Social media is full of haircut trends. It’s brought the likes of the shaggy bob and the 60s-inspired cropped ’do back on our radar, and we’re forever grateful.

While the names of those cuts speak for themselves, so too does the more experimental ‘jellyfish’ haircut trend that’s been rife on social media recently. The multi-layered look can either appear perfectly tousled or super-sleek depending on the vibe you’re going for. While it’s not for everyone, it’s not as out there as the name might suggest.

According to Pinterest Predicts, the #JellyfishHaircut saw a +615% increase in searches in 2023 and the hype hasn’t plateaued since. To prove the jellyfish has a place on your hairspo board, we spoke to Cos Sakkas, Toni&Guy’s global creative director, to break down the trend. “The jellyfish is a bolder version of the mullet – more disconnection, texture and a fresher feel than the mullet haircut,” says Sakkas.

You might be wondering where it got its marine-inspired name from. “The style is two haircuts in one – the top mimics the shape of a jellyfish with the outer layer hugging the shape of the head while the lower layer can be as long or as short as you want it to be. It looks like a bowl cut with tentacles,” explains Sakkas.

The good news is that he believes the style is pretty low maintenance all things considered. You can either embrace the texture the short layers create or, if you’ve got finer, straight hair, the style can look super smooth and silky.

One of the benefits is that you don’t have to sacrifice the length of your hair to nail the shape. It’s also compatible with a variety of hair types. “The jellyfish haircut suits most hair types, especially medium to thick hair; fine hair may not hold the shape as well,” says Sakkas.

Due to the disconnected layers, you can wear it with wavy, curly or straight hair – take your pick. Either way, you’re never going to be lacking in volume. 

Images: Getty