I Tried the TikTok-Viral Haircut Stars Like J.Lo and Sydney Sweeney Are Sporting

"She's going to fly away after this," joked Jerome Lordet, salon and style director at Pierre Michel Salon, as he snipped away at my hair after I waltzed in and requested the haircut du jour: a butterfly cut. This style has recently been seen on a bevy of celebrities, and once I saw it, I knew I needed to try it for myself. 

What is a butterfly haircut?

A butterfly cut really speaks to the resurgence of the '90s. Think of it like a modern version of Rachel Green's signature style from Friends—tons of face-framing layers that add movement and make hair feel weightless. Lordet says he's been seeing a huge uptick in people asking for ultra-layered cuts at his salon. 

Who are butterfly hair cuts best suited for?

Anyone can try a butterfly cut, but it typically works best on thicker hair that isn't too long. "If the hair is too long, you can't do so many layers," says Lordet. "As the hair gets shorter in length, the more layers you can do. If you do too many layers on long hair, the problem that can happen is you lose the thickness at the end." 

Any texture can try butterfly cuts as well, but make sure to talk to your stylist about layers for your curl pattern that will help frame your face best. 

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(Image credit: @ktberohn)

My hair feels lighter, has tons of movement and volume, and is super easy to style after getting a butterfly cut. I also feel like this is a more approachable way to try some of the more daring layered styles that have been gaining momentum (like wolf cuts or shags). Keep scrolling for other inspo and the products I've been using to style my new haircuts. 

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(Image credit: @kellyrowland)

Flipped-out layers give this style a weightless look.

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(Image credit: @jlo)

J.Lo shows how this cut looks on longer hair. 

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(Image credit: @sydney_sweeney)

Sydney Sweeney's version has tons of movement.

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(Image credit: @haileesteinfeld)

Hailee Steinfeld's curtain bangs add sweetness to this look.

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(Image credit: @hungvanngo)

Layers help give this style a little more movement. 

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(Image credit: @hungvanngo)

These layers blend effortlessly into a mid-length cut.

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(Image credit: sabinasocol )

Face-framing looks sweet on a short cut. 

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(Image credit: jeannine.roxa)

Tons of layers can give long hair volume for days.

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(Image credit: @cassiskovic)

Choppy layers help give curls more structure.

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(Image credit: @symphanisoto)

Curtain bangs add depth to this style. 

The best styling products for butterfly haircuts:

Next: Camila Cabello's Stylist Shares Exactly How to Get Her Y2K-Inspired Waves

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Associate Beauty Editor

Katie Berohn is the associate beauty editor at Who What Wear. Previously, she worked as the beauty assistant for Good Housekeeping, Woman's Day, and Prevention magazines, all part of the Hearst Lifestyle Group. She graduated from the University of Colorado, Boulder, with a major in journalism and minor in technology, arts, and media, and earned her master's degree at NYU's graduate program for magazine journalism. In addition, Katie has held editorial internships at Denver Life magazine, Yoga Journal, and Cosmopolitan; a digital editorial internship at New York magazine's The Cut; a social good fellowship at Mashable; and a freelance role at HelloGiggles. When she's not obsessing over the latest skincare launch or continuing her journey to smell every perfume on the planet, Katie can be found taking a hot yoga class, trying everything on the menu at New York's newest restaurant, or hanging out at a trendy wine bar with her friends.