The 'Butterfly' Cut Is The Seventies Boho Hairstyle Making Its Big Return
As she took to the stage to open Taylor Swift's Eras tour in Wembley Stadium this weekend, actualising a life goal she claims to have manifested, Suki Waterhouse centred on a sartorial theme for the night: an effortless bohemian aesthetic, a floaty, whimsical Chloé dress, and a signature boho-inspired hairstyle, which goes by the name the 'butterfly cut'.
Much like the return of the boho fashion trend (for which we can thank the likes of Daisy Edgar-Jones' Twisters 'tourdrobe' and modern boho muse Sienna Miller), the cut in question is another Seventies trend that's been enjoying a renaissance of late. As is the case with its sartorial counterpart, it's been reimagined for the upcoming season with modern layers, new muses and a decidedly fresh, new feel.
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What is the butterfly cut?
'The butterfly haircut was born in the Seventies and was probably the result of growing out short fringe haircuts that were around at that time,' shares Joel Goncalves, senior stylist at Nicola Clarke. 'It was the iconic Farrah Fawcett who first made the hairstyle cool and soon it became the most copied haircut of its time. It stayed around for a decade or so and was always evolving, before it became a style synonymous with Cindy Crawford in the Nineties,' he recalls.
Inspired by the Seventies shag and feathered haircuts of old, the modern iteration is a fresh spin on a tried-and-true classic. The new butterfly cut adopts the same kind of symmetry as those Fawcett-inspired layers but with a little less volume and drama. The rounded layers still frame the face, with shorter layers that run from the crown to the ends, but they're less overt.
Another feature synonymous with the butterfly cut, curtain bangs remain front and centre, but they're cooler, and the finish softer. See: Daisy Edgar-Jones and Dakota Johnson's iconic fringe as your style references.
'This season, the butterfly cut has been rebranded with much more sophistication,' shares Goncalvez. 'The layers are now softer and, depending on your hair texture, the front areas are longer fanning out to the cheekbones or jawline areas,' he adds.
Why is the haircut gaining popularity?
Fast forward to today and the butterfly cut is dominating our beauty moodboards once again. It's become a viral hashtag on TikTok, a requested cut in hair salons, and the fascination of a long list of famous faces who are adding fresh appeal to the hairstyle, from Margot Robbie to Sabrina Carpenter, Jennifer Lopez and, of course, Suki Waterhouse.
Though the circular life cycle of beauty trends has long been documented, with everything from matte make-up and skinny brows making a resurgence, the return of this breezy bohemian hairstyle is a direct response to the renewed fascination around boho fashion, with designers at the helm of Chloé, Rabanne and Isabel Marant showcasing all things frilled, tassled and fringed on the runway.
How to style the butterfly cut
There are plenty of styling opportunities when it comes to the modern butterfly cut.'It looks amazing when the hair is worn up, in a ponytail or even a bun, omitting the softer curtain bangs to help frame the face,' he notes.
For those wishing to emulate the style, Goncalves says it's important to be cut precisely. 'The bangs need to be cut and styled with much longer lengths past the bridge of the nose but still fanning out to the cheekbones and jawline area – this is the secret to getting this haircut right,' he shares.
It can be as high or low maintenance as you wish, too. 'Whilst it can be left to air dry, the best results will happen with hot rollers or curling irons to create texture and movement. You can also simply use a medium-sized round brush to blow dry the hair under at the front then flick the sides backwards,' he adds.
As the same fashion rules apply, the trick to master the boho aesthetic is all about effortless ease and a less-is-more approach, so seek the assistance of sea salt sprays, soft volumisers and easy tools to recreate this trending hairstyle.
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