Several months into 2023 and we are spoiled for choice when it comes to selfie-worthy haircut trends. But as the weather gets nicer you might feel the desire to ditch your long locks for a fresh chop — and that’s where trendy bob haircuts come in.
So far this year, the oval layer haircut has taken over hair salons and social media feeds. Taking inspiration from the ’90s, each layer is cut and styled in a way that looks like oval shapes hugging the face from the mid-lengths to the ends. Then came ’70s shapes, the ultra-short afro and concave layers. Still, it’s fair to say that nothing has outshone them all quite like the bob.
On TikTok, the hashtag #bobhaircut has amassed an impressive 596.4 million views and counting as hairstylists across the globe showcase all manner of styles, from the Italian bob (blunt and voluminous) to the boyfriend bob (super short and not for the faint of heart). And the classic cut just keeps on giving.
These 14 bobbed hair trends are a cut above the rest, according to the hottest hair experts.
This story was originally published on Refinery29UK.
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The Micro-Bob
Stevie Leah, stylist at Blue Tit‘s Brixton salon, says that short, cheekbone-skimming bobs (with Parisian influence) are going to make a serious comeback. Look to this beauty posted to Instagram by Kristinn Oli. A micro-bob cut like this screams out for a short fringe to match, but Leah suggests switching things up with a deep side-parting instead. “This gives you that volume but with a fresh, ’90s throwback vibe. A cut like this can transform hair but also make sure it’s still versatile.”
Tom Warr, head of education at Blue Tit, adds that it’s cute, fresh and timeless, and encourages a bit of texture with a looser finish.
The Choppy Bob
“This is probably one of the most talked-about bob haircuts right now,” says Neil Moodie, editorial hairstylist and founder of Neil Moodie Studio, “and it’s all thanks to Wednesday star Jenna Ortega.”
The choppy bob — also sometimes referred to as the ‘cub cut’ — starts life as a classic, blunt bob cut, says Moodie, “but then it becomes layered and chopped into. It’s also texturized and fringed — the whole lot, basically!” The result is very low maintenance and totally versatile. And the more texture, the better.
Natalia Vera, expert stylist and educator at Live True London, also makes a case for the choppy bob. “This is a natural continuation of the choppy shag and wolf cut trends we’ve been seeing over the past year,” she says, and it’s actually super easy to style. “Just add some pomade or sea salt spray, mess it up, and you’re good to go.”
The Braided Bob
Pinterest reports that short braid hairstyles are reigning supreme, like this beautiful chin-grazing bob on @yvonnevictoria posted to Instagram. Stylists like Charlotte Mensah and the experts at Braid Bar LDN are into smaller braids (or micro-braids) as a cute, protective style, too.
The Sharp Bob
Sharp bob haircuts are trending and for good reason: They are probably the most wearable. Sharp bobs, as you can imagine from the name, are defined by their razor-sharp bluntness, and there are many variations in length depending on the style you want.
The super trendy box bob, for example, is a sharp bob that frames your facial bone structure. “This is chin-length, or a little shorter, and cut with a blunt outline,” says Moodie. “It’s great for finer hair as it makes lengths look thicker, fuller, and more voluminous. I love how it can go from being blow-dried, for fullness, to the opposite, where you can slick it back and make it look very chic.”
Look to this cut by @madibrookehair on Instagram for the ultimate inspiration.
The Grown-Out Bob
If you’re not quite ready for the full chop or can’t decide on length, Vera says the grown-out bob is a great look for everyone, regardless of your hair texture. “This cut sits somewhere between a bob and a lob [long bob] and without any layers throughout it. It really is flattering on everyone.” Look to this cut on artist Ai Shimatsu on Instagram.
The Midi-Flick Bob
Trend forecaster and stylist Tom Smith says that the midi flick is the bob for those who aren’t really into a classic bob cut (think super blunt) but want to embrace bob-length hair. We’re really into this cut posted to Instagram by @kanako3833.
“The soft, sweeping bottleneck bangs [somewhere between a curtain bang draped at the sides to frame the face and a full fringe] and textured layers give this long bob movement and energy,” says Smith. So what should you ask your stylist for? “You want the length to be cut just above your collarbone and kept blunt, adding a soft bottleneck fringe plus shag-style layers without losing the solidity of the bob line.”
Smith says that this length will naturally flick out on the neckline. “This is very cool at the moment and ties into the ‘cozy girl’ aesthetic. Embrace the flickyness!”
The Italian Bob
We’re not quite done with the Italian bob, favored by The Hair Bros and Hershesons salons in London. If one of your goals is to subject your hair to less heat, this is for you, as it encourages you to embrace your natural curl or wave. The end is blunt and chunky but subtle layers peppered throughout the mid-lengths create shape and movement to enhance texture beautifully, especially when worn flipped to the side. We love this cut on Luanna P.
The Hollywood Bob
“Characterized by a deep side-parting and a flipped fringe, this has all the romance and elegance of classic Hollywood glamour with an edge, thanks to the sharp, shoulder-skimming length,” says Smith. Check out this style on @chrissyonpointe posted to Instagram by hair artist @iamofficialjai. Smith suggests asking your stylist for a long bob cut on a side parting with no layers. “A long, sweeping fringe will help you get that elegant volume at the front.”
To style, Smith suggests investing in a blow-drying tool, like the Dyson Airwrap or the Shark FlexStyle, but he says that many other hot brushes make it easy to achieve this bouncy, blown-out finish, too. If you have less to spend, try the Revlon.
The Beau Bob
This bob gets its name from the French style, and it’s another style of micro-bob, says Moodie. “This is one of my favorite bob haircut styles,” he explains. “The front length hits around the top of the jaw, while the back hits just at the nape of your neck.” The front can be parted in any way you like, but this looks most chic with a straight-across full fringe. “It’s super cute and feels very classic, like a 1920s bob reinvented,” says Moodie.
We can’t get enough of this cut on digital creator @franlizzip on Instagram.
The Bubble Bob
The soft sister to the box bob, the bubble bob haircut also serves to frame your face, but with the rounding effect of a bubble as layers slightly longer than your jawline hug your face shape. Celebrity hairstylist Justine Marjan recently did this trendy cut for fashion influencer Brittany Xavier. “This was shorter than the standard bob with more layers throughout the back for more volume,” Marjan says. “This looks great air-dried with wavy texture for a fluffy finish, or blown out for more piecey looking layers. Make sure you go to a stylist that you trust to shape the cut to suit your unique facial features.”
Although styling with a barrel brush will obviously accentuate the rounded layers, the cut itself should hold its bubble shape all on its own, like this one from @vikachekahair on Instagram.
The French Bob 2.0
The French bob is similar to a one-length bob cut and there’s no heavy layering involved, which gives it a chic, triangular shape. “This short, jaw-length style promotes movement and texture,” explains Stephen Buller, hairstylist and cofounder of Buller and Rice. “The outline of the bob is cut more jagged to create more natural movement,” similar to this curly cut by Victoria Hernandez on Instagram. Buller says that a look like this is best left to dry naturally, or you could use a diffuser for a faster result.
The J-ob
The jaw-length bob (aka the j-ob) is arguably the most popular bob haircut in salons, according to Moodie. We’re in love with this blunt razor cut by Briana Cisneros on Instagram. You don’t have to have straight hair, either. This cut varies in texture and shape, celebrating everybody’s natural hair, explains Moodie.
The Textured Bob
John Manolakis, stylist and manager of Blue Tit East Village, says that texture will be all the rage this year. “Shapes like this improve and emphasize the characteristics of the face,” explains Manolakis. If you have a busy lifestyle, an easygoing haircut with no layers and no face-framing will be your best bet, like this style by artist Alexus Estelle.
The Bullet Bob
Smith says that this takes its cue from the trending mullet, wolf cut, and classic shag. As a result, it serves up what Smith refers to as a ‘two-layered’ bob haircut, which has the balance of a mullet (longer and heavier toward the back) but keeps lots of texture and detail around the face. As you can see in this picture by stylist Ethan King on Instagram, it works beautifully on curly hair.
“This style works best with a ‘lived in’ texture,” Smith tells Refinery29. “I’d recommend air-drying your hair with a generous amount of leave-in conditioner.” His go-to is Olaplex No.6 Bond Smoother.
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