Girl, everyone is doing layers right now and I’m so here for it.
The two cuts I keep seeing literally everywhere are the butterfly haircut and the wolf cut. You can’t doom-scroll for ten minutes without one of them popping up, and now I understand why, both are stupidly pretty. They give you that volume and swishy movement we all pretend happens naturally when we roll out of bed. (Spoiler: it doesn’t… until you get one of these cuts.)
They look kinda similar in blurry TikToks, but once you see them in person, they’re night and day. So, before you make a decision you’ll either love forever or cry about for six weeks, let’s talk about what the butterfly haircut actually is.
What is Butterfly Haircut?
Your hair stays long (like, really long if that’s your thing), but the stylist cuts shorter layers around your face and on top. Those shorter pieces usually stop somewhere around your cheekbones or jawline. When you blow them out or curl them, they flip outward and frame your face exactly like butterfly wings; that’s literally why they named it that, and it’s adorable. The bottom layers keep flowing all the way down your back, so you don’t lose any length. It just looks like your hair suddenly grew volume and personality overnight.
I swear every time I see Sydney Sweeney or Hailey Bieber on a red carpet it’s this cut making them look like they were born with a built-in wind machine. It’s giving expensive, it’s giving “yes I wake up like this,” it’s giving me jealousy in the best way. You do have to style it a little (round brush or some big velcro rollers), but when it hits, it HITS.
That’s the butterfly in a nutshell: long, flowy, flirty, and secretly obsessed with a good blowout. Wolf cut is its edgy, grumpy little sister and we’ll get to her in a second, promise.
What About the Wolf Cut?
The wolf cut is more edgy and a little wild, like a “cool celeb who just rolled out of bed.” It has a shag and a mullet in it. You get choppy, heavily textured layers all over, super short pieces around the crown, and longer, piecey ends. The fringe is usually heavy and curtain bangs or choppy micro bangs.
It screams attitude. You know who’s been living their best life in a wolf cut? Billie Eilish (obviously), Jenna Ortega looking like the cool goth cousin we all wish we had, and Miley Cyrus, because of course Miley would take something wild and make it even wilder. These three make it look like they woke up, shook their head, and somehow walked out serving face. The secret? Barely any effort. Literally just scrunch some sea-salt spray or texture spray into damp hair, maybe flip your head upside down for thirty seconds, and you’re done. If you have waves or curls, this cut is straight-up witchcraft; the layers make your natural texture go “hello, I’m the main character now.”
Quick side-by-side so you don’t have to keep both Pinterest boards open:
Length: Butterfly keeps everything long and flowy, like Disney-princess-meets-Victoria’s-Secret-model. Wolf cut can be literally any length (short shag, shoulder-grazing, or still down your back), but there’s always this big dramatic drop from the short choppy top to the longer bits. It feels a little “business in the front, party in the back” but make it fashion.
Layers: Butterfly layers are soft, blended, and polite; they frame your face like they love you. Wolf cut layers are razor-cut, jagged, and kinda chaotic on purpose. They don’t blend, they shout. You’ll have pieces sticking out in ten different directions and that’s the whole point.
Vibe: Butterfly =soft, feminine, bouncy blowout. Wolf = rebellious, textured, undone cool.
Face framing: Butterfly gives gentle, wing-like pieces. Wolf gives bold, heavy bangs and shards around the face.
Maintenance: Butterfly needs regular blow-drying or styling for the full effect. Wolf cut looks better a little messy, so it’s lower maintenance day-to-day.
Which Face Shapes Love the Butterfly Haircut?
The butterfly haircut is incredibly forgiving. Oval, heart, and long face shapes look stunning because the flipped-out layers balance proportions. Round faces benefit from the height and volume on top— it elongates the face. Even square faces soften with those feathery ends grazing the jawline.
If you’ve always wanted long hair but feel it drags your features down, the butterfly haircut lifts everything up while keeping your length. Win-win.
Who Rocks the Wolf Cut Best?
The wolf cut shines on oval and heart-shaped faces—the heavy bangs and volume on top create perfect harmony. Diamond and square faces also look killer because the choppy texture breaks up strong angles. Round faces can pull it off too, but ask your stylist for longer front pieces to avoid extra width.
Hair Type Matters
- Straight hair: Both cuts work, but the butterfly haircut needs heat styling to show the bounce. Wolf cut can air-dry beautifully.
- Wavy hair: Heaven for both, though wolf cut enhances waves more dramatically.
- Curly/coily hair: Wolf cut usually wins here—the heavy layering prevents triangle shape and lets curls pop. Butterfly can work but may need strategic placement so curls don’t get weighed down.
Maintenance & Grow-Out
The butterfly haircut grows out gracefully. Those long bottom layers mean you can push trims to every 10–12 weeks and still look polished. The wolf cut is more high-maintenance for trims—every 6–8 weeks—because the choppy layers lose shape fast. On the bright side, wolf cuts somehow look cool even when they’re shaggy and overgrown.
Styling Showdown
Butterfly haircut styling tips:
- Round brush + blow dryer for signature bounce
- Velcro rollers on the top layers for extra lift
- Lightweight hairspray to hold the flip
Wolf cut styling tips:
- Texture spray or curl cream scrunched in
- Diffuser if you’re curly
- Maybe a little dry shampoo at the roots for that lived-in feel
So… Which One Should You Book?
Choose the butterfly haircut if you:
- Love long, flowing hair with volume
- Enjoy blow-drying and styling
- Want a soft, universally flattering look
- Dream of J.Lo-level glamour
Choose the wolf cut if you:
- Crave something bold and low-maintenance
- Have natural texture you want to show off
- Love heavy bangs and edgy vibes
- Want to channel Wednesday Addams meets rockstar
Still unsure? Save photos of both and take them to your stylist. A good stylist can even blend elements—like adding wolf-ish texture to a butterfly base—if you can’t choose.
Both the butterfly haircut and wolf cut are stunning, confidence-boosting choices. The “right” one is simply the one that makes you feel most like yourself when you catch your reflection. Ready to take flight or howl at the moon? Your next hair appointment is calling.
