It can be hard to believe, but the trendy butterfly cut can totally work for short hair! If chosen and cut right. Interested? Read more below!

We created this article in response to a reader’s email about her short locks, asking: “Can I do a butterfly cut on short hair?” Yes, Nadia, you can!!! Great news, right?

What Does a Butterfly Cut Look Like on Short Hair

The butterfly cut is a voluminous, layered style typically seen on medium-length or long hair. Now it’s being adapted for shorter styles. This chic style adds volume at the roots and movement throughout, making it easy to style and maintain. It’s versatile and adaptable for almost all hair types.

Every butterfly haircut (the shorter ones are no exception) has lots of face-framing layers. For shorter hair, thinned-out ends are essential to keep things light and feathery. Thinning the ends of the layers helps create that full and voluminous butterfly effect on shorter strands.

1. Chin Length Butterfly Cut

This butterfly haircut for short lengths focuses on adding texture and boosting volume, creating a look that’s both sexy and subtle while giving your hair enhanced definition.

2. Short Butterfly Haircut with Bangs

This butterfly haircut for short hair features 70s-inspired shaggy bangs. While it has fewer layers, the fringe adds the perfect amount of dimension your hair needs.

3. Short Butterfly Cut with Curtain Bangs

This short cut with curtain bangs perfectly combines chic style with laid-back vibes. The bangs of this shape bring a flirty touch to your locks, making them look on-trend.

4. Short Butterfly Haircut with Highlights

Highlights infuse a burst of vibrancy into your style. They amplify the layered cut, creating a dynamic and mesmerizing effect. This haircut is impossible to ignore!

5. Short Curly Butterfly Cut

Want to add a fun, bouncy flair to your hair? Transform your hair with playful curls and lively texture – copy this look. You will have a lot of fun with a captivating and easy-to-wear look like this.

6. Short Blonde Butterfly Hairstyle

The trendy blonde color will bring a radiant glow and lightness to your style. Illuminate your hair with a sun-kissed charm!

7. Short Butterfly Cut with Layers

Looking for a fresh and effortlessly stylish update for your shoulder-length locks? Here it is! Layers will give your short hair an appealing, modern twist.

8. Short Butterfly Shag

Do you like the playful, undone vibe these tousled layers have? This hairstyle will infuse your hair with effortless volume and just the right amount of rebellious charm.

9. Dark Brown Short Butterfly Hairstyle

The deep dark brown color will add a rich, sultry depth to your beautiful locks. A chic, textured finish is also a must for the effect you see in this photo.

10. Medium Short Butterfly Haircut

This medium-short haircut strikes the perfect balance between length and style! With its lively layers, it provides a stylish, on-trend look that’s perfect for any occasion.

11. Asian-Style Short Butterfly Cut

We have found one more idea of a modern twist for your short locks! Take inspiration from the latest trends in Asia! Fuse shaggy layers with curtain bangs and neck length, and you will get a cute feminine haircut that will beautifully frame your face.

12. Very Short Butterfly Cut

Transform your hair into a chic statement with this short shaggy crop! This cut is designed for those women who want to embrace a modern, edgy look with minimal effort.

13. Short Butterfly Bob

This layered, voluminous style creates a striking silhouette that frames the face, neck and especially chin beautifully. Perfect for enhancing any outfit with a touch of effortless charm!

14. Short Butterfly Cut Without Bangs

By omitting bangs, the stylist emphasized the textured layers and the shape of the haircut. A versatile option that effortlessly adapts to any occasion!

15. Short Butterfly Cut on Wavy Hair

This cut enhances the waves with layered texture, creating a look that’s both playful and effortlessly put-together.

16. Short Butterfly Cut for Thin Hair

This haircut will bring a boost of volume and movement to your look. Layered texture creates the illusion of fuller, more lively hair.

17. Butterfly Cut on Short Fine Hair

The butterfly cut on short fine hair creates a burst of volume and texture, transforming delicate strands into a lively, full-bodied look.

18. Short Butterfly Cut for Round Face

With its layered texture and playful movement this haircut offers a flattering balance for your round face shape. Adding such angles and definition will complement your features.

19. Really Short Butterfly Cut

The really short butterfly cut, with its pixie-like structure and messy texture, delivers a standout look with its dark brown hue and messy undone finish. Such super-short layers and bangs create a fun, dynamic style that’s both contemporary and cool.

20. Short Butterfly Layers and Wispy Bangs

Such wispy bangs add a light, airy feel to cropped locks. So, if you want to bring a breezy, textured elegance to your look, opt for haircuts like you see in this photo.

21. Butterfly Bob with Flipped Ends

This butterfly bob creates a super-cute, dynamic, playful look with its charmingly flipped-out layers! What a volume!

22. Neck-Length Butterfly Cut with Highlights

A mix of butterfly layers, neck length, and sun-kissed tones always results in a very beautiful romantic hairstyle like this. A striking blend of texture and light!

23. Angled Butterfly Bob

Combine rich, deep tones with a modern, edgy angled bob cut. Such a striking geometric shape will add volume to your short locks. Butterfly layers will add a stylish twist to the classic A-line bob.

24. Messy Layered Short Butterfly Hair

Such tousled, textured layers add a relaxed, carefree vibe to short locks. The disheveled finish will give your hair a fresh, stylish edge that’s easy to achieve and maintain.

25. Short Bronde Butterfly Bixie

Here warm, sun-kissed tones blend with a playful, layered cut. Such beautiful haircuts are born when stylists combine modern edge with a touch of natural charm!

26. Messy Textured Short Shag

Do you feel that lively, carefree energy of these tousled layers too? The wind-swept texture enhances the hair’s dynamic flow, it also highlights the eyes and cheekbones.

27. Shoulder-Grazing Butterfly Layers

This duo of flowing layers and subtle highlights is simply stunning! That airy and voluminous effect! That beautiful face-frame! It is a low-maintenance but very cute option for your new look.

28. Short Warm Brown Balayaged Butterfly Cut

This short butterfly haircut stands out with its tousled layers and textured finish. Hair colorist added delicate highlights for a stylish, modern enhancement to the cut.

29. Heavy-Layered Bottom Short Butterfly Cut

A really striking hairstyle with a very pleasant unique flair. Its design adds substantial body to the lower part of the hair. Effortless maintenance, statement, volume – it has it all!

30. Dark Brunette Short Butterfly Cut

The absence of bangs ensures a very cute clean, open look. A low-maintenance, refined and versatile look!

How to Achieve a Butterfly Cut on Short Hair

To do this cut yourself at home, the ponytail method is a great option.

You will need: a comb, two elastics, sharp professional hair-cutting shears.

The step-by-step guide:

• Start with wet hair and create a line with the comb across the top of the head just behind the ears. This will give you a front and back section.
• Using the comb to keep the hair smooth, bring the front section to the center of the forehead and secure it with a hair tie. Ensure this ponytail is tight to avoid unevenness.
• Smooth the back section up into a high ponytail close to the line created for sectioning.
• Holding the front ponytail tight, cut a few inches off, using the natural direction of the ponytail as a guide. This over-direction will create layering while maintaining more length than you might expect.
• Slightly over-direct the back ponytail forward and cut the same amount of hair.

For shorter hair, thinning shears can be used to thin out the layers about two inches from the ends, helping to achieve the butterfly cut effect.

How to Style a Short Butterfly Cut

To style a butterfly cut on short hair, aim for an airy look starting at the mouth and tapering at the ends for a wing-like effect when blow-dried away from the face. Stylists recommend using a round brush or hot brush.

• Apply a volumizing spray or mousse to the roots of damp hair
• Rough dry 50% of the moisture out of the hair upside down to lift the roots.
• Use a blow dryer and round brush or blowout brush attachment to create big, bouncy waves directed away from the face.
• Finish with a texturizing spray for volume and hold.
• For added volume around the face, stylists suggest adding curtain bangs starting around the corner of the eye or cheekbone.

For naturally wavy hair, this cut and length can be styled by adding a product like a curl mousse and air drying to enhance movement.