The Best Bob Haircut Ideas To Inspire Your Next Chop (2024)

The 90s Bob

THE ’90S BOB

Joey Scandizzo, Co-Creative Director of ELEVEN Australia:

“This haircut represents strength and power. In my experience, when I do a haircut like this, women tend to tell me they feel like a boss! It’s suited to an oval-shaped, well-balanced face. There are so many ways you can cut this to suit multiple hair textures. To keep the sharpness, it will need a cut every six weeks. Styling-wise, depending on hair texture and natural movement, more coarse hair types may require more touch ups in between washes. But naturally straight hair requires minimal styling. If you have super thick hair, you can ask your hairdresser for internal layering to remove a lot of the bulk so it sits flatter. If you have very fine hair, keeping it all one length and super blunt gives the illusion of fuller thicker hair.”

The Long Bob (The Lob)

THE LONG BOB

Brad Mullins, Pantene Haircare Ambassador and Celebrity Stylist

“Everyone is so excited for the future at the moment and we are all ready for a fresh change. A lot of my clients are chatting about wanting a chop, and when clients book in their next appointment it’s likely they’ll be looking for a hair re-launch!

Some are thinking short and some are wanting the perfect middle ground – ‘The Lob’, also known as a long bob. Lobs are the one cut that suits everybody so if you are looking for a refresh this is what I’d recommend, as you can always go shorter.

Depending on your hair and no matter if you want layers or a fresh colour to bring you back, it’s important you maintain the shine, post-appointment. My go to product for this style would be Pantene Pro V Miracle Oil Leave In Treatment, the BEST drugstore hair oil, it will make your Locks SO glossy you won’t be able to stop loving yourself in the mirror. Nourish and strengthen your hair from the inside-out, you’ll thank me later!”

Tousled Bob

THE TOUSLED BOB

Renya Xydis, Creative Director and Founder of Valonz and Salon X by Renya Xydis:

“This is a favourite—it gives movement and can be easy to achieve. Using soft, airy layers to create this look, the tousled bob is effortlessly chic! The soft layers of this look make it a bit messier than other styles. To achieve the tousled look, the ends are thinned out. As such, regular trims and thinning are important to keeping the look fresh and polished. Ask your hairdresser to assess your face shape, as different types of tousled bobs will suit different face shapes. For example, round faces tend to suit a longer look, near the collarbone, with layers for volume.”

Old Hollywood Glamour Bob

THE OLD HOLLYWOOD BOB

Byron Turnbull, Co-Founder and Director of Goldie Sydney:

“This is a play on the old Hollywood style. This look is high-maintenance—not only will you be committing to a cut every six weeks, depending on how much skill you have with a blow dryer and a tong, you may be booking in for a weekly blow dry to keep up the look. This bob would suit anyone who already has a vintage flair to their own style, and in my opinion, always best to be worn with a red lipstick!”

Naturally Curly Bob

THE NATURALLY CURLY BOB

Joey Scandizzo, Co-Creative Director of ELEVEN Australia:

“This haircut is perfect for someone who is transitioning to embracing their natural curls or coils. The side-parted fringe helps add height because hair texture like this requires a lot of heavier creams to control frizz. By having a fringe in the front, it helps with elevation and lift whilst still controlling frizz. This really suits square faces with a sharper jawline, and I’d recommend keeping a curl defining cream handy. This is one length below the ‘jaw grazer’, with a straight cut fringe. It’s really important to ask your hairdresser to keep it all one length on the baseline so it adds heaviness and reduces frizz.”

Jaw Grazing Bob

THE JAW GRAZER

Joey Scandizzo, Co-Creative Director of ELEVEN Australia:

“This cut is fantastic for anyone wanting to elongate their face! The longer length of hair that falls around the jaw means it creates a lengthening effect. It’s better suited to someone with fine to medium hair that doesn’t need to spend a lot of time flattening or de-frizzing. It’s a really great wash-and-go style, but I’d recommend getting it cut every six weeks to keep the sharp edginess that makes the bob fresh and modern. I’d just blast the hair dry with a leave-in treatment and have fun with middle or side partings. This jaw grazing blunt bob should be cut sharp, right at the jaw line. Make sure you brief your hairdresser not to get scissor happy with any severe layering. It acts as a powerful and well-balanced frame around your face and is great for some who wants to highlight their eyes and cheekbones.”

Invisible Layers Wavy Bob

THE INVISIBLE LAYERS BOB

Renya Xydis, Creative Director and Founder of Valonz and Salon X by Renya Xydis:

“The invisible layers bob is great for giving your hair some texture without the maintenance of many layers. This is an easy transition from a blunt bob as you grow your hair out. Invisible layers give an effortless look, and allow for a softer, more lived-in aesthetic. Throw a few loose waves in and you have the perfect style! The upkeep for this look is minimal as the layers are soft and can grow out beautifully. Ask your hairdresser for soft, longer layers to add to the texture of the look.”

Rounded Bob

THE ROUNDED BOB

Joey Scandizzo, Co-Creative Director of ELEVEN Australia:

“This is a great style if your forehead is an insecurity. Incorporating more of a jagged-style, forward fringe, helps flatter your face shape, and keeping it textured gives this style a modern twist. A lot of people are worried that they might look like Dora The Explorer—but adding a fashion forward fringe gives this style edge and avoids that. Maintenance of your forward fringe varies based on your hair type. Any form of forward, full fringe may require incorporating restyling in your morning routine. For example, if you have a cowlick around the hairline, it may require daily restyling. The best way to explain it [to your hairdresser] is to ask for a heavily textured forward fringe with a rounded edge and then a one-length semi-concave bob.”

Angled Bob

THE ANGLED BOB

Renya Xydis, Creative Director and Founder of Valonz and Salon X by Renya Xydis:

“Adding in some layers and a bit of texture will create a dynamic look to your angled bob. Long, wispy layers will make sure your hair isn’t too heavy and has a nice shape and good movement to it. Layers are your best friends when styling your hair, as they create texture, the perfect match for curls or waves. Layering also allows you to keep a bit of length if desired, while some bits will be shorter than others to create that bob look. This look is dynamic and will give you a great structure for both sleek or messy looks. Ask your hairdresser for layers that will suit your face shape. Some are suited with lots of shorter layers, while others prefer longer, wispier layers. Frequent trims are a must if you want to maintain a layered look. Also, learn how to best style your new layers—your hairdresser can be a huge help here in finding the best styles for you.”

The French Girl Bob

THE ‘FRENCH GIRL’ BOB

Joey Scandizzo, Co-Creative Director of ELEVEN Australia:

“This bob is only for a very small group of people and is best suited for your wash-and-wear women that have a little bit more of a natural curve to their hair. Curly hair that sits at this length is fantastic for people who want to add width to a thin jaw. Haircuts should be regular at every six weeks, but on the right hair and cut well, it’s very wash-and-wear. Ask [your hairdresser] for a slightly graduated face-line bob. It’s a textured face-line above-the-jaw bob with a straight cut fringe—that means no rounded edges. Ask for a little bit of graduation along the baseline which creates more width.”

Cheek Length Bob

THE ‘CHEEKY’ BOB

Byron Turnbull, Co-Founder and Director of Goldie Sydney:

“This cheeky bob is, by far, the hardest to pull off. Not only because of the length, but it needs to be styled every day to give it that effortless look. I personally recommend this cut to any client who is daring and not afraid to feel exposed. This haircut can be worn on all face shapes, as long as you have strong bone structure and are willing to rock this look day in and day out!”

Blunt Bob + Bangs

THE BLUNT BOB AND BANGS

Renya Xydis, Creative Director and Founder of Valonz and Salon X by Renya Xydis:

“If you are going for a statement look, this one’s for you!

To keep the blunt look, it will require frequent trims and maintenance, however, if you are willing to go for a more shaggy look, there is less maintenance involved. One of the biggest benefits of this short, blunt look is that unless you are using harsh bleach or excessive heat styling, your hair will be relatively healthy at this length. A longer, more oval face shape tends to suit this look. When chatting to your hairdresser about a blunt bob with bangs, ask for their suggestions depending on your face shape and hair texture.”