For textured girlies looking for their next summer chop, you can’t get much better than the Butterfly Cut for curly hair. The style has been taking off on TikTok, with over 1 billion views under its wings.
It’s so popular we’ve even seen spin-offs, like the Butterfly Bob begin to trend. The best bit? It looks next level alongside kinks, coils, curls, and waves.
What is the Butterfly Cut?
We’ve spoken before about the Butterfly Cut, which blends dual-length layers to mimic the shape of a butterfly. Cropped, voluminous layers at the crown and around the cheek and chin help to frame the face, while longer layers at the bottom give length.
Why is the Butterfly Cut a good choice for curly girls?
This chop does a beautiful job of celebrating texture. “The butterfly cut is a great choice for curly girls because it enhances the natural shape, movement, and volume of curls while keeping overall length,” says Brendnetta Ashley, Dippity-Do Curly Hair Expert.
“The perimeter framing fringe opens up the face and the interior layers complement the shape and big personality of curls,” adds trichologist and Dippity-Do Curly Hair Expert, Cataanda James. “The cut is designed to give lightweight volume, while keeping length and weight along the perimeter in the back. The face can sometimes get swallowed up by voluminous curls, so the various angles and layering technique of the butterfly cut are intentional. The bulk is removed by strategically layering the interior, providing a playground for the curls to organically flow into each other like cascading waves.”
It looks good as it grows out
Even better, the cut has longevity even as it grows out. “With growth, the cut evolves, maintaining uniformity and continuous flow rather than colliding curls, which cause disrupted shape memory, friction, and unwanted frizz,” says Cataanda.
It’s an easy shake-and-go style
If you’re looking for minimal effort but maximum impact, this works perfectly. “It’s an especially good choice for the curlies that love to remove their bonnet, shake, and go,” says Cataanda.
How to cut a Butterfly Cut for curls?
There are a few things to ask your stylist for to ensure the cut is tailored specifically to your curls. “For textured hair, customize the butterfly cut based on the curl pattern and density,” says Brendnetta. “Cutting curls dry or using a curl by curl approach can help ensure the layers complement the natural curl formation and prevent unwanted shrinkage surprises,” she says.
What’s the best way to style a Butterfly Cut if you have curls?
“When it comes to styling, how you prep the hair is key,” says Brendnetta. “Start with a gentle cleanser that won’t strip your curls of their natural moisture,” says Cataanda, and follow up with a nourishing conditioner.
For extra moisture, apply a leave-in conditioner. “From there you want set your curls to help support volume at the crown,” says Brendnetta, who recommends the Dippity-do Girls with Curls De-Frizz Curl-Boosting Mousse for this. “It’s a 3-in-1 creamy-foam styler that defines curls and replenishes moisture. It enhances curl formation and shine, and is the perfect accessory to the Butterfly Cut for effortless bounce and shape memory,” adds Cataanda.
“When you apply product, do so in controlled sections and use single prong clips at the crown for volume. Finger curl the remainder of the hair and allow the curls to set,” says Brendnetta. “Then get the hair 100% dry by diffusing. The key when drying is to flip your head upside down so volume can set in the crown. Once fully dry, use a styling cream to separate the curls and stretch out the cast. These products will give you the curl definition you want without weighing your hair down,” she adds.
How to wear the butterfly cut for curly hair
We’ve rounded up some of our favorite ways to wear the butterfly cut for curly hair below…
