You may not have heard of a butterfly haircut—but I guarantee you’ve seen it. A little crash course: the cut, which is inspired by the swoop shape of a butterfly’s upper and lower wings, has been around for a beat. The lore starts with The Rachel, which was Jennifer Aniston's haircut on Friends during the '90s. Fast forward to the present day, and searches for the chop have doubled according to Google Trends, making it one of summer 2025’s more popular haircut trends. The ultra-layered haircut is clearly having a second coming with the Sabrina Carpenter-aissance and co-signs from celebrities ranging from Ayo Adebiri to Kelly Rowland.
It’s easy to see why: a butterfly cut offers the face-framing benefit of a bob, but with the versatility of long hair. “It’s a layered cut that creates movement and volume,” explains premier hair colorist and stylist Temur Hamilton, who owns TEMUR on Manhattan’s Upper East Side. “The shorter layers add lift and shape, while the longer layers stay intact to maintain overall length.” You can throw it up in a ponytail or claw clip, use a blow dry brush for a professional-looking blowout, or let it air dry and embrace the angles.
