expect about 15 minutes. Trim every 8 weeks, because split ends are obvious on straight hair, and use a weekly mask to keep the finish smooth.

12. Shaggy Butterfly Cut

The shaggy version uses more layers, chopped at uneven lengths for a lived-in, textured finish. It suits wavy and slightly curly hair, and anyone who prefers air-drying to blow-drying. The messy ends hide regrowth, so it also works if you go long between salon visits.

Very straight, fine hair can look ragged and see-through with this many layers, so skip it if that describes you. Apply a sea salt spray or texturizing cream to damp hair and let it air-dry, which takes about 5 minutes of effort. A trim every 10-12 weeks is enough.

13. Butterfly Cut for Thick Hair

Thick hair gains the most from this cut, because the layers remove bulk and let the hair fall in a shape instead of a block. Ask for internal layers, which are cut within the hair rather than only at the ends, so the weight lifts without leaving the surface looking choppy. It suits straight, wavy, and loosely curly thick hair.

It is not a quick fix for very coarse, dry hair, since removing weight can make frizz more obvious. Use a leave-in conditioner and a wide-tooth comb after washing. Blow-drying takes 15-20 minutes, and a trim every 8-10 weeks keeps the layers from growing into one heavy mass.

14. Butterfly Cut with Brunette Balayage

A dark brown base with caramel balayage follows the layers, so the lighter ribbons show where the hair moves. It suits dark brown and black-brown hair that you want to brighten without a full highlight. The hand-painted blend grows out softly with no harsh line.

Do not attempt the lightening at home on dark hair, since uneven bleach can turn brassy orange and damage the hair. A colorist should handle the lift and the toning. Expect a gloss or toner every 8-12 weeks, a color-safe shampoo, and a trim every 10 weeks.

15. Flipped-Out Butterfly Cut

The ends of the layers flick outward instead of curling under, which adds a playful edge and keeps the cut from looking heavy. It suits straight to slightly wavy hair, and a narrow face benefits from the extra width at the jawline.

It is a poor option if your hair resists bending, because the flip will drop within a few hours. Use a 1.25-inch curling iron or a round brush, turn each end outward for about 5 seconds, and finish with a flexible hairspray. Styling takes about 15 minutes, and a trim every 6-8 weeks keeps the ends from losing their flick.