25 Butterfly Cut for Short Hair Women
The butterfly cut—characterized by face-framing layers that “wing out” like butterfly wings—isn’t just for long locks.
This versatile technique brings movement, texture, and flattering dimension to shorter styles, creating the illusion of fullness and face-enhancing framing.
Ready to transform your short hair with this trendy cut?
These 25 butterfly-inspired short hairstyles offer plenty of options for every face shape and hair texture.
Discover how butterfly layering can elevate your short style from pixies to bobs to new heights.
1: Classic Short Butterfly Bob
This foundational style features a chin-length bob with butterfly layers concentrated around the face.
The strategic layering creates movement and dimension while maintaining the clean bob silhouette.
Ask your stylist for a chin-length cut with face-framing layers that start at the cheekbones and blend into the rest of the hair. This versatile style works with straight or wavy textures.
Style by blowing out the face-framing pieces away from your face to emphasize the butterfly “wing” effect.
2: Pixie Butterfly Cut
This ultra-short interpretation incorporates butterfly-inspired layering into a classic pixie cut.
The face-framing pieces create softness around your features while the back maintains the pixie’s signature shortness.
Request longer pieces around your face that can be styled outward like butterfly wings with a shorter, textured back.
This bold approach works beautifully with fine to medium hair textures.
Use a small round brush when blow-drying to encourage the face-framing pieces to flip outward for the butterfly effect.
3: Curly Butterfly Bob
This texture-celebrating style incorporates butterfly layering specifically designed to enhance natural curls.
The strategic cutting technique creates shape and definition while maintaining your curl pattern.
Ask for a curly bob with face-framing layers cut to enhance your natural curl formation.
This specialized approach requires a stylist experienced with curly hair textures.
Define your curls with curl-specific products to showcase the butterfly shape created by the strategic layering.
4: Asymmetrical Butterfly Lob
This modern interpretation features a longer bob (lob) with an asymmetrical cut enhanced by butterfly layering.
The uneven length creates dynamic movement while the butterfly layers frame your face beautifully.
Request an asymmetrical lob with shorter layers on one side that wing outward around your face.
This contemporary approach adds edge to the feminine butterfly technique.
Style with a flat iron, curling the ends outward to emphasize the butterfly wing effect of the face-framing layers.
5: French Bob with Butterfly Fringe
This Parisian-inspired style combines a jaw-length French bob with butterfly-layered bangs that blend into face-framing pieces.
The structured bob with softening butterfly elements creates the perfect balance.
Ask for a classic French bob with bangs incorporating butterfly layering at the edges to blend with the face-framing sections.
This sophisticated approach offers the structure of a bob with movement around the face.
Style with a round brush to create subtle curves in the butterfly-layered sections that soften the bob’s clean lines.
6: Shaggy Butterfly Cut
This textured style incorporates butterfly layering throughout a shaggy, heavily layered short cut.
The combination creates maximum movement and piece-y texture with a rock-inspired edge.
Request intensive layering throughout with emphasized face-framing butterfly pieces.
This textured approach works particularly well with wavy or naturally textured hair.
Enhance the shaggy texture with sea salt spray and scrunch-drying for maximum separation and butterfly wing definition.
7: Graduated Butterfly Bob
This architectural style features a graduated bob (shorter in back, longer in front) with butterfly layers around the face.
The graduation’s technical precision adds structure, while the butterfly elements add softness.
Ask for a classic graduated bob with additional butterfly layering around your face.
This balanced approach combines technical precision with face-enhancing movement.
Blow-dry with a round brush, directing the face-framing layers outward to emphasize the butterfly effect.
8: Butterfly Pixie Bob
This hybrid style combines elements of both pixie and bob cuts with butterfly-inspired face-framing.
The longer top and face-framing pieces create the butterfly effect while the back maintains a shorter pixie length.
Request longer top and face-framing sections with a shorter, pixie-like back.
This versatile approach offers pixie convenience with bob-like styling options in front.
Style the longer front sections away from your face to create the signature butterfly wing effect around your features.
9: Butterfly Curtain Bangs Bob
This trendy combination pairs a short bob with butterfly-inspired curtain bangs that wing outward from a center part.
The face-framing technique creates the butterfly effect while maintaining the bob’s clean lines.
Ask for a short bob with center-parted curtain bangs that blend into face-framing butterfly layers.
This fashionable approach offers the structure of a bob with trendy curtain-bang styling.
Blow-dry the bangs away from your face using a round brush to create the perfect curtain effect that mimics butterfly wings.
10: Textured Butterfly Crop
This contemporary style features a cropped cut with longer, butterfly-inspired pieces around the face.
The short back and sides with longer face framing create a dramatic contrast with maximum impact.
Request a short crop with significantly longer pieces around your face that can be styled into butterfly wings.
This bold approach creates striking dimension with minimal maintenance.
Use texturizing paste to piece out the longer sections, creating definition that enhances the butterfly layering.
11: Butterfly A-Line Bob
This structural style features an A-line bob (shorter in the back, longer in the front) with butterfly layering around the face.
The fluttery face-framing pieces soften the strong geometric shape.
Ask for an A-line bob with subtle butterfly layering concentrated at the front sections. This technical approach balances strong lines with softening face-framing elements.
Blow-dry with a round brush, flipping the ends slightly outward to enhance the butterfly effect of the face-framing sections.
12: Curly Pixie with Butterfly Layers
This texture-celebrating style features a short pixie cut with longer butterfly-inspired layers on top and around the face.
The strategic cutting enhances your natural curl pattern while creating the butterfly shape.
Request a curly pixie with longer face-framing pieces that wing outward when styled. This specialized approach requires a stylist experienced with curly hair textures.
Define your curls with curl-specific products to enhance the natural butterfly shape the layering creates.
13: Micro Butterfly Bob
This ultra-short interpretation features a shorter-than-chin-length bob with delicate butterfly layering around the face.
The petite proportions create a dainty, feminine effect with maximum precision.
Ask for a very short bob with subtle butterfly layers framing your face.
This precise approach works particularly well with fine hair that benefits from movement and dimension.
Style with minimal product to maintain lightness and movement in the butterfly-layered sections.
14: Butterfly Wolf Cut Bob
This trendy hybrid combines elements of the popular wolf cut (shaggy, mullet-inspired layering) with butterfly face-framing in a bob length.
The edgy wolf elements paired with butterfly softness creates an interesting contrast.
Request wolf-inspired layering throughout with emphasized butterfly pieces around your face.
This fashion-forward approach adds rock-inspired texture with face-flattering framing.
Enhance the intentionally piece-y texture with texturizing spray for maximum definition and movement.
15: Butterfly Lob with Side Part
This versatile style features a collarbone-grazing long bob with a deep side part that emphasizes the butterfly face-framing on one side.
The asymmetrical parting creates dramatic butterfly wing effect on the heavier side.
Ask for a lob with butterfly layering concentrated on the side with more hair.
This adaptable approach works beautifully with straight, wavy, or curly textures.
Style with a flat iron, directing the face-framing pieces away from your face to enhance the butterfly wing effect.
16: Layered Butterfly Pixie
This dimensional style incorporates butterfly-inspired layering throughout a traditional pixie cut.
The varied lengths create movement and texture while maintaining the pixie’s signature shortness.
Request a pixie with longer layers on top and around your face that can be styled into butterfly-like pieces.
This textured approach adds dimension to the typically uniform pixie cut.
Use a texturizing product to create piece-y definition that showcases the butterfly-inspired layering.
17: Blunt Butterfly Bob
This contemporary combination pairs a blunt, one-length bob with butterfly face-framing layers.
The contrast between the clean perimeter and the textured face-framing creates an interesting textural juxtaposition.
Ask for a blunt bob with butterfly layers just around your face.
This balanced approach maintains a blunt cut’s strong, graphic line with softening elements around your features.
Blow-dry with a round brush, focusing on creating outward movement just in the face-framing sections.
18: Butterfly Bob with Curtain Bangs
This fashionable style combines a classic bob with trendy curtain bangs and butterfly layering that connects the two.
The seamless transition creates a cohesive silhouette with maximum face-framing benefits.
Request a bob with curtain bangs that blend into butterfly-layered pieces around your face.
This on-trend approach offers multiple face-framing elements that work together harmoniously.
Style the bangs and face-framing sections away from your face to create the signature butterfly wing effect.
19: Butterfly-Inspired Bixie
This hybrid style combines elements of bob and pixie cuts with butterfly-inspired face-framing.
The “bixie” length provides the perfect foundation for butterfly layering, which softens the sometimes boxy shape.
Ask for a cut between bob and pixie length with emphasized butterfly layers around your face.
This contemporary approach offers the edge of a pixie with the softness of butterfly framing.
Use a small round brush to style the face-framing sections outward for the butterfly effect.
20: Retro Butterfly Flip Bob
This vintage-inspired style features a classic chin-length bob with butterfly layers styled into a ’60s-inspired flip.
The retro styling enhances the butterfly effect for a playful, nostalgic look.
Request a classic bob with butterfly layering concentrated at the ends and around your face. This timeless approach allows for modern or retro styling versatility.
Use a round brush and blow-dryer to create an exaggerated outward flip that maximizes the butterfly wing effect.
21: Butterfly Pageboy Bob
This sophisticated style updates the classic pageboy bob with butterfly-inspired face-framing layers.
The structured shape with softening butterfly elements creates elegant balance.
Ask for a traditional pageboy bob with subtly integrated butterfly layering around your face.
This refined approach adds movement to the typically uniform pageboy silhouette.
Blow-dry with a round brush, creating the pageboy’s characteristic under-curve while allowing the face-framing pieces to wing outward slightly.
22: Butterfly Bowl Cut
This edgy interpretation adds butterfly face-framing to a modern bowl cut.
The blunt perimeter with softening butterfly layers creates an interesting contrast with artistic appeal.
Request a contemporary bowl cut with butterfly-inspired pieces incorporated around your face.
This fashion-forward approach softens the sometimes-severe bowl cut silhouette.
Style with fingers and texturizing product to create piece-y definition in the butterfly-layered sections.
23: Choppy Butterfly Bob
This textured style features deliberately choppy, disconnected layers throughout a bob with emphasized butterfly pieces around the face.
The intentionally uneven cutting creates edgy, rock-inspired dimension.
Ask for point-cutting and razor techniques to create choppy texture with longer butterfly sections framing your face.
This textured approach works particularly well with straight to wavy hair.
Enhance the intentionally messy look with texturizing paste worked through dry hair for piece-y definition.
24: Butterfly Bob with Micro Bangs
This dramatic combination pairs a classic bob with ultra-short micro bangs and butterfly layers connecting the two.
The graphic bangs create a strong contrast with the softer butterfly elements.
Request a bob with tiny baby bangs that gradually transition into butterfly-layered face-framing pieces.
This bold approach creates architectural interest with maximum impact.
Style the butterfly sections away from your face while keeping the micro bangs straight for intentional contrast.
25: Butterfly-Layered Wedge
This updated classic incorporates butterfly face-framing into a traditional wedge cut.
The wedge’s technical precision creates structure, while the butterfly elements add softness and movement.
Ask for a classic wedge shape with butterfly layering integrated around your face.
This balanced approach updates the sometimes-dated wedge with contemporary butterfly elements.
Blow-dry with a round brush, emphasizing the wedge’s characteristic graduated shape while allowing the face-framing pieces to wing outward.
Conclusion
The butterfly cut offers incredible versatility for short hair, adding movement, dimension, and face-enhancing framing.
Whether you prefer sleek bobs or textured pixies, these butterfly-inspired styles will elevate your short hair with flattering, on-trend results.
