You know, in my years as a hairstylist, I’ve seen countless trends come and go, but the Octopus Haircut? Now, that’s one that’s certainly caught my eye! Picture this: a harmonious blend of a shag, mullet, and a touch of the Rachel haircut – yes, it’s as daring as it sounds. It’s edgy yet undeniably chic.
At the heart of this style are the long curtain bangs that cascade just below the ears, mingling with textured layers reminiscent of, you guessed it, the flowing tentacles of an octopus. Wavy or curly-haired folks, you’re in luck! This cut enhances those natural bends, gifting volume that’s a sight to behold.
Pro tip: this cut absolutely dazzles with blonde hues - achieving a romantic aura that's hard to resist.
A Stylist’s Guide to Getting the Octopus Haircut
Choosing Your MaestroFrom a stylist’s chair, I can’t stress this enough – the magic is in the hands that wield the scissors. When diving into this style, opt for someone familiar with the Octopus terrain. Recommendations? Always golden. The internet? A treasure trove of reviews. Your perfect stylist awaits.
1. Striking the Right Chord with Length and Texture
While the Octopus flaunts those iconic curtain bangs, the rest of your crown revels in an array of layers. Straight-haired beauties might want to tease out some waves for that added drama. As for those with a wavy mane, sometimes, just letting nature play its course brings out the best version of this cut.
2. The Prep Before the Snip
Clean hair is a stylist’s canvas. Wash, condition, and perhaps even treat your tresses to a spa day before the big cut. As for the final look.
Pro tip: A picture speaks a thousand words. Bring along some reference snaps to ensure both you and your stylist share the same vision.
Crafting the Perfect Octopus Look
Having styled countless Octopus haircuts, I’ll let you in on a secret: while it’s chic, it does ask for a dash of effort. But fret not, here’s a tried-and-tested styling recipe:
1. Volume and Movement, The Dynamic Duo
With a round brush and blow dryer in your arsenal, partition your hair and work section by section. Start from the roots, stretch it towards the end, and let the heat do its magic. A spritz of finishing spray? The cherry on top.
2. Styling Nuances Across Hair Types
Fine hair: Boost it with a volumizing duo of shampoo and conditioner.
Thick locks: Keep it light with your conditioner.
Curly wonders: Sometimes, just letting them air dry brings out the Octopus’ charm.
3. A Cut Above the Rest: Maintenance
Between sessions, treat your tresses to deep conditioning. A dash of dry shampoo? It’s like a mini spa day for your hair, ensuring your Octopus remains the belle of the ball.
Personalizing Your Octopus: The Variations
As this trend has swayed through the salons, its iterations have danced across many a crown. Some that I’ve crafted and truly love:
1. The Octopus Shag
Desiring texture? This brings short layers to the party, ending in a wispy, rebellious look.
2. Octopus Rocks the Mullet
For the bold-hearted, a voluminous top blending into longer back layers. It screams punk and is a true head-turner.
3. Octopus Plays Peek-a-Boo with Bangs
Curtain bangs accompanied by an array of short layers. It’s a gentle, feminine spin on the Octopus that has heads turning for all the right reasons.
In all my years, the Octopus stands as a testament to the ever-evolving world of hair. Be it the shaggy rebel or the punk rockstar, the Octopus wears many hats, and I absolutely adore crafting each one. So, the next time you think of a change, why not dive deep and embrace the Octopus?
#1 Chestnut Brown Octopus Cut with Wavy Layers and Feathered Ends
This octopus haircut showcases a beautifully textured look with long, wavy layers cascading down and slightly feathered at the ends, creating an illusion of tentacle-like movement. The deep, chestnut brown hair is complemented by a full, soft fringe that frames the face, perfect for someone looking for a style that combines volume with a touch of whimsy.
#2 Spiraling Shoulder-Length Octopus Cut for Bouncy Curly Volume
Embrace natural curls with this playful take on the octopus haircut, where spiraling locks are cut to sit just above the shoulders, allowing for volume at the top that tapers down for that characteristic 'tentacle' effect. The dark, luscious curls are parted to one side, letting the hair frame the face beautifully, a fantastic choice for those looking to highlight their curly texture with a fun and bouncy silhouette.
#3 Raven Black Textured Shag with Pronounced Octopus Cut Edges
The octopus haircut here is transformed into a soft textured shag with weighty layers that fall effortlessly around the shoulders, featuring a pronounced edge that gives a voluminous top and thinned-out, wispy ends. A bold, straight-across fringe adds a dramatic frame to the face, while the raven black color provides a striking contrast, making this a great choice for anyone wanting to blend a classic shag with the edginess of an octopus cut.
#4 Bouncy Chocolate Octopus Cut with Soft Fringe and Cascading Waves
Soft, cascading layers define this octopus haircut, delivering a bouncy, voluminous look with the longer lengths gently framing the face and flowing into an abundance of waves. The subtle fringe brushes just past the eyebrows, offering a fresh and playful vibe, while the rich chocolate hue adds depth and warmth, making this style a versatile option for those seeking both flair and elegance in their next haircut.
#5 Soft Auburn Octopus Cut with Feathered Ends and Voluminous Crown
This octopus haircut is a harmonious blend of soft, face-framing layers and subtle volume at the crown, flowing into lighter, feathered ends that mimic the gentle tapering of tentacles. The sweeping side fringe integrates smoothly into the layers, providing a laid-back feel, and the warm auburn shade enhances the overall dimension, ideal for those wanting to add a touch of sophistication and movement to their hair.
#6 Mid-Length Bouncy Octopus Cut with Textured Fringe in Rich Caramel
The octopus haircut here features a chic, mid-length style with a bouncy, layered silhouette that adds a playful flair to the ends, reminiscent of an octopus’s tentacles. The light, textured fringe skims the eyebrows, complementing the dynamic layers, while the rich caramel hue gives off a sunny, vibrant vibe, perfect for anyone looking to refresh their look with a touch of youthful charm.
#7 Sleek Tapered Octopus Cut in Multi-Dimensional Chocolate Brown
This octopus haircut is skillfully layered, creating a sleek, tapered look that adds both body and movement, perfect for those who favor a more subtle take on the trend. The chocolate brown tones are multi-dimensional, enhancing the textured appearance of the cut, with the hair gently sweeping forward in light, feathery strokes to frame the face, offering a modern twist that's both stylish and easily manageable.
#8 Full-Bodied Long Octopus Cut with Sun-Kissed Balayage and Textured Ends
Flaunting an octopus haircut, this style boasts long, flowing layers that create a full-bodied look, tapering down to lighter, textured ends for that distinct, tentacle-like finish. The sweeping fringe seamlessly blends into the rest of the hair, and the sun-kissed balayage adds a touch of elegance, making it an excellent choice for someone seeking a sophisticated yet playful look.
#9 Dynamic Auburn Octopus Cut with Voluminous Crown and Wavy Ends
The octopus haircut here is presented in a stunning auburn tone, boasting dynamic layers that add volume around the crown and taper into a more subdued, wavy length towards the ends, embodying the style's signature look. A gentle side parting allows the soft, sweeping fringe to blend effortlessly into the hair, creating a seamless flow, making it a fantastic option for anyone desiring a hairstyle that's both full of life and elegantly frames the face.
#10 Tousled Modern Octopus Hairstyle with Brunette to Honey Blonde Highlights
This hairstyle flaunts a modern twist on the octopus haircut with its free-flowing layers that create an effortlessly tousled look, and the subtle highlights transition from a rich brunette to honeyed blonde tips, evoking a sun-kissed feel. The soft, side-swept fringe adds a delicate, face-framing element, making this multi-dimensional cut a perfect match for those looking to infuse a little beachy vibe into their everyday style.
#11 Sleek Subtle Octopus Cut in Rich Ebony for Understated Texture
Here's a sleek take on the octopus haircut, where the layers are less pronounced, creating a subtle, understated texture that's perfect for those preferring a smooth, blended look with a little edge. The rich, ebony shade enhances the sleekness of the style, and a gentle curve around the face adds a soft, feminine touch, ideal for someone looking for a low-maintenance yet fashionable cut.
#12 Edgy Choppy Octopus Haircut with Voluminous Crown and Deep Brunette Waves
This octopus haircut exudes an edgy vibe with its choppy, layered texture and a voluminous, tousled look that's particularly pronounced at the crown, cascading into relaxed waves at the ends. The heavy, side-swept fringe adds to the playful disarray, while the deep brunette color keeps the look grounded and versatile, an ideal choice for someone who loves a bold, rock-inspired style with a twist of whimsy.
#13 Sleek Inky Black Octopus Haircut with Graduated Layers for Mysterious Allure
This octopus haircut embodies a sleek, mysterious allure with its inky black waves that fall in graduated layers, creating a silhouette that's voluminous at the roots and tapers to delicate ends. The subtle curve of the hair as it sweeps across the back of the head adds an air of sophistication, making it an enchanting choice for anyone yearning for a hairstyle that's both elegant and has a hint of nocturnal drama.
#14 Playful Textured Octopus Cut with Choppy Layers in Rich Mocha
Octopus haircut is crafted with choppy layers that give a playful, textured look, achieving a balance between volume at the crown and tapered, feathered ends. The full, eyebrow-skimming fringe blends seamlessly into the shape, while the rich mocha hue adds a touch of warmth, perfect for someone looking for a fresh, low-maintenance style with personality.
#15 Luxurious Layered Auburn Octopus Haircut with Soft Flowing Silhouette
Sporting an octopus haircut, the hair cascades in luxurious layers that add movement and depth, creating a soft, flowing silhouette that frames the face beautifully. The rich auburn color provides a warm, inviting tone, while the wispy fringe peeks out to add a hint of mystery, making this an alluring option for anyone seeking a style with both grace and edge.
#16 Cool Platinum Blonde Octopus Haircut with Textured Beachy Finish
An octopus haircut that radiates a cool, effortless vibe with its textured, mid-length layers and a beachy, tousled finish that suggest carefree sophistication. The platinum blonde hue paired with a laid-back, choppy fringe provides a striking frame for the face, an ideal match for those seeking to make a statement with a chic yet easy-going hairstyle.
#17 Fiery Red Octopus Haircut with Spirited Cascading Layers and Bold Fringe
The octopus haircut here dazzles with its fiery red hue and flowing layers that add a spirited twist to the hair's natural waves, cascading down with an airy lightness. The bold fringe is cut just above the eyes, giving a fresh and modern framing to the face, a fierce choice for those ready to turn heads and embrace a vibrant, standout look.
#18 Edgy Black Octopus Haircut with Bold Straight Fringe and Textured Layers
An octopus haircut with a bold, straight fringe that curtains the eyes, adding a mysterious allure, while the dark tresses fall into textured layers for a look that's both edgy and nonchalant. The natural black color enhances the hair's depth and volume, making it a stunning option for someone seeking a chic, face-framing style with a hint of intrigue.
#19 Tousled Ash Blonde Shaggy Octopus Cut with Dark Roots and Piecey Fringe
This shaggy octopus haircut is all about texture, with its tousled layers creating a deliberately messy yet chic look perfectly suited for the free-spirited individual. The cool ash blonde with darker roots gives an edgy contrast, while the piecey fringe softly frames the eyes, making this style a standout choice for someone looking to combine a retro vibe with a modern edge.
#20 Flowing Octopus Haircut with Sun-Kissed Balayage and Airy Side-Swept Fringe
This octopus haircut glides into the limelight with its seamless layers that give the hair a flowing, weightless quality, finishing with lighter ends to accentuate the shape. The balayage blends a natural brunette into a sun-kissed blonde, offering dimension and an easy-going, grow-out friendly style, while the side-swept fringe provides an airy, flirtatious frame for the face, embodying a look that's as effortless as it is stylish.
#21 Playful Strawberry Blonde Mid-Length Octopus Cut and Wispy Bangs
This interpretation of the octopus haircut brings a light-hearted twist with its mid-length cut and soft, inward curls at the ends, offering a gentle nod to the style's inspiration. The strawberry blonde shade is both bright and playful, and the wispy, straight-across fringe adds a youthful charm, making it a delightful choice for those who prefer a more understated, whimsical look.
#22 Effortless Espresso Octopus Cut with Soft Layers and Full Fringe
The octopus haircut here embraces a soft, effortless aesthetic with its cascading layers that create a gentle, rounded shape, lending a touch of whimsy to the natural texture. The deep, espresso hue enriches the hair's volume, while the full, eyebrow-grazing fringe frames the face beautifully, presenting a look that's both comforting and refined for anyone seeking a blend of classic and contemporary.
#23 Vibrant Ginger Octopus Bob with Sleek Face-Framing Simplicity
This octopus haircut blooms with a vibrant, ginger hue, cut into a sleek bob that frames the face with precision and simplicity. The absence of visible layers gives a smooth, uniform look, and the straightforward style without fringe exudes an air of minimalist elegance, ideal for someone who values a clean and modern aesthetic with a pop of color.
Amy is an hairstylist and the editor-in-chief at Snazzy Lair, where her expertise and leadership are instrumental in shaping the direction of the publication and ensuring its continued success. With over a decade of experience in the hairstyling industry, Amy has honed her craft to perfection. She possesses an innate talent for transforming hair into works of art, and her dedication to her clients' satisfaction knows no bounds.
