butterfly cut
/ˈbʌtərˌflaɪ kʌt/
CommonA layered haircut where the top layers are cut shorter to create volume and movement that fans out like butterfly wings.
Real-world examples3 examples
| # | Example | What it means | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | I got the butterfly cut and my hair has so much movement now I feel like I'm in a shampoo ad. | The style created dramatic volume and movement. | tiktok, 2023 |
| 02 | butterfly cut was made for thick hair, this is the best my hair has ever looked | The style is especially flattering on thick hair types. | tiktok, 2024 |
| 03 | the jump from wolf cut to butterfly cut is just getting braver honestly | The butterfly cut is a more dramatic version of the wolf cut. | x, 2023 |
Use it when
- Describing or requesting this specific voluminous layered cut.
- Discussing a hair trend popular in the mid-2020s TikTok beauty space.
Do not use it when
- You mean the wolf cut, which is less extreme with the top layers.Use “wolf-cut” instead.
- You mean any layered haircut in general.Use “layers” instead.
Butterfly cut vs wolf cut
butterfly cut
Butterfly cut has more extreme contrast between top and bottom layers, creating a winged flare.
VS
wolf-cut
Wolf cut is more uniform in its layering and has a shaggy, lived-in look.
Origin and context
Emerged on TikTok as a named variation of the shag and wolf cut family, gaining traction around 2023. The name comes from the winged shape the shorter top layers create.
- First seen
- 2023
- Confidence
- medium
Cite this page
Use this stable URL to reference the entry.
https://slang.fyi/butterfly-cutUpdated: 2026-08-29License: CC BY 4.0