The hush cut is the latest Korean beauty trend going viral

Hands up who’s addicted to watching hair transformation videos on TikTok? 

There’s something so exhilarating (yet completely risk-free) about watching a stranger confidently request bold haircuts from hairdressers they’ve never met before, isn’t there?

We’ve seen hairdressers armed with nothing but a pair of scissors and an inspo picture turn flat, lifeless hair into a myriad of trending hairstyles with animal-inspired monikers; the butterfly, the octopus, the jellyfish, to name a few. 

Experts in genderless hair, Sydney’s USFIN Atelier have garnered over 5.3 million views on TikTok for doing just that, offering Sydney-siders cuts and colours reflective of the styles emerging from trend-setting nations like Korea and Japan, as well as timeless Australian specials like the mullet and the shag. 

One of the salon’s top-viewed TikTok videos documents a consultation between hairstylist Moeko Furuya and a client seeking a ‘hush cut’. For context, the hush cut is currently one of the biggest global trends in hair, with the #hushcut hashtag accumulating a whopping 94.1 million views on TikTok alone. 

What is a hush cut?

According to USFIN Atelier’s Founder and Creative Director Daniel Jianing Liu, the hush cut originated as a Korean hair trend (you’ve probably spotted Squid Game actress Jung Ho-yeon rocking the layered cut on the red carpet). 

“It’s defined by a blend of face-framing layers, and a mixture of short and medium layers on the back of hair,” Liu tells BEAUTYcrew. “It’s usually paired with a wispy fringe, curtain fringe or face-framing layers.” However, the most important aspect of the hush cut is the balance between the layers and the length of the client’s hair, says Liu. 

He also recommends bringing reference photos to your appointment to ensure you and your hairstylist are on the same page in terms of length and the kind of layers you want. “It makes communication easier, because the end result in the hairdresser's mind and from the consumer's point of view can be totally different,” he explains.

How to style the hush cut

When it comes to styling the hush cut, Liu says the world is your oyster: “It’s very versatile;  how you style it will depend on how you like to wear your hair.” 

“If you prefer a more polished look, a voluminous but smooth blow-dry should do the trick,” he recommends. “For an effortless vibe, just apply some light texturising products that can help the hair air-dry effortlessly to enhance the flowy details of the cut.”

The best styling products for a hush cut

1/ JVN Complete Blowout Styling Milk ($44 at Sephora)

If you’re going to blow-dry your hush cut, we recommend getting your hands on a multi-purpose heat styling product like the JVN Complete Blowout Styling Milk ($44 at Sephora) to reduce the amount of product and weight you’re adding to the hair. It’s a lightweight, heat-activated styling milk that retains style memory, helps to protect against heat and humidity, and smoothes strands too.

2/ ColorWow Style On Steroids Texture Finishing Spray ($53 at Sephora)

If flat hair continues to torment you, then ColorWow Style On Steroids Texture Finishing Spray ($53 at Sephora) should be on your radar. The heat-protectant texture spray contains translucent moisturising elastomers that work to create a full thick head of hair and hybrid copolymers that ensure long-lasting style memory.

3/ Ouai Texturizing Hair Spray ($43 at Sephora)

With a hybrid hairspray and dry shampoo formula, Ouai Texturizing Hair Spray ($43 at Sephora) provides lightweight volume and texture. Plus, it contains volcanic minerals that help to absorb oil.

Want to do a bit more research before you book your next hair appointment? These are the 7 seasonal haircut & colour trends to try as we transition into summer.

Image credit: @brycescarlett