Timeless, effortless, chic—these are the words that come to mind when asking yourself, “Should I chop my hair?” We’ve all done it: flipped our hair around in the mirror, trying to imagine shorter tresses or a big transformation while searching for haircut inspo and developing some serious bob envy.
“For me, it’s always a good way to look fresh, chic, and edgy at the same time,” says Marina Migliaccio, an LA-based hairstylist. “I don’t think it will ever go out of style because it’s such a classic look that makes people feel good.” Hairstylist Kristin Heitkotter, aptly nicknamed “Kiki Haircutter,” agrees. “I love a bob. It’s one of my favorite haircuts to do, literally, in life. I’ve always loved cutting a bob.”
Ready to take the plunge? Keep scrolling for 25 perfect short, layered bob-spo photos that will have you making a hair appointment ASAP.
Less is More
“A really blunt, straight-line bob is what’s really popular right now,” says Heitkotter. Her work on Shelby Hennig’s bob—middle parted and tucked behind the ears—is elegant.
Short and Sleek
Heitkotter also styled Hennig’s cute cut for the SAG Awards last December. Slicking the hair back elevates the look, so she’s red carpet ready.
Curly Girl Cut
Curly girls, don’t despair—you can still live your bob fantasy. According to Migliaccio, it’s all in the cut. “When a client has a lot of hair, you definitely want to do some feathering to take off a little bit of the weight because it will set better when they actually go into style it themselves,” she advises. “I have a bob, and I have a lot of hair!”
Chop Shop
Adding some choppier texture can splice a little edge into your look. Pair it with a blunt bang for the ultimate facial framing and feature accentuation.
French Girl Waves
French girl style is synonymous with a tousled, undone, run your fingers through your hair and head out the door look—this cut on Carey Mulligan, paired with a simple black outfit and no-makeup-makeup look, could just as easily be spotted in the 9th Arrondissement as on the cover of a magazine.
Simple, But Sleek
“If someone’s going super sleek and flat ironing the bob, I would put a heat protector in it and take little sections and flat iron it to make it as close to the head as possible,” instructs Heitkotter. “I like the Oribe Gold Lust Dry Heat Protection Spray.”
Pushing Pixie
This cut is short short. It may be exiting bob-land and pushing its way into pixie-cut territory. Does it matter? “There’s so many different variations. You could have a very short bob; you could have one with many interior layers,” says Heitkotter.
Soft Texture
“For a more lived-in feel, use a big curling iron or even make a flat iron wave,” says Heitkotter. Ashley Benson’s signature blonde waves are a little longer here, brushing the tops of her shoulders and textured to perfection.
Cheeky Chop
Gracie Abrams and a good bob go hand in hand. Her short cut here, accessorized with silver earrings, is the perfect marriage of dainty, flirty, and just a little cheeky.
B.o.B So They’re Calling You Bob
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A wise woman once said, “You know that I’m known for the bob.” Nicki takes a blunt, chin-length style and adds a straight across bang—clean lines and a precision cut.
A Bob and a Barrette
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An accessory is worth a thousand words. Maude Apatow’s symmetrical gold barrettes add a little extra flair and tie the look together.
Future Nostalgia
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Creator Jess Xu styles her hair razor straight and impossibly smooth, with a sharp flip at the ends. It’s somehow futuristic and reminiscent of 60’s mod all at once. Fashionable then, fashionable now, and it will be all the rage in 3024.
The Blunt and the Beautiful
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“Jessica Biel is also wearing a great sleek, blunt bob,” says Heitkotter. Some may call it sleek and blunt, but in a recent Instagram post, Biel unveiled her new hair with more choice words: “Brought back the f*ck a*s bob.”
Sideswept Texture
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Another bob star, Lucy Boynton, rocks side-parted and textured platinum hair. “She’s a very fashion-forward girl, and she [does] so many different hairstyles with that bob,” says Heitkotter.
Hollywood Curls
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Migliaccio works her magic again with this style— the thick, bouncy curls are reminiscent of old Hollywood glam.
Mod Bob
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Emma Meyers’s pale blue dress and simple, parted, and chic bob look like something out of a 1960s catalog.
Short Curls
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Lupita’s bob features middle-parted locs that fall just below her chin. The look marries a graphic shape with stunning texture.
Beachy Keen
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Angourie Rice’s hair is the epitome of California cool. It’s layered, windswept, a little loose, and has that “just came from the beach” feel. “I do see more layers in California,” says Migliaccio. “It’s more on the cool side, a little more of a natural wave and beachy texture.”
Textured Bob
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No one rocks a short cut like DEJ. Her blunt ends are perfectly textured, accentuating her features at optimal “lob” length.
Modern Art Deco
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Carey Mulligan’s hair has a soft wave, calling back to the pin curls of the flapper era when crops exploded in popularity.
Half Up
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A half-up ponytail can add the fun and flirty detail you never knew you needed.
Windswept
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The bounce in Sydney Sweeney’s style is palpable. It reminds us that shedding length can also remove weight and open up a whole new world of volume.
Light as a Feather
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A curtain bang and some feathering are the best assets for a layered look.
Chin-Kissed
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This chin-length cut is endlessly romantic. Paris nights, Milan runways—they’re both calling your name.
Flirty and Flipped
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While this look is pushing into lob territory, one facial-framing piece in front couples with a flirty flip to maximize Richa Moorjani’s slay.
