The first time I really understood what a butterfly cut was, I was doing some reshaping of a customer’s long layers. She’d had some plain layers for a while and want something that kept the hair the same, but felt different. The moment I started putting in some shorter layers while maintaining her length, her whole attitude towards the haircut changed. I knew that the layered cut was not drastic, but rather simplistic and added a balance structure to the haircut. The hair was elevated to the right spots and the bangs wrapped everything up with a nice finish. That is what this haircut does when done right.
With the hair extension butterfly cut and curtain bangs, what I most appreciate is the endless possibilities it offers. Depending on how the layers are placed, and how much weight is removed, it can be a soft and romantic, or a sharp and modern. It is one of the few cuts that looks great as it grows out. The bangs always look polished, and the layers in the crown give hidden volume. I have saved different looks to show the contrast this cut can have based on the person, the hair, and the technique of the stylist.
#1: Feathered Dark Butterfly Cut with Flipped-Out Layers
The way the ends flip outward here gives this cut a slightly retro quality that I find really charming. It reminds me of the kind of blowouts that were popular in the late nineties, but updated with a more natural texture and those soft curtain bangs that ground it in the present. The dark chocolate color is glossy and uniform which makes the layers read as pure shape rather than color contrast, and sometimes that’s exactly what you want.
#2 Dark Bouncy Butterfly with Curled Ends and Side-Part Bangs
There is a beautiful bounce in the lower half that tells me this was styled with rollers or a larger iron and then brushed out, because the curls are smooth and uniform in a way that a wand alone does not usually achieve. The layers are heavy enough that the hair still has real substance to it, and the dark color makes the shape almost silhouette-like. I notice the bangs parted slightly off-center here, which adds just enough asymmetry to keep it from looking too done. This is a gorgeous option for someone with medium-to-thick hair who wants a butterfly cut that still feels classic.
#3 Bronde Butterfly Cut with Soft Feathered Bangs and Blended Highlights
This is a nice one to end on because it shows how refined the butterfly cut can look when the color and the cut are working in complete harmony. The bronde tone is beautifully blended, darker at the roots and lighter through the layers and front pieces, and the feathered bangs are soft and open. The overall impression is polished but not stiff, professional but not boring. It is the kind of cut that translates well from a work environment to a dinner out without needing to change a thing, and for most women in their thirties, that kind of versatility is not just nice to have, it is essential.
#4 Warm Brunette Butterfly with Layered Fringe and Soft Movement
The layers here are generous but not aggressive, and the face-framing pieces have been blended into the bangs so smoothly that you cannot quite tell where the fringe ends and the layers begin. That seamlessness is something I always appreciate because it means the grow-out will be graceful rather than awkward. The warm brunette base has just enough reddish undertone to keep it from looking flat under indoor lighting, and the ends have a slight curve that suggests either a natural texture or a very quick pass with a flat iron just to give the tips some direction.
#5 Cool-Toned Ash Blonde Butterfly with Layered Volume
The ash tones in this blonde are cooler than most of the other lighter looks in this collection, and that gives it a slightly more sophisticated and less sun-kissed feel. The layers have good volume through the middle section without the ends looking thin, which tells me the stylist was thoughtful about where they removed weight and where they left it alone. The bangs sweep to each side with a natural split and there is a slight lived-in quality to the overall texture. On cooler blondes like this, using a purple shampoo once a week makes a real difference in keeping brassiness from creeping in over time.
#6 Natural Dirty Blonde Butterfly with Relaxed Layers
There is something about the casualness of this one that makes it feel very real and approachable. The dirty blonde color looks largely natural, maybe with some very subtle babylights through the front, and the layers have been left to do their own thing rather than being styled into a specific shape. The bangs are at that perfect grown-out stage where they split in the center and blend into the sides, which is honestly the stage I think curtain bangs look their best at because it requires the least effort and looks the most effortless.
#7 Honey Bronde Butterfly with Polished Blow-Dry Finish
The blow-dry on this is really well done. You can see the layers have been set with a round brush in alternating directions so they flip and move independently, and the honey bronde color with its mix of warm blonde highlights and a deeper base makes every layer pop individually. This is the more polished end of the butterfly spectrum, the kind of result you get when the cut is paired with intentional styling, and while it is not the most low-maintenance version, it is one of the most visually striking. The bangs sweep cleanly to each side and frame without covering.
#8 Strawberry Copper Butterfly with Loose Curtain Bangs
This strawberry copper has a softness to it that separates it from the bolder reds in this collection. It is gentler and a little more golden, and on this particular hair texture it creates a warmth that feels really inviting. The curtain bangs are loose and slightly piecey and the butterfly layers below them cascade naturally without looking overly styled. I think this color is especially appealing for someone with a fair complexion and light eyes because the warmth of the copper brings color to the face without overwhelming it. It also has the advantage of growing out more gracefully than most fashion reds, since it is already in that ambiguous zone between blonde and red.
#9 Rich Mahogany Butterfly with Loose Waves and Bangs
The mahogany base catches a hint of red in the right light and that subtle shift makes the waves throughout the mid-lengths look a little more interesting than they would on a neutral brown. The bangs are parted just enough to show forehead without fully opening the face, and the layers have enough weight at the ends that they swing when they move rather than flying all over the place. It is a solid, wearable butterfly cut that would look equally good pulled half-up for a meeting or left down for a weekend.
#10 Flipped Butterfly Layers on a Warm Brown Medium Cut
The styling on this one is crisp, with both layers flipping outward in a very intentional way that makes the butterfly silhouette really clear. The bangs have a soft side sweep and sit nicely above the brow, keeping the look open and bright. It is a medium length cut that hits right at the collarbone which is a practical length for a lot of people, and the warm brown base has enough richness that it does not need any additional color work. Sometimes a good single-process color and a well-executed cut is all you need and this is proof of that.
#11 Fiery Auburn Butterfly with Bold Layered Movement
I keep gravitating back to this one. The red is warm and alive and the layers have enough body that the whole cut has real presence without being styled within an inch of its life. The bangs are parted and flipped back almost casually, and the shorter internal layers kick outward at the jawline in a way that opens up the face. This shade of auburn looks incredible against her skin tone and I think that is worth saying, because color matching matters just as much as the cut itself when you are going this bold. Not every red works on every person, but when it does, it really does.
#12 Deep Espresso Butterfly Cut with Soft Curtain Fringe
The deep espresso color here is so saturated that it almost absorbs light rather than reflecting it, and on a cut with this much layering, that means the shape has to do all the communicating on its own. Which it does. The curtain fringe parts softly and the face-framing pieces blend right into it without any harsh transition, so the whole front section feels continuous. The layers through the mid-lengths have a gentle bend to them that could be natural wave or a very light pass with a flat iron to create soft bends, either way the movement feels organic.
#13 Warm Chestnut Butterfly with Long Face-Framing Layers
The face-framing layers here are slightly longer than what you typically see in a butterfly cut, starting closer to the chin rather than the cheekbones, and that small difference changes the whole feeling of the haircut. It pulls a bit less attention upward and instead creates a vertical line alongside the face that is actually quite slimming. The warm chestnut tone is consistent throughout with maybe the smallest hint of dimension from natural light exposure. It is a pretty and uncomplicated version of this cut.
#14 Lived-In Blonde Butterfly with Beachy Texture
This is how the butterfly cut looks when nobody is trying too hard, and I mean that as the highest compliment. The layers are doing their thing but they are not styled into any particular direction, the bangs have broken apart into slightly messy pieces, and the blonde has that sun-bleached quality where you cannot quite tell where the highlights end and the natural color begins. It is the kind of hair that looks exactly the same whether she just left the salon or just woke up, and that effortlessness is genuinely difficult to cut into hair on purpose.
#15 Brunette Butterfly Layers with Face-Framing Curtain Bangs and Glasses
This is the kind of cut that makes glasses look like they were always part of the plan. The curtain bangs sit just above the frames and the face-framing pieces fall right alongside them, so instead of competing with each other, they create one continuous line. The warm caramel highlights running through the chocolate base are doing a lot of the work here, because they catch light exactly where the layers flip outward and that keeps the whole thing from reading as too heavy. Her hair has serious density, and the stylist was smart about where the internal layers were placed because there’s volume at the crown without any of it mushrooming out at the sides.
#16 Ash Blonde Butterfly with Dimensional Highlights and Layered Bangs
The tonal range in this blonde is what makes it special, from the darker ash roots through to the brighter pieces framing the face and scattered through the mid-lengths. The butterfly layers are a little more blended here than some of the more dramatic versions, which works well with the finer texture of the hair because it avoids creating any gaps or see-through sections. The bangs are layered within themselves which helps them sit with a bit of fullness rather than lying completely flat.
#17 Warm Copper Butterfly Layers with Long Side-Swept Bangs
The copper is beautiful and I want to be honest, it is the first thing I noticed before I even looked at the cut. This shade has that rich, burnished quality that sits somewhere between auburn and true copper, and it makes the flipped-out layers look almost sculptural. The bangs are long and swept heavily to one side, which gives the face more exposure on one half and more coverage on the other. Copper tones tend to fade faster than most other reds, so a color-depositing conditioner between salon visits would be worth investing in.
#18 Polished Chocolate Butterfly with Volume at the Crown
The lift at the crown here is noticeable and it is coming from the internal layering doing exactly what it is supposed to do. The overall shape is more structured than some of the others in this collection, with the shorter layers sitting cleanly at the jaw and the longer pieces draping below the collarbone with a slight bend. It reads as polished and intentional, and the single-process chocolate brown makes it feel sleek without needing any highlights to create dimension. The cut itself is providing all the visual interest.
#19 Honey Blonde Butterfly with Bouncy Curtain Bangs
This has a warmth and bounce to it that just makes you feel good looking at it. The ends are curled under and outward in alternating directions which is a classic way to style butterfly layers for maximum movement, and the honey-to-butter blonde tones throughout keep it feeling sunny without crossing into brassy territory. I think the thing that ties this together is that the bangs match the energy of the rest of the hair. They are not overly styled but they have been touched with a large barrel curling iron just enough to get that swoop.
#20 Sun-Kissed Brunette Butterfly with Caramel Highlights
The highlights are concentrated around the face and through the shorter layer pieces, and that placement is intentional because it draws the eye exactly where the butterfly shape is most visible. Without the color contrast, the layering would still be nice, but it would not pop the same way. The bangs have a nice weight to them and split naturally, sitting right at the cheekbones which is the sweet spot for most face shapes. This combination of cut and color is one that a good colorist and a good cutter really need to collaborate on, because if the highlights miss those internal layers, you lose a lot of the effect.
#21 Warm Brown Butterfly with Subtle Curtain Bangs on Medium Texture
There is a softness to the way everything falls here that tells me the hair has a natural slight wave, and the stylist leaned into that rather than straightening it out. The bangs are subtle enough that on some days they probably just blend into the rest of the hair entirely, and that versatility is one of the more underrated benefits of keeping curtain bangs on the longer, wispier side. This is a low-maintenance interpretation of the butterfly cut that would work well for someone who air-dries most of the time.
#22 Full-Bodied Chocolate Butterfly with Long Curtain Fringe
I genuinely love this one. The volume is incredible but it does not look like she had to wrestle her hair into submission to get it there. The curtain fringe pieces are long enough that they merge into the face-framing layers seamlessly, and there is a generosity to the overall shape that feels luxurious without being overdone. This is the kind of hair density that most people either have naturally or they don’t, and the butterfly cut is one of the best things you can do with it because it channels all that thickness into a shape rather than letting it just sit there.
#23 Golden Blonde Butterfly Layers with Sweeping Side Bangs
The color is doing a lot here. That warm golden blonde with slightly deeper roots creates a natural dimension that makes the layers look even more pronounced than they might on a single-toned base. The bangs lean more to one side which gives a little asymmetry to the overall shape, and I think that subtle imbalance is what keeps this from looking too polished or predictable. This is a cut and color combination that photographs really well, but I’d be curious to see how the layers hold up after a few weeks without a round brush blowout, because the volume at the crown looks like it took some effort.
#24 Tousled Long Brunette Butterfly with Lived-In Bangs
This is the kind of hair that looks best a day or two after styling, and I think that is entirely the point. The bangs are grown out just enough to split open in the center and fall past the cheekbones, and the layers throughout have that undone texture that you cannot really fake with a fresh blowout. The whole thing has a European ease to it. If you are someone who washes your hair two or three times a week, this cut is going to reward that habit instead of fighting it. A little dry texture spray at the roots on day two and you are set.
#25 Airy Medium Butterfly Cut with Textured Curtain Bangs
The bangs here have a little more texture and separation than most of the others in this collection, and that makes the overall vibe feel younger and more relaxed. What catches my eye is how the shorter layer around the jaw flips away from the face while the longer pieces below stay fairly straight, because that contrast is what gives the butterfly shape its name. On a medium-length cut like this, maintaining those two distinct layer groups is really the whole game. If they blend together too much, you just have regular layers.
#26 Soft Dark Layers with Wispy Bangs and Round Frames
There is a quietness to this one that I appreciate. The layers are there but they are not shouting about it, and the bangs are thin enough that they almost blend into the rest of the hair when they fall forward. It feels like a cut that was made for someone who wants to look put together without it being the first thing anyone notices about them. On hair this straight and medium-textured, the ends naturally flip a little, which gives it just enough personality.
#27 Soft Curtain Bangs on a Medium-Length Butterfly Cut
The curtain bangs sweep across the cheekbones and help frame the face without exposing too much forehead. With this look, the waves are more subtle and the less obvious texture means that the layers are great without having anyone guesstimate that she spent forty minutes with a curling iron. Most hair types should be fine, although if the hair is super fine, it may need some extra weight at the ends to prevent a wispy look by day three.
#28: Rich Layers with Warm Highlights and Curtain Bangs
Let’s mention the role played by hair density because it is great. The layers starting around the chin are amazing because they create movement, but the overall volume in her hair is really helpful. The color choice is clever because a warm light brown base with slight highlights will make the layers even more dimensional, even without movement. If you have thinner hair, you’ll want to change where those layers start, probably a little lower, to make sure you don’t lose volume.
#29: Airy Blowout Layers with Curtain Bangs
This looks like a style that would be great to have for photos, and I have to thank the blowout and the new haircut for the solid new haircut for the nice clean shape of the underlying structure. I also like that the blending is nice, so this is some intentional layering to help the look stay great, even after it air dries on a Tuesday morning. The curtain bangs here are wispier, making the overall look much lighter and more airy. If your hair tends to flatter out by the afternoon, a volumising spray at the roots before you blow dry will keep the shape honest for even longer. The cut itself is nice and shouldn’t be too difficult, it just needs a little cooperation.
#30: Clean Layers with a Natural Shine
What stands out the most to me is the condition of the hair. That shine isn’t product, that’s healthy hair reflecting light showing it the way it’s meant to, which even makes simple layering look elevated. The curtain bangs are soft enough to blend into the face framing pieces without a hard line, which is what you want on fine straight hair like this. There isn’t a lot of bulk to manage here, so the cut will stay true to the way it looked leaving the salon for a good while. One of those quiet cuts that just work without asking much of you.
#31: Full-Bodied Butterfly Layers with Curtain Bangs
The volume created in this cut is authentic, as it comes from thoughtful layering instead of a haphazard thinning and hoping it works. Those curtain bangs are substantial enough not to separate or get stringy by midday, which I hear a lot of complaints about. The layers are seamless and not too stacked which means the ends won’t just sit on top of one another to create that dreaded mushroom situation. If you have thick straight hair and have been concerned about layers making you look like a triangle, this is the cut to show your stylist.
#32: Long Polished Layers with Soft Face Framing
There is something really refreshing about the simplicity of this one. The movement comes from the layers, and the curtain bangs are long enough to tuck behind the ears. This is a great wash-and-go cut for thick straight hair where you don’t want the hassle of styling, but still want to look put together. For a little extra something on the front pieces, I would do some face framing highlights, but honestly, it’s great as is for a single process color.
#33: Bold Face-Framing Highlights on Long Flowing Layers
I enjoy where the highlights sit. The face framing pieces are bolder and have a spotlight effect as they draw focus to that area. The long layers are colored and are not choppy which allows the cut to do the talking. It is one of those instances where the color and the cut were planned out together and you can see the payoff. With medium density hair like this you get movement without the weight and the waves feel effortless as opposed to built.
#34: Warm Balayage with Layered Movement
I love the highlights in this one! They are phenomenal. The balayage placements are perfect with the layers and the warmth from the hair will break the layers every time it moves. The length is good, just above the shoulders is just enough to pull back when you want to, but it also makes sure the layers don’t weigh themselves down. This cut will actually show off the layers without the need for styling and that is ideal for this cut. If you have any wave to your hair, I would strongly recommend considering this as a template.
#35: Long Layers with Warm Curtain Bangs and Subtle Highlights
About curtain bangs, I like that they are long enough to merge into the face-framing layers, so there’s no obvious contrast between where the bangs end, and where the layers begin. Achieving that seamless transition actually takes a lot of skill, and it makes the whole cut feel so much more intentional. The warm highlights are fantastic, and it’s even more impressive that the overall color doesn’t look lighter; that’s such a great balance to strike. With this length, it’s especially important to stay on top of trims every 8-10 weeks because split ends will dull that shine faster than anything.
#36: Sleek Chocolate Layers with Framing Curtain Bangs
That beidge color and soft middle elevation is beautiful, and looks as good and expensive as it likely looks in real life. Curtain bangs here are impeccable, with the off-center part and cheekbone grazing bristles that integrate effortlessly into the rest of the length. This is a beautiful hairstyle that is suitable for medium and thick hair. It keeps it understated and creates that editorial look. For those who want that glassy finish, a good smoothing conditioner will be required, as this style is very dependent on shine.
#37: Warm-Toned Layers with Soft Curtain Bangs
The softer waves throughout the mid-lengths create an lived in look that I feel is more approachable for the everyday wearer than some of the more polished iterations. The curtain bangs provide a nice balance and the chocolate base with highlights done in a touchable and warm fashion looks great. What I would tell a client about this look is that the wave is intentional. That is most likely due to a quick big barrel curl and then some brushing. So for those wanting this look and are not intending to put in the effort daily, it might be best to reset expectations.
#38: Long Flowing Butterfly Cut with Balayage Depth
The haircut handles this much hair extremely well. The layering is done so that the ends don’t feel heavy and the balayage gives a nice gradient and adds dimension to the hair even when it’s hanging straight. The curtain bangs are longer which tie in well with the length and overall proportions. I would say this cut is for the client who likes long hair and isn’t thinking of a big chop but wants to hair to feel less like a curtain and more like a style. The texture being fine and dense holds the layers without them disappearing.
#39 Soft Framing Layers on a Medium-Length Cut
This is a perfect example of the butterfly cut with fine hair. Instead of thick layers, the layers here are designed to give the look of more volume. The curtain bangs are light enough to not weigh down the front section. The highlights are also a good suggestion as they give the illusion of more dimension. If you have fine hair and have been told that layers will simply make your hair look thinner, then this is the type of cut you should consider because here, the technique supersedes the rule.
#40: Textured Butterfly with Relaxed Curtain Bangs
I really like how laid-back this style is. The layers look a little more wild and as if she just got out of the shower and threw in some texturizing spray and walked out the door. The curtain bangs look a little unstyled too and I think that adds to the appeal. For fine to medium hair, this type of layering can give the illusion of more thickness, which is a good thing. With this style, maintenance is more about the layers not growing out into a shapeless blob than it is about the hair looking perfect all the time. Even though a lot of people think this style is really low maintenance, it actually requires regular trims to keep the look up.
#41: Long Butterfly Layers with Natural Volume
This looks like straight and thick hair which is perfect for a butterfly cut because the thickness allows for short inner layers without making the ends look sparse. Curtain bangs frame the face beautifully and the long layers have a nice swoop so they definitely live up to the name. I wouldn’t change too much. This is a great example showcasing the natural weight and texture of the hair. Bottom taper is spot on with upper fullness.
#42: Textured Butterfly Layers with Natural Wave
I imagine this is what the hair looks like most days when it has no styling done to it. The waves in the hair add to the layers. The curtain bangs have that softness from a dry cut which gives them a piecey look rather than a blunt cut. The thick hair can sometimes work against the layers and appear to be bushy, however the ends are textured enough to keep the entire look under control. This hairstyle is one of the more straightforward ones because you don’t have to style it in a particular way to achieve this look.
#43: Long Dramatic Butterfly Layers with Curtain Bangs
This has a good chunk more drama. The layers are longer, and there are real contrasts between the shorter pieces framing the face and the much longer back pieces. With thick, straight hair, that contrast is purposeful and striking. The curtain bangs are soft enough to balance the boldness of the layers. I think this version suits those who want the butterfly cut to be visible and not just felt. If that appeals to you, a few strategically placed highlights in the shorter layers would take it further.
#44: Modern Mid-Length Butterfly with Gentle Texture
The mid-length hair style looks modern and in fashion, the soft texture at the ends indicates this was point cut and not blunt which is why it moves like this. The curtain bangs are well within balance with the overall length, not short enough, and not long enough to disappear. For medium to thick hair, this looks good and is easy to manage, plus you don’t have to commit to a lot of length. A light mousse at the roots will help maintain that lift through the crown between washes.
#45: Warm Auburn Butterfly Layers with Curtain Bangs
What interested me most about this look was the color, that dark auburn gives such warmth to the skin and makes it glow. The layers add depth to the color and movement of the hair, and the curtain bangs offer just the right amount of coverage. Neither too heavy, nor too sparse. On medium to thick hair with this much natural body, the butterfly structure shape without having to fight the hair to do what it wants to do. The cut and color are so good individually that it was great for this look, and both are elevated because of it.
#46: Romantic Long Butterfly Cut with Soft Bangs
Of the bunch , I believe this is the most romantic. Maybe it’s the soft curtain bangs and the long, sweeping layers that gives that impression. On thick and straight hair, the ends of the layers form soft curves that can be vintage, but not costume-y. It’s a look that would be stunning all dressed up for a special occasion, but equally wouldn’t feel too formal for a weekday. We can all see that this haircut was styled with a round brush and a bit of patience. While we won’t achieve this blow out every day, the haircut will still look nice dried naturally.
#47: Warm Highlighted Butterfly Layers with Soft Movement
I like how the warm highlights are placed on different layers; the dimension comes from both the cut and the color. The modern slight asymmetry in the falling layers, avoids the predictability of having both sides the same length. The wavy texture and medium density contribute to the fullness in an effortless way. This is real hair doing what it does naturally, and the cut was designed to work with that. It’s the kind of result you get when a stylist actually pays attention to the hair, rather than imposing a template.
#48: Soft Waves and Subtle Highlights on a Butterfly Cut
The waves look very soft as they have been brushed out just enough to suggest a curl. The curtain bangs are the right length to go either way, swept to the side, or falling forward, which makes curtain bangs totally worth it. These highlights have a nice muted contrast to the hair density and texture. This is a pretty approachable butterfly cut and what I love about it is that it doesn’t say a lot, it just makes you look like you have really nice hair!
#49: Long Textured Butterfly with Volume Through the Ends
This length is significant, and the layering is smart as it prevents all the hair from just hanging down like a curtain. The curtain bangs are anchoring the look and also providing the eye somewhere to start. What I see is the ends have been texturized for bounce instead of remaining blunt, which avoids that thick, heavy look that long hair can fall into. If you are determined to keep your hair at this length, the butterfly cut is one of the best shapes you can have as it creates movement which the length on its own will not provide.
#50: Glossy Butterfly Layers with Rich Brunette Color
I love the color! The reflection of light in a beautiful glaze over their hair or excellent health is a great sign! Possibly both! I like the curtain bangs and the layering. The mid length movement really adds to the effortlessness of the whole look. People who have this cut in their medium to thick hair will create that “What’s different?” energy. The answer is just good colour and a great cut. The maintenance is regular too. Not over the top, just good basics.
#51: Bouncy Mid-Length Butterfly with Natural Wave
What stands out here is how alive it is. nnThey’ve improved the natural wave instead of correcting it, and the mid lengths keep it bouncy in a way longer versions can’t. nnThe soft layers increase volume without losing the weight at the ends, which is a tricky and bold choice to make. nnThe curtain bangs are soft and uncomplicated. The layers are going to start moving on their own instead of sitting exactly where the blow dry left them, and this is a style that improves over the first couple of weeks as more and more layers relax.
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