In terms of which hair types could benefit from the cut, it's pretty much all of them: Jordan asserts that clients with curly hair, wavy hair, and straight hair love this style: “It’s a great haircut for the person with really thick hair, but also a good haircut for someone with really fine, thin hair that just wants that movement in volume.”
With my superfine hair, I was in the latter category and was desperately craving movement, volume, and a style that framed—and flattered—my face but could be worn up or down and still be considered “long.” Fortunately, these are all characteristics of a butterfly haircut, and Jordan blessed my crown with wings (well, long layers) of its own.
In the end, we took about three inches off, but as is customary with the butterfly haircut, Jordan removed a lot of weight and added lots of layers. As a result, my hair has never felt lighter or more voluminous, and it's so easy to wash, dry, and style.
My hair before
My butterfly haircut (after)
It holds up when I style it myself too. In fact, when I texted my sister pictures of my hair after washing it myself (and styling it with the help of a Dyson AirWrap), she responded, “OMG it looks AMAZING. Rom-com hair. Wow.” And she's usually my harshest critic!
I won't bore you with how obsessed I am with my haircut (which is very), but in case you're feeling inspired, here's what to tell your stylist. “Describe it as a butterfly cut, and find pictures of haircuts that you like, ideally on people with hair like you,” says Jordan.
Spino agrees, and suggests deciding exactly where you want the shortest layer to fall on your face—the cheekbone and/or jawline are usually good places to start, which is where mine does—and share this with your stylist ahead of time.
Butterfly haircut, styled by yours truly
Also known as “rom-com hair”
Once you've secured your butterfly cut, styling is a walk—or flutter—in the park, as proved by my ability to do it. What's more, Jordan asserts that the style works just as well air-dried as it does more styled, though it also makes for a particularly impressive ’90s blowout.
“Everyone is using a big round brush to create a 'the Rachel' blowout with them, which is really fun,” Jordan says. To get the look, you can also use a blow-dryer or a blow-dry brush, oropt for a Dyson AirWrap, which is my go-to—just don’t forget heat protectant. Spino also advises lifting the hair up and finishing with texturizing spray, hairspray, and/or volumizing mousse to really show off the layers (I use and swear by Colorproof's Texture Charge Defining Finishing Spray).
Ready to let your hair out of its cocoon to transform into a butterfly? Shop your butterfly-cut styling essentials below and flutter right into your rom-com happily ever after.
Colorproof Texture Charge Defining Finishing Spray
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IGK Please Hold Flexible Finishing Hairspray
Mermade Hair Interchangeable Blow-Dry Brush
Dyson Airwrap Multi-Styler Complete Long
Danielle Sinay is the associate beauty editor atGlamour.Follow her on Instagram@daniellesinay.
