The ‘Jellyfish Cut’ Is The Nicole Kidman-Approved Hair Trend Making A Splash On TikTok (2024)

Every so often, beauty trends either come full circle or develop a new iteration that’s so left of field, it’s near impossible to understand where they even originated from.

Now, TikTok’s has its eyes on a haircut trend that’s rather fishy to the eye—meet the ‘Jellyfish Cut’.

Lead image via @_yanyanchan.

Come 2022 and it’s clear that spending hours sourcing a chic new style isn’t top of the agenda. Instead, many are opting for edgy cuts that take the hassle out of heating up the curling iron and putting the work into our stylists hands.

Thankfully, this layer-loving cut isn’t even a tricky style for your hair professional to take a whirl at, two levels of trimming and it’s finished. Not only that but Hollywood’s A-list have jumped on the sea creature bandwagon, with Australia’s own Nicole Kidman sporting the Jellyfish Cut in her latest photoshoot.

In a recent interview for the cover of Perfect Magazine, Kidman donned a series of Gen Z-approved fashion moments, even flexing some serious triceps, but it was her mane that caught the world’s attention. The natural red head went back to her crimson roots, this time with hip-length tresses that were masterfully cut into the TikTok-approved trend.

For Kidman’s version of the controversial cut, her mane was pin straight with the top third of her ‘do chopped to sit around chin length and the rest falling by her sides and finishing around her hip level.

If you look closely there are subtle layers sprinkled throughout for a dose of texture, but of course, there’s a good chance that her edgy mane is simply a wig—unless Kidman is walking the streets of Hollywood with a mullet, then we’ll happily eat crow.

Below, we deep dive into the Jellyfish Cut hair trend—from what it actually is to how you can style the look yourself.

What Is the Jellyfish Haircut?

Before you panic, the hairstyle has nothing to do with marine life other than the inspiration behind its shape. And if the name sounds familiar to you, then there’s a good chance you’re thinking about another sea creature-related trend, the Octopus Cut.

While both resemble their own tentacled creature, the jellyfish haircut’s silhouette features a rounded, bell-like shape that’s similar to the body of the floating, stinging creature.

Essentially, the cut is an interesting spin on a mullet and a bowl cut, with the layers between the front and back of the hair sectioned off, playing on contrasting lines and shapes. Looking at the trend a little closer, the cut is separated into two vastly different sections. The top portion acts as the formerly-mentioned bowl cut—ending dramatically around the ear or the chin—with the bottom half making up the under layer of the hair, and ending past the shoulders, to resemble the jellyfish’s tentacles.

While there are endless iterations of the cut, anything that sees the hair divided into two sections that are drastically different in length will likely be an homage to the jellyfish.

How to Style a Jellyfish Haircut

If you’re looking to make an ocean-sized statement with your tresses, then the jellyfish cut is for you. As for how to style the cut, it may look incredibly daunting, but thankfully it doesn’t have to be.

Starting off with the initial cut, make sure that its tailored to suit your face shape—think which lengths will be the most flattering. Playing with the two lengths of the cut should see you figuring out the best ways to contour or illuminate your face shape. So, those with a rounder face could opt for longer layers, while those with a strong jawline could keep the first layer below the jaw.

No matter your hair texture, the jellyfish cut will compliment any curl pattern and is, thankfully, rather easy to maintain. Aside from a slight touch up with a heat appliance, the jellyfish cut is essentially a wash-and-go haircut. Mix it up a little by keeping your hair pin straight and making the layers noticable or add texture with balms and sprays to create a subtler difference in length.

If you’re ready to take the plunge, then we suggest taking a series of inspiration photos to your hair stylist. While, sure, they may know the exact haircut you’re talking about, a specific reference point is always welcomed with open arms.