The Bob Haircut

The low-risk short hairstyle for those who want to try a new look.

I get a lot of women asking me what I recommend for a "new look" for them. They want a change in their style and aren't sure what would work best for them.

And while there isn’t any ONE style that will be universally perfect for everyone, many women can easily wear a bob cut well. The reason for this is that the bob is a very versatile style that can be easily adjusted to accommodate a variety of needs.

The length of the bob is never set in stone, which means that it can be chin-length or could hang down to touch the shoulders as desired. This adjustable length means you can have length to elongate a round face, or shorten the style to create a horizontal line for those with narrow faces.

The bob cut doesn't prevent the inclusion of layering either. This means that you can remove some bulk from unwanted areas, and can even create and accentuate the shape of the face as you desire. For example, a woman with strong features and an angular face can wear a slightly longer bob with razor-cut layering around the face and create the gentle curves needed to balance her features. On the flipside, a woman who feels that her jaw line is weak could opt for a bob that falls just to chin length, strengthening the line across the lower part of the face.

Short bob haircut that accentuates the mouth — Image: AI illustration

The right bob can accentuate the mouth and added bangs can even bring out the eyes, both of which are commonly hailed as a woman’s best and favorite features. It can also be made asymmetrically to counterbalance any overly large or disproportionate features, such as a prominent nose or overly wide mouth.

Who Can Wear a Bob? And How...

As mentioned above, many types can successfully wear a bob style. It simply needs to be adjusted for some types. Let’s look at the various types of faces and features and what kind of an adjustment to the traditional bob cut is needed in order to make it work for them:

Round Faces: For those women with a round face, you need to make sure you keep the bob longer than it might be worn on another face shape. In addition, you want to make sure that you keep the bob styled in such a way as to minimize the amount of volume on the sides of the head.

Long Faces: Women with long faces generally want to keep to a shorter bob cut, around chin length or a little shorter. This will help to keep the focus horizontally on the face and help to give it a wider appearance. The bob can also include some box layering and waves to be styled to generate volume on the sides.

Short bob with a graduated back — Image: AI illustration

Angular Faces: Women whose faces are angular (inverted triangle, diamond-shape, square) should choose bob styles that feature soft lines and razor-cut texturing in order to soften the look. The focus should be to create smooth, curving lines.

Thin Builds/Long Necks: For those who have thin builds or long necks, be cautious about cutting the bob too short or styling it to have too much volume. The end result could create a "Lollipop" effect that isn't flattering to anyone. Keep the hair smooth and the length longer and in balance with the rest of the body’s proportions.

Heavy Builds: Generally speaking, most women who are heavily built should avoid wearing a bob that is too short, since the hairstyle should always be kept in proportion to the overall physique. However, if you maintain a bob style with layering at the top of the head and minimize the volume on the sides, you can create a slimming effect.

Long bob with bangs — Image: AI illustration

The Low-Risk Portion of Getting A Bob:

Going with a shorter haircut can strike terror into even the bravest woman, since if you don’t like the end result, you are looking at only the passage to time to resolve the problem. But you can always make choices that will speed up the recovery of your hair from an unsatisfying bob cut. Here are some tips to making your cut as "low-risk" as possible:

Keep It As Long as Is Reasonable: There is no absolute length at which an individual HAS to cut their bob. Talk to your stylist and insist that they keep the length of your bob as long as possible and still have it remain flattering.

Avoid Embellishments: If this is your first bob cut, go with a classic, simple style. Avoid things like stacking and A-line cuts so that your overall length is consistent. If you aren't satisfied with the result, it will grow back more evenly and you'll be able to get a new look sooner. For the same reason, avoid excessive razor-texturizing and thinning of the hair. This simply creates uneven lengths that usually have to be trimmed to even them out at the cost of overall length.

Bob with curtain bangs — Image: AI illustration

Stick With a Cut Only Visit: When you’re getting your first bob cut, try to keep that as your only hair change. Don’t get a cut along with a perm or color service simply because you want to make sure you don’t "overload" your perception. For many women, especially when they are unsure about changing their look, having a change in cut AND color or texture can mean that there is just TOO MUCH change at once.

Sometimes it's not as much a matter of disliking a new look as it is not being used to the difference. If you minimize the amount of change, then you'll increase the likelihood that you'll get accustomed to the changes more quickly.

©Hairfinder.com

See also:

Photos of bobs

Bob hairstyles for fine hair

Bob hairstyles for thin hair