The 'jellyfish haircut' is the celebrity-loved hair trend you've seen everywhere – 14 ways to style the modern look
The jellyfish haircut first gained popularity in Japan and South Korea but has since made its global debut – and as an experimental hair girlie (read: commitment-phobe), I couldn't be happier. But with such an ambiguous name, what actually is the jellyfish haircut? Who is it best suited to? And of course, how is it best styled?
Well, to get the lowdown on all things jellyfish, we spoke to professional hairstylist Chlöe Swift, who shared her expertise on everything we need to know about the rising trend. Let's just hope it doesn't sting, hey...
The jellyfish haircut is not for the faint-hearted, merging two polarising haircuts together, making for an avant-garde look. "There are two distinct layers; a short, blunt bob shape cut to around chin level, followed by long, flowing layered hair underneath," Chlöe explains, "and together, this resembles the shape of a jellyfish."
The style, however, can be modified with graduating layers to soften the striking contrast of lengths. (See the inspiration pictures below for varying iterations of the cut.)
You may have spotted its rising popularity over the last couple of years, with celebrities including Billie Eilish, Miley Cyrus and Gwen Stefani all jumping onto the trend. And while it's not all that new, trends do take a few years to filter down into the mainstream, meaning it's only going to continue to grow! In fact, Chlöe predicts we'll still be seeing the jellyfish and iterations of this cut in 2026. Watch this space...
"It's definitely a fun haircut trend for those who like to stand out, make bold and creative style statements and are happy to experiment with their hair," Chlöe notes. So, who dares to rock the jellyfish?
"Naturally, straight hair works so well for a sleek and sharp look to your jellyfish cut," Chlöe says. This is because the layers are more defined with this hair type. "But equally," Chlöe adds, "naturally wavy or curly hair (from 2b – 3b) can also work for a softer, more natural feel."
In terms of hair texture, Chlöe says that thick hair is best suited to the jellyfish cut. "If you have very thick hair, this cut is a good style option for you as the shorter layers reduce a lot of bulk in the hair."
More generally, layered hair requires a little TLC when it comes to styling, and the jellyfish cut is no exception. "For a sleek and structured look, blow dry the hair smooth with a round brush and hair dryer, but aim not to bend the ends under too much with the round brush," advises Chlöe.
"I'd recommend applying products to damp hair. This will give you that sleek, glass hair shine." Both a fave of Chlöe's and team Cosmo Beauty is the Redken Acidic Bonding Concentrate Leave In Treatment; it leaves the hair ultra smooth and glossy, as well as protecting strands from heat damage.
That said, if you're aiming for a more wearable style, we've got good news; Chlöe shares that the jellyfish cut can also be styled naturally if you're working with wavy or curly hair. In this case, a texturising spray or mousse will be your BFF to give a more casual, lived-in vibe.
Follow Lia on Instagram.
Lia Mappoura (she/her) is the Beauty Writer at Cosmopolitan UK. Covering everything from viral celebrity hair and makeup news to the latest trend predictions, she's an expert in recognising the season's next big beauty look (before it ends up all over your social media feeds). You'll usually find her putting TikTok's recent beauty hacks to the Hype Test, challenging the gender-makeup binary and social stereotypes, or fangirling over the time Kourtney Kardashian viewed her Instagram Story (yes, it's true). Find her also on LinkedIn.
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