What is the Jellyfish haircut and why is it trending?
Kate Bowie explores the aquatic hairstyle that’s flooding social media.
If there’s one thing about Gen-Z that every other generation can’t quite wrap their heads around, it’s their affinity for strange haircuts. Where previous generations might have exited the hairdressers with a few layers, short back and side, maybe even a bob if they were feeling crazy, such tame trims simply won’t cut it among today’s teenagers. This week’s wild look? ‘The jellyfish’.
Hearing the name, it’s difficult to immediately imagine what the jellyfish haircut might look like. Images of carefully placed dreadlocks, translucent bleaching and stinger-esque hair foil flash through the mind. Admittedly, my first thought was impossible anti-gravity haircuts bobbing along the pavement. In reality, the jellyfish haircut is slightly more simple.
@sillyyerba Reply to @bondjonescreations im starting a jellyfish club with jelly themed events for those interested! I’m setting up the Discord for it today! Stay tuned for an offical announcement soon! It’s going to be so cute. If you don’t have the haircut you can be a baby jellyfish. Theyre called ephyrae 🥹 excuse the mess! We are in the middle of rearranging right now!💓💓 if you read this ur a qt #jellyfishhaircut #sorryitsmari #hair360 #hairquestions #jellyfishhair #diyhair
♬ Jellyfish – Declan DP & Kodomoi
Somewhere between a mullet and a bowl cut, the jellyfish is first and foremostly a liminal style. It boils down to a round, high, bob covering a longer layer of hair that remains close to the neck. A sort of reverse-undercut, it’s easy to see why how it resembles its name-sake aquatic animal. Like any good quirky haircut, there’s more than one way to do it. Some wearers are opting for chunky layers, while some are leaning into the cut’s naturally angular shape. It’s also no surprise that, with a name like ‘the jellyfish’, many a Gen-Z have plastered theirs with the dreamy colours of an underwater kingdom.
@dear.tina I finally remembered to do a hair360 before my hair got too oily 🥴 #hair360 #hairstyleinspo #jellyfishhair #jellyfishhaircut #hairstylereference
The steep incline in the cuts popularity can be easily traced back to Nicole Kidman’s recent feature in Perfect magazine. While many initially shared the photos after being stunned by Kidman’s ripped physique, the younger generation was preoccupied with her the crimson jellyfish haircut. As with any self-respecting 2022 style trend, the cut has also found fame on Tik Tok. Users have been helpfully sharing styling tips and 360° reference videos, to the dismay of parents and stylists everywhere.
While the look might scream avant-garde to them, those in the know are aware that this is far from the first time the world has seen the jellyfish. Its first iteration is the ‘Hime’ style that originated thousands of years ago during Japan’s Heian period. In less ancient history, the jellyfish is also reminiscent of the pageboy cut of the 1970’s. Carol Brady of Brady Bunch fame may well be the first to rock its modernised descendant.
While the jellyfish seems bizarre at first, its popularity makes complete sense when you take in the rest of the current haircut landscape. With mullets, wolf cuts and shags left right and centre, it’s clear that standing out is the new fitting in. The ‘weird girl aesthetic’ is currently ruling fashion trends and its spokeswoman is none other than internationally acclaimed super model Bella Hadid. In an age where off-putting is the most fashionable thing you can be, why not turn yourself int a sea creature?
Words by Kate Bowie
