A Year Later, the Jellyfish Haircut Is *Still* Trending. Here's Why It's So Popular

There was a time when getting bangs was a very big deal, but in the TikTok era, we're seeing bolder, more experimental haircuts (with the most memorable names, might we add). From butterfly to octopus cuts, there are plenty of styles to choose from. One that caught our eye recently? The jellyfish haircut, which looks exactly how you’d picture it—a bulbous fullness on the top with longer, tentacle-like tresses on the bottom. To help explain the eccentric cut, we tapped three hairstylists, who offered some tips for getting (and maintaining) the cut, should you choose to make the chop yourself.

• Dayna Gamba is a barber and groomer at Rectify in Massachusetts. She also is a brand ambassador for BaByliss Pro and STMNT. She has a decade of experience in styling, cutting and educating others on hair.
• Brittany Guzman Dion is a hairstylist and artistic director for Aveda. She's also director of education for the Dolce Lusso Salon in North and South Carolina. She has two decades of experience styling and educating others on haircare.
• Juli Akaneya is a New York-based hairstylist who specializes in editorial, advertising and high fashion looks. She has previously worked with brands like Something Navy, Verb and Veronica Beard.

Inspired by the traditional Japanese hime cut, the jellyfish combines two classic styles: a blunt bob and a mullet. "[With a] jellyfish haircut, the hair on top is cut short and blunt (resembling a bob) and the hair underneath is left long and textured. This cut [resembles] a jellyfish, hence its name!" says Akaneya. "It's similar to a mullet or shag in the sense that the hair on top is much shorter than the hair underneath, but the sections are [even] more drastic and disconnected."

The main difference between a hime and jellyfish cut comes down to how drastic you make the top layers. "They're very similar styles. However, [with a hime cut], the dramatic short layers are only in the front and don't work all the way around [your head] as they do with the jellyfish cut," Dion adds. "The jellyfish haircut [features] a short layered effect all the way around from front to back, which makes it look more like a bowl cut or a full bob on top."

Texture also plays a big part in distinguishing between the two trendy cuts. "The jellyfish haircut is often worn with natural, wavy ends and with the top section left straight and polished, whereas the hime haircut is usually worn very straight in its entirety," says Akaneya.

Short answer: Yes. To achieve the jellyfish haircut, book an appointment with a stylist who can tailor the style based on your hair type, hair density and face shape. For example, if you have a round face shape, you want the top layer to lay right above or right below your chin. This step will ensure the bob looks fuller and sharper. Meanwhile, those with a square face shape should consider keeping the top layers slightly below or at the jawline to frame your features. As for the bottom layer, that comes down to your hair texture. You can rock them long or short, but movement is key to getting the “tentacles” to flow seamlessly.

Believe it or not, the jellyfish haircut is actually a low-maintenance look. Once you get the chop, you don’t have to do much to turn heads. However, if you want to add more body to your locks, grab a few styling products that will accentuate the layers. Gamba recommends adding a dollop of shine paste to the top (focusing it on the mid-shaft and ends) before adding a wax powder to the “tentacles” for extra shine and bounce. 

Our experts also recommend using heat tools to add volume and shape to your jellyfish cut. Dion recommends using a blow dryer to get more movement and body on top before running a flat iron through the ends to define the shape. And if you want to take things up another notch, we've also seen some creators add braids and contrasting colors to really highlight the dramatic layers of this hybrid cut.