Okay, the butterfly cut. I feel like every single client who sits in my chair right now either has one or wants one. And honestly? I get it. This cut just does something really special to hair, and especially I love seeing it transform medium length hair, the way the layers fan out and flip, instantly makes a mid length haircut look more polished – it is kind of hard to explain until you see it in person.
There are so many ways to wear a medium length butterfly haircut and that is exactly why I wanted to put this list together. Some of these are sleek and polished, some are soft and textured, and some are bold enough to stop you mid-scroll. I have done a lot of these cuts myself over the years and I still get excited every time. Keep scrolling, there is something here for everyone.
Mushroom Brown Sleek Butterfly Flip
This color is like a cool, muted brown with a little gray mixed in and it is so pretty. The layers are long and smooth and they flip outward at the ends right at the collarbone. I think this is a great pick for straight or fine hair because the shape does all the work for you. You really do not need much styling at all with this one.
Dark Brown to Warm Caramel Balayage Butterfly
The color goes from really dark roots down to this warm caramel at the ends and it looks so good. I love balayage like this because it grows out beautifully and never looks too harsh. The butterfly layers make all those color shifts really visible, which is exactly what you want. Face-framing pieces in the front make this one feel extra special.
Dark Root to Honey Blonde Balayage with Curtain Bangs
Curtain bangs plus a butterfly cut is such a good combo and this one proves it. The honey blonde color is warm and soft and the dark roots keep it from looking too bright. Layers fall just past the collarbone and they move really nicely. I like this for people who want something that looks good whether they air dry or blow it out.
Espresso Brown Voluminous Butterfly Blowout
This is deep, dark espresso brown and the blowout is so shiny and full. The ends flip outward in a big, round way that makes the whole shape look really healthy and thick. For anyone with medium or thick hair, this is honestly a dream cut. It looks polished and clean without feeling too done up.
Dark Chocolate Butterfly with Sweeping Curtain Layers
Something about this one feels really cinematic to me, like it belongs in a movie. The dark chocolate brown has just a little warmth to it and the layers sweep dramatically away from the face. Curtain-style framing at the front softens everything and makes it feel effortless. If you have an oval or heart-shaped face, I really think you should try this one.
Vibrant Copper Butterfly with Big Bouncy Ends
This color is a bright, bold burnt copper and it is honestly stunning. The layers curl upward at the ends in this big, bouncy flip that feels a little retro in the best way. I would say this one is best for thick hair that can really hold onto that volume. It is a statement look for sure, and I mean that in the best way possible.
Deep Espresso Sleek Butterfly with Sharp Flip
This one is all about being polished and precise. Deep espresso brown, blown out completely smooth, with layers that flip out at the ends in a really sharp and intentional way. I think the shape almost looks architectural, which I love. It is perfect for straight, fine-to-medium hair and it photographs beautifully from every angle.
Warm Auburn Retro Butterfly Blowout
Warm copper-auburn with a big, voluminous blowout is just giving vintage glamour and I am so into it. The layers are round and bouncy and they take some time with a round brush to get right. But wow, it is so worth it. This suits medium to thick hair really well and it has a timeless thing about it that I genuinely love.
Salt and Pepper Butterfly with Curtain Bangs
Natural gray and silver hair in a butterfly cut with curtain bangs might be my favorite thing I have seen in a while. The mix of charcoal, silver, and warm ash gives the layers so much depth and dimension without any color at all. Curtain bangs soften the face in such a flattering way here. Honestly this is chic and modern and I think it is totally underrated.
Dark Root Platinum Blonde Butterfly with Flip
The contrast between the dark roots and icy platinum ends makes the butterfly layers look super defined. It falls right at the collarbone with sleek, polished layers that flip outward in a clean way. Bold color choices like this one really let the structure of the cut shine through. Straight hair with a good shine serum is going to wear this look the best.
Warm Honey Blonde Butterfly with Curtain Bangs
Soft warm honey blonde with curtain bangs is honestly one of those combos that just works every single time. The layers are sleek and they curve outward at the ends in a way that frames the face really nicely. I have done this cut on so many clients and it flatters a really wide range of face shapes. Truly one of my most recommended looks.
Icy Platinum Sleek Butterfly Lob
This silver-platinum color is so clean and cool and precise. The butterfly layers here are subtle, not big and dramatic, just a gentle tuck and flip at the ends. I really like this for someone who wants movement and shape without going too bold on volume. The color alone is enough of a statement and the cut just supports it quietly.
Golden Blonde Butterfly with Warm Honey Highlights
Warm golden blonde with honey highlights woven through is such a feel-good color. There is so much depth to it and the butterfly layers really show all that dimension off nicely. Face-framing pieces sweep softly at the front and the ends flip out past the collarbone in a classic way. This is the kind of look that just feels like sunshine.
Warm Chestnut Butterfly with Curtain Bangs and Feathered Ends
This one has a really fun, textured energy to it that I love. Warm chestnut-caramel brown with curtain bangs and choppy, feathered ends that flip out in a slightly undone way. It is not as sleek as some of the others and that is exactly what makes it interesting. Wavy or naturally textured hair is going to love this one.
Deep Wine Butterfly with Voluminous Curled Ends
Deep burgundy wine is such a rich, dramatic color and this butterfly cut really goes for it. The ends curl outward in big, voluminous swoops that give the whole thing a lush and almost theatrical look. I would bring this to a salon for a special occasion or just because you want to feel amazing. Thick hair is going to carry this shape the best.
Warm Copper Butterfly with Airy Feathered Layers
Strawberry copper with soft curtain bangs and light feathered layers has such a relaxed, natural vibe. The layers are not super structured, they are looser and more easy-going than a polished blowout version. For fine to medium hair this is a great option because the cut gives you shape without weighing you down. I think it looks great air-dried too.
Blush Pink Butterfly with Curtain Bangs
Pastel rose pink with curtain bangs and soft, fluttery butterfly layers is so dreamy. The color is light and delicate and the feathered ends have this airy quality that matches the softness of the whole look perfectly. If you want a fashion color and a cut that works with it instead of against it, this is the one. I just think it is really beautiful.
Mushroom Brown with Silver with Blunt Fringe
A cool gray blend with a straight-across fringe is not something you see that often with the butterfly cut, and that is exactly why I like it so much. The blunt bangs give the whole thing a polished and intentional feel. Paired with sleek layers and that charcoal-silver color mix, it looks sophisticated and modern. This one really shows how well the butterfly cut works with natural gray hair.
Warm Strawberry Blonde Retro Butterfly Flip
Golden strawberry blonde with a big retro flip at the ends is so fun and so full of personality. The layers sweep outward dramatically and the whole shape is round and voluminous in that classic vintage way. A good round brush blowout is really the key to getting this result at home. Medium to thick straight hair is going to wear this the best.
Dark Brown with Caramel Face Framing Butterfly
Deep brown with caramel highlights just around the face is a really smart color move. It brightens things up without being a big commitment like a full balayage. The butterfly layers fan out at the ends with a soft, natural flip that never looks overdone. This is a really easy look to maintain and it grows out so gracefully too.
Rich Chocolate Butterfly with Defined Polished Flip
Rich glossy chocolate brown in a clean butterfly cut with layers that flip outward in a really smooth, controlled way, this is what happens when the cut and the blowout technique are both done right. The shape is full and rounded at the ends. It looks just as good at the office as it does going out somewhere nice. A really classic and pretty version of this cut.
