17 Butterfly Haircuts for Long Hair That Add Volume
A butterfly haircut pairs short layers around the face, usually starting between the cheekbone and chin, with long layers through the back. When it's blown out, the short pieces flip away from the face like wings, and the overall shape looks fuller at the crown and sides without losing length.
That's why it works so well on long hair. Long, one-length hair tends to go flat at the top because of its own weight, and the short layers take some of that weight away so the roots can lift. The cut also gives you the look of a shorter style when you pin back the back section.
The main trade-off is styling. A butterfly cut looks its best with a round-brush blowout or a large-barrel curling iron, and it looks more like a regular layered cut when air-dried. If your hair is short, see our butterfly cut ideas for short hair instead.
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1. Classic Blowout Butterfly Cut
This is the version most people picture: chin-length face layers, long back layers, and a bouncy round-brush blowout. It suits straight to slightly wavy hair with medium density that falls past the shoulders, and it works on oval, heart, and square faces.
If you never blow-dry, you'll lose most of the shape. Styling takes 20-30 minutes with a 2-inch round brush and a volumizing mousse at the roots; book a trim every 8-10 weeks to keep the face layers at the right length.
2. Butterfly Cut with Curtain Bangs
Adding curtain bangs that blend into the face layers carries the shape all the way to your forehead. It suits long faces and high foreheads, since the bangs shorten the look of the face, and works on straight or wavy hair.
Strong cowlicks at the front hairline can make curtain bangs split or stand up. The bangs need a trim every 4-6 weeks, and a quick blow-dry with a small round brush each morning takes about 5 minutes.
3. Curly Butterfly Cut
On curly hair, the short layers let the curls around your face spring up and form a rounded shape instead of a triangle. It suits Type 3a to 3c curls at shoulder length or longer, and it's best cut dry, curl by curl, by a stylist who works with curly hair.
Curls shrink, so face layers cut too short can end up much higher than expected. Ask for the shortest layer to sit at the chin when dry. Refresh with a curl cream and diffuser in 15-20 minutes, and trim every 10-12 weeks.
4. Wavy Butterfly Cut
Type 2 waves often go flat at the crown and frizzy at the ends, and the butterfly layers help with both by removing weight so the wave pattern forms higher up. It suits 2a to 2c waves and looks good air-dried with a little product.
If your waves are loose and fine, heavy layering can make ends look sparse, so ask for fewer, longer layers. Scrunch in a lightweight mousse and air-dry or diffuse for 10 minutes; trim every 8-10 weeks.
5. Butterfly Cut for Thick Straight Hair
Thick, straight hair benefits most from a butterfly cut because it has enough density to support lots of layers without looking thin. The layering removes bulk so the hair moves, and it suits long black or dark brown hair that feels heavy.
Thick straight hair doesn't hold a bend for long, so the face layers may drop by midday. Use a heat protectant and a 2-inch round brush, then set the front with velcro rollers for 10 minutes. Trim every 8 weeks.
6. Soft Butterfly Cut for Fine Hair
For fine hair, a softer version keeps most of the length and weight at the bottom and only adds the short layers at the front and crown. It suits fine to medium-fine straight hair that goes limp by afternoon, and it helps the top look fuller.
A heavily layered version on fine hair will make the ends look stringy, so ask your stylist to keep the perimeter full. A root-lift spray and a quick 10-minute blow-dry help, and a trim every 6-8 weeks keeps ends from thinning. For more ideas, see our long hairstyles that make thin hair look fuller.
7. Butterfly Cut with Wispy Bangs
Wispy, see-through bangs add a light fringe while the butterfly layers handle the volume. They suit oval and heart faces and hair that's straight to slightly wavy, and they're lower-commitment than full bangs.
On very oily skin or hair, wispy bangs separate and look greasy quickly. Trim them every 3-4 weeks, and keep dry shampoo on hand for midday touch-ups.
8. Butterfly Cut with Balayage
Balayage painted onto the ends of each layer shows off the cut, because the lighter tips catch light at different heights. It suits medium to dark brown hair and works well with caramel or honey tones.
Lightening adds dryness, so it's not ideal if your ends are already damaged. Plan a gloss every 8-10 weeks and a balayage refresh every 3-4 months, plus a weekly hydrating mask.
9. Waist-Length Butterfly Cut
A waist-length butterfly cut keeps nearly all your length and adds face layers that would otherwise take years to grow. It suits healthy, thick hair that has held its length well and people who don't want to give up any of it.
At this length, the ends are old and often thin, so a small dusting trim is usually needed to make the cut look full. Blow-drying this much hair takes 30-45 minutes; many people blow out only the front layers and let the rest air-dry. Trim every 10-12 weeks.
10. Butterfly Cut with Flipped-Out Ends
Styling the layers to flip outward instead of curling under gives a retro, playful finish. It suits straight, medium-density hair at collarbone to mid-back length and works well on square and round faces because the flips add width low.
Very thick or curly hair can look bulky when flipped. Use a flat iron or a round brush turned outward at the ends; it takes 10-15 minutes, and a flexible hairspray keeps the flip.
11. Butterfly Cut on Stretched Coily Hair
On Type 4 hair that's been blown out or silk-pressed, a butterfly cut gives the same bouncy, layered shape as on straight hair. It suits long coily hair that is often worn stretched and a stylist who is experienced in cutting textured hair.
When the hair goes back to its natural coil, the layers will look very different and can seem uneven, so this cut is best if you wear your hair stretched most of the time. A silk press lasts one to two weeks with a satin wrap; trim every 10-12 weeks and use heat protectant every time.
12. Deep Side-Part Butterfly Cut
A deep side part pushes most of the face layers to one side, which adds lift at the root and a sweeping shape over one eye. It suits round and square faces, since the diagonal line softens width, and it's a quick change from a center part.
If your hair has a strong natural part, flipping it to the side may take a few days of training. Blow-dry the roots in the opposite direction first for 2-3 minutes to get lift, then flip them over.
13. Butterfly Cut with Money Piece Highlights
A money piece is a bright highlight on the front sections of hair, and it lines up exactly with the butterfly cut's face layers. It suits light to medium brown hair and draws attention to the shortest, most visible layers.
On very dark hair, a bright blonde money piece needs a lot of lifting and can show roots quickly. Refresh the toner every 6-8 weeks and use purple shampoo on the blonde pieces once a week if they turn brassy.
14. Shaggy Butterfly Cut
A shaggy version uses choppier, textured layers through the crown for a lived-in finish. It suits wavy and thick hair and people who prefer to air-dry, since the shape comes from the cut rather than a blowout.
On fine, straight hair, choppy layers can look thin and uneven. Scrunch in a sea salt spray and air-dry, or rough-dry for 5-10 minutes; trim every 8-10 weeks to keep the layers defined.
15. Butterfly Cut with a Blunt Perimeter
This version keeps the bottom edge cut straight across while the layers stay inside and around the face. It suits fine to medium hair that looks thin at the ends and anyone who wants volume on top with a solid, full-looking hemline.
You get less movement at the ends than with a fully layered cut. A flat iron with a slight bend at the ends takes about 10 minutes; trim the blunt line every 6-8 weeks so it stays crisp.
16. Butterfly Cut with Soft Hollywood Waves
Curling the layers all in one direction and brushing them out creates glossy, sculpted waves that follow the cut's shape. It suits straight or slightly wavy hair with medium to thick density and is a good styling option for events.
Curly hair won't hold the smooth finish without being straightened first. Styling takes 30-40 minutes with a 1.25-inch curling iron, a boar-bristle brush, and a shine spray.
17. Butterfly Cut with Long Face-Framing Layers
Starting the face layers at the collarbone instead of the chin gives a gentler version that's easier to grow out. It suits round faces, since the longer layers pull the eye down, and people trying the cut for the first time.
It gives less lift at the top than the classic version, so it isn't the best pick if flat roots are your main complaint. A 15-minute blow-dry with a large round brush works, and trims can stretch to every 10-12 weeks.
