What is a jellyfish haircut?
A jellyfish cut is a two-section style with a bob on top and a long bottom. The bottom is left to grow, often with curled ends, but you can style it however you want. The bob is unblended, with the disconnected legs working with the bob to emulate the appearance of a jellyfish. It is inspired by the Japanese ‘hime,’ or princess cut, of the Heian era. The jellyfish cut has been worn by popular anime characters like Hinata Hyuga from Naruto and Maki Zenin from Jujutsu Kaisen. While a jellyfish cut sports curled ends, a hime cut is usually worn straight. The hime cut also sports dramatic layers in the front while the jellyfish cut sports them all around.
How to Ask For a Jellyfish Haircut
Ask your stylist to keep the length and cut short, rounded layers on top. Request bangs, length in the back, and strong layers around the face. Let them know that you want your hair cut into two distinct sections. The rounded layers on top will add movement, making the legs of your jellyfish cut more flexible. Bring reference photos to show your stylist exactly what you want. If you want layers in your hair, ask that your stylist does a layered or feathered cut. Both cuts spread out the volume, with the layered cut helping refine your face shape and the feathered cut accentuating your jawline and cheekbones. A layered cut is when your stylist cuts different sections of your hair into different lengths to create layers. For a feathered cut, your stylist also cuts your hair into different sections to create layers, but the hair is cut in a way that resembles feathers. For more definition, ask your stylist to use a texturizer.
Maintaining a Jellyfish Haircut
To maintain your jellyfish haircut, regularly trim the front and sides. When you visit the salon, let your stylist know that you want to keep the length but tighten the bob. Maintenance is fairly simple, as the top will need to be cut more frequently to maintain the shape, while the bottom can be trimmed every few months. To keep the cut’s shape, roughly blow dry while brushing with a cylinder hairbrush, making sure to flip the ends to maintain the shape of the top section. Then, apply a texturizing spray so the layers are able to pop.
Ways to Style a Jellyfish Haircut
Put it into a ponytail. A ponytail gives you versatility. It lets you keep some hair in your face while giving your neck some room to breathe. It can also be worn in various ways. For a taller look that adds some extra room up top, you can wear a high ponytail. If you want to put your hair up but still show off some length, a low ponytail is a suitable option. Be careful with tight ponytails, as frequently wearing them can damage your hair follicles and lead to hair loss.
Put it into pigtails. Pigtails provide a playful look. Sport this style if you’re looking to keep your face covered but get your hair off of your neck. If you have a rounder face and want to wear pigtails while still keeping it covered, the jellyfish haircut is a good style for you. Hide the pigtails behind the edges of the bob for a sneakingly striking look.
Dye it. Consider dyeing your hair in sections for a more dynamic look. Dye the top and bottom sections different colors for a bold look. For more versatility, dye different strands with different colors. Mix black and red for an edgy look or add blue streaks for a more subdued look.
Go for a voluminous look. A voluminous jellyfish haircut is great for oval faces. The high volume makes for a big look that compliments the rounded pointedness of an oval face. It’s a great look if you want to even out your face and sport an edgy cut. For a simple blowout look, hair stylist Danielle Chiz suggests using a blowout brush, which can dry and smooth your hair at the same time.
Go for a straight look. A straight jellyfish haircut helps elongate round and diamond-shaped faces. It provides a curtain for the edges of the face and has a lot of top volume, which draws the eyes up and creates the illusion of length. Straightening your hair also helps add length towards the bottom, which makes the face appear longer than it really is. Be careful not to damage your hair when straightening it, as split ends and frizziness are more common when you frequently apply heat.
Similar Haircuts
Octopus Cut If you’re looking for something more blended, consider the octopus cut. It has more volume at the top of the head with long, shaggy layers towards the bottom. The top-heavy volume makes it a great choice for those with round faces.
Wolf Cut A wolf cut takes the layers and length of a shag and combines it with the bangs of a mullet to create a look that is textured and full of volume. Whereas a jellyfish cut has long, slim legs, a wolf cut is thick and choppy. It is a great alternative if you want a cut with more natural volume.
Butterfly cut A butterfly cut has short layers on the outside and long layers on the inside. The short layers sit around the chin, while the long layers stretch down to the shoulders, creating a look that’s reminiscent of butterfly wings. For a look that’s more casual than the jellyfish cut, go with the butterfly cut.
Mullet A mullet is a great option if you want to play it safe. It still provides you with the length of a jellyfish cut, but instead of two sections it’s one. The sides are cut to provide a dynamic look, and this classic cut is instantly recognizable.
Bob A bob provides the same clean-cut look as the head of the jellyfish cut but trades in the length. It is a good option if you are looking for something more classy and low maintenance.
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