At De Cielo, we’ve cut more butterflies and shags in the last six months than in the previous two years combined. Every other consultation starts with a saved screenshot and the same question: “Can you do this on my hair?”
Yes. But a butterfly haircut and a shag haircut look completely different depending on your face shape, hair density, and daily styling routine. Here’s what we’re cutting right now and who each variant works best for.
What Makes These Two Cuts Different?
A butterfly uses soft, blended layers that keep your length intact while building volume at the crown. The shorter pieces frame the face and lift outward, while longer layers underneath hold the shape.
A shag is choppier by design. Point-cutting and razor techniques remove internal weight so the texture does the talking. The crown layers are more disconnected, the silhouette is looser, and the overall feel is undone rather than sculpted. Ask for the wrong one, and you’ll leave with a shape you didn’t expect.
5 Butterfly Haircuts We’re Cutting the Most
Classic Butterfly with Curtain Bangs
Curtain bangs flow into cheekbone-length layers for a seamless frame. This is the version Sabrina Carpenter made iconic. Best on round and oval faces with medium to thick hair.
Long Butterfly
Crown volume without losing inches. Graduated layers up top, full length at the bottom. Sydney Sweeney wears a version of this with highlights that move through the layers. Best on oval and heart faces with fine to medium density.
Shoulder-Length Butterfly
Face-framing pieces hit just below the chin, adding cheekbone width without end-weight. This trendy butterfly haircut in Burbank suits diamond and heart shapes, especially on wavy textures, where natural movement handles the styling.
Butterfly with Wispy Bangs
Lighter than curtain bangs, wispy fringe reduces the visual length of a longer forehead. Works on square and oblong faces with fine to medium hair. These need to be cut dry for accuracy.
Textured Butterfly for Natural Curls
When the elevation angle is adjusted for each curl type (2A through 3B), layers enhance the pattern instead of creating pyramid volume. Suits all face shapes and works beautifully air-dried.
5 Shag Haircuts Burbank Clients Keep Requesting
The Soft Modern Shag
This is the modern shag haircut in Burbank, CA, that clients reference most. Softer than the 70s original, with invisible layers that blend rather than disconnect. Works across oval, round, heart, and long faces on straight to wavy hair.
Wolf Cut Shag
More crown contrast, more edge. Zendaya wore a version of this on the red carpet with natural curls, proving a shag can look elegant. Best on oval and heart faces with medium to thick hair.
Curly Shag
For 2C to 3C curls, we remove bulk where it builds (behind the ears, at the nape) and redistribute shape toward the crown. Definition without crushing natural bounce. Works across all face shapes.
The Shag Bob
A solid entry point if you’ve never gone layered. Texturizing shears keep the ends soft and volume at the roots. Works especially well on square and angular faces, and it’s the first shag we’d recommend for fine or flat hair.
Feathered Long Shag
Razor-cut feathered edges give thick or wavy hair a lighter perimeter. Longer, graduated layers mean a graceful grow-out and trims you can stretch to every 10 weeks. Best on oblong and angular faces.
How We Approach These Cuts at De Cielo
Every cut at De Cielo Salon and Spa starts with a consultation. We assess hair density, growth pattern, texture, and your actual daily routine before picking up shears.
As a salon that daily gives butterfly haircuts to Burbank clients, we see clients bring the same photo and leave with ten different results. That’s intentional. We adapt the layering and face-framing to each person’s structure. The same precision applies to the shag haircut we do at our salon in Burbank, where controlled weight removal is what makes a shag look effortless rather than accidental.
Book Your Cut at De Cielo
Ready to get a butterfly haircut or a shag haircut in and around Burbank, CA, that’s built for your face and your hair type? Book at De Cielo Salon. Call (818) 524-2800 or visit our website to book an appointment.
FAQs
Which is better for thin hair, a butterfly cut or a shag?
A shag usually works better because shorter crown layers create lift where thin hair falls flat. Butterfly cuts rely on heavier layering that can make fine strands look sparse at the ends. A shag bob with minimal thinning at the bottom is the safest starting point for low-density hair.
How often should I trim a butterfly or shag cut?
Butterfly cuts hold shape well and need a trim every 8 to 10 weeks. Shags with shorter crown layers benefit from visits every 6 to 8 weeks. If you have bangs with either cut, a fringe trim at the 4-week mark keeps them off your eyes.
Can I get a butterfly or shag if my hair is curly?
Yes to both. Curly butterflies work on 2A to 3B patterns when layers follow the curl’s natural spring. Curly shags suit 2C to 3C patterns and are among the most requested curly cuts right now. The key is cutting dry or stretched so layers land correctly.
What should I tell my stylist before getting a butterfly or shag?
Tell your stylist where you want the shortest layer to start (cheekbone, chin, or below), how much time you spend styling each morning, and whether you air-dry or blow-dry. Those three details shape the cut more than any reference photo.
How long does my hair need to be for a butterfly cut?
Shoulder-length minimum. The butterfly depends on the contrast between shorter face-framing layers and longer ones underneath. If your hair sits above the collarbone, there isn’t enough length for that separation. A shag is more flexible and works starting from chin-length.
Does a butterfly or shag work on shorter hair?
A true butterfly needs collarbone length or longer for its signature silhouette. A modified version can work on a longer bob, but the effect is subtler. Shags adapt much better to shorter lengths. A shag bob sits at chin to collarbone, and even a pixie-length version works well on wavy or textured hair.
