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Butterfly Haircut with Bangs: What It Is and How to Style the Layered Haircut
The butterfly haircut with bangs (also known as a fringe) is a layered hairstyle that looks effortless, even when a round brush deserves a quiet mention. Built for movement and lift, it’s a haircut that knows how to wing it.
In a butterfly cut with bangs, soft, flowing layers are cut to lift, flick and settle naturally, creating bounce and shape. The bangs meet the eyes with a soft-but-bold finish, bringing rooftop‑at‑sunset energy with social‑butterfly ease. Relaxed, wearable and never trying too hard.
More than just a trim, the butterfly haircut with bangs is a modern take on layered hair that adds volume at the crown while keeping length through the ends. Styled well, the layers don’t just sit – they take flight.
Follow our step-by-step guide to styling curly curtain bangs and expect more good hair days, but on your terms.
What is a Butterfly Haircut with Bangs?
The butterfly haircut with bangs is a modern layered haircut inspired by the voluminous styles of the 1970s and 1990s. It combines lift, movement, and soft face-framing while maintaining overall length. It blends shorter layers through the crown with longer layers underneath, creating the airy, wing-like effect that gives the style its name. It serves all the drama of a short haircut, but without the post-salon panic.
When paired with bangs – from soft curtain bangs to something fuller – the shorter feathered layers feel more defined, helping frame the face and highlight the cut’s signature lift.
SHOP THE LOOK
GHD VOLUME FOREVER - VOLUMIZING BLOW DRY CREAM
GHD DUET BLOWDRY HAIR DRYER BRUSH IN BLACK
GHD THE COMB OUT - DETANGLING COMB
GHD PERFECT ENDING - FINAL FIX HAIRSPRAY 400ML
How to Style the Butterfly Haircut Step-by-Step
PREP & HEAT PROTECTION
Rub a generous amount of ghd Volume Forever in your palms, working through the mid-lengths and ends. Twist the ends around your fingers to help coat them evenly.
TWIST ENDS AND ROUGH DRY THE HAIR
Using ghd Duet Blowdry, start by lightly drying the hair all over. This first pass removes excess moisture and prepares the hair for styling.
BLOW-DRY IN SECTIONS
Section the hair, then wrap each section around the tool, towards the face. Hold it at the roots for a few seconds before slowly rotating it through the lengths while gliding downwards. Repeat 2-3 passes on each section until the hair is fully dry.
SHAPE THE FACE-FRAMING LAYERS
When working on the front sections, alternate the direction of the brush so the hair flicks away from the face on both sides. After releasing each section, wrap the curl around your finger to help it set.
COMB OUT THE CURLS
Once the hair is fully dry, gently comb through with ghd The Comb Out detangling comb to soften the curls and separate the layers.
SET THE FINISH
Finish with a generous mist of ghd Perfect Ending hairspray to lock the shape in place, lightly spritzing throughout for even coverage.
FINAL LOOK
SHOP THE LOOK
GHD BODYGUARD - HEAT PROTECT SPRAY FOR ALL HAIR TYPES
GHD CHRONOS PROFESSIONAL HAIR STRAIGHTENER (26MM PLATE) BLACK
GHD PERFECT ENDING - FINAL FIX HAIRSPRAY 400ML
PREP BANGS WITH HEAT PROTECTION
Start with damp bangs and mist them generously with ghd Bodyguard heat protect spray to help guard against heat damage before styling.
BLOW-DRY WITH A ROUND BRUSH
Lift the bangs over a medium round brush and blow-dry from above, moving the brush slightly up and down as the hair wraps around it. This helps create the soft curve that flicks outwards before turning gently back towards the face.
REFINE THE FLICK
Once dry, split the bangs down the centre and sweep each side outwards to create a curtain shape. For extra definition, lightly tap the ends with ghd Chronos hair straightener, lifting the tool slightly as you move through the tips.
SET AND SHAPE
Pinch the bangs lightly at the top to lift it slightly, then mist with ghd Perfect Ending. Finish by sweeping the bangs back into place with your fingers so the sides fall into that soft butterfly “wing” shape.
FINAL LOOK
Pinch the bangs lightly at the top to lift it slightly, then mist with ghd Perfect Ending. Finish by sweeping the bangs back into place with your fingers so the sides fall into that soft butterfly “wing” shape.
How to Blow-Dry Layered Hair for Volume
A good, layered haircut already does a lot of the work, but the way it's blow-dried is what really brings it to life. Just a few tweaks – from the products used to the way the brush moves through the hair – can make a huge difference to how the layers fall.
Build a base for volume
Layers look their best when the hair has a little support from the start. A volumising blow-dry cream, ghd Volume Forever, worked through damp hair helps create that base. It adds body without weighing the hair down.
Lift the roots while drying
Volume usually starts at the roots. ghd Pick Me Up can be applied directly at the scalp for targeted lift. Even this small step can help layered hair look fuller.
Shape the layers with a round brush
Once the hair is mostly dry, a round brush helps bring out the layers. Medium sections can be wrapped loosely around the brush while the hairdryer is directed down the length of the hair. As the brush turns, the layers start to curve and separate, creating that soft, bouncy finish associated with voluminous blow-dries.
Change the direction for natural movement
Professional blow-dries rarely style section in the same direction. Alternating how each section is styled, with some turned slightly away from the face and others towards it, helps break up the shape so the layers fall more naturally.
Allow the hair to cool before brushing through
Letting the hair cool before combing or brushing helps the style hold. That’s why salon blow-dries tend to last longer, with layers keeping their lift and bounce.
When layered hair is styled this way, the different lengths move more freely, creating the airy, voluminous finish that makes styles like the butterfly haircut look so light and full of life.
COMMON STYLING QUESTIONS ANSWERED BY OUR EXPERT GRANT WILLIAMS
What is the difference between a butterfly haircut and layered hair?
A butterfly haircut is technically a layered style, but the layers are placed in a very specific way. Shorter layers sit around the crown and face to create lift and volume, while longer lengths remain underneath. The result is a style that looks full and bouncy without losing overall length.
Is a butterfly haircut with bangs still in style?
Yes. The butterfly haircut has made a strong comeback in recent years as voluminous, layered styles are trending once again. The look blends the feathered glamour of the 70s with the bouncy blow-dries popular in the 90s. This makes the look feel both nostalgic and modern.
Does a butterfly haircut with bangs make hair look thicker?
Yes – when styled correctly. A butterfly haircut with bangs can create the appearance of thicker hair by adding lift at the crown and movement through the lengths. This layered structure helps create a softer, more voluminous shape. However, layering removes weight from the hair, which can reduce the appearance of density. This is why the right styling techniques are key to maximising volume and shape.
How long does hair need to be for a butterfly haircut?
Most butterfly haircuts work best on hair that falls around the collarbone or longer. The extra length gives the layers space to create that signature contrast between shorter, airy pieces at the top and longer lengths underneath.
What is the difference between a butterfly haircut and a wolf cut?
Although both styles have layers, the finish is quite different. The butterfly haircut focuses on soft volume and movement, while a wolf cut tends to be choppier, with more dramatic layering and a slightly edgier shape.