Bobs are back! The elegant sophistication of the French bob and sassy Italian bob will never go out of fashion. The short, sculpted hairstyles aren’t just for the international crowd. There’s no minimum age to wear one. You’re bound to find the perfect bob for your personality. Stephen Thomas, a hairstylist in New York City’s Oscar Blandi Salon, says that bobs are in fashion and look good on any face shape.
Thomas and Cher’e Nicole, a hairstylist, shared their tips and favorite bob cuts for older women.
Natural Bob
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To achieve a look similar to that of actor Viola Davis, you must embrace your natural texture. Combining curl cream, styling gel, and hair oil will help you define and enhance the curl pattern.
Transitional Lob
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Start with a lob cut that falls just above or beneath your shoulders if you have long hair. The “lob” is longer than a bob, and it’s a popular choice for its versatility. The mid-length lob is long enough to be able to pull it back, but short enough to still classify as a short cut. This means that you are not bound to a single style. This length of hair looks great when it is air-dried naturally, like the model Lauren Hutton.
Layered Bob
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Glenn Close’s sleek, rounded, minimally layered bob proves that simple hairstyles can be both bold and stylish. Nichole says blunt cuts will make your hair look fuller. “One side of her hair is wispy and tucked behind the ear.” The long side bang adds mystery and allows her face be seen.
Use ultra-thin hair sections to flat iron each strand of hair evenly. Warm a small amount of oil in your hands and then run it through your hair ends to complete the look.
Part Pixie and Part Bob
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This hybrid hairstyle is not quite a pixie but it’s also not a Bob. It has the same edginess as a super-short cut, but with more softness. Scrunch your hair if it has a wave. Use a styling wand if you have straighter hair to bend your strands like Tilda’s.
Layered Blown Out Bob
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The blown-out bob is the way to go. It shows off all of your layers. Thomas says that shorter cuts may require more work to style and maintain, but they can look chic. You can create a piece-y texture using a wax pomade to give it a lived-in appearance, or blow-out the hair with face framing pieces and wear them freshly blown-out for a soft finish.
Classic Bob
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A classic bob, like the one worn by fashion designer Eileen Fisher, is ideal for adding volume to finer hair textures which can be weighed down easily by longer lengths. To maintain the classic shape of a bob, trims are likely to be needed every six to eight week. You might consider a more textured style that will grow out well if you don’t want to spend much time or money on your hair.
Cool Shag
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The shaggy bob is the most coolest bob ever. It has a rocker feel to it, which makes it perfect for people who don’t like the classic bob. Tina Turner’s version is loose, but still looks stylish.
A Line Bob
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The cut of Yolanda hadid is asymmetrical, with the back being slightly shorter than the front. This allows for great movement as well as an angle visible from the side. This asymmetrical version of the classic cut, also known as the A-line, graduated bob or inverted bob has an edgy, youthful vibe. Ask your stylist to stack layers in the front and back that are longer and shorter. This will give your hair height and body at the crown.
Classic Bob with Blunt Bangs
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Anna Wintour’s blunt bob and blunt bangs are a bold style that proves short crops can be anything but boring. A classic bob is usually between one and two inches long. However, you can work with your stylist on the perfect length for your face. It is important to reduce flyaways, and ensure that the style has plenty of volume.
Rounded Bobby
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Sometimes, something between layers and blunt can elevate your look. Try a simple, rounded cut like Loretta’s. This is a great way to highlight your hair’s color and shine.
Middle Part Bob
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Angela Bassett’s middle-parted, sleek bob proves that this look can be extremely sophisticated. Nichole describes it as “a low-maintenance look that emphasizes and lengthens the jawbone and neck.” It’s also easy to achieve with “a 1.5-inch iron, serum and shine spray.”
Bob with Subtle Layers
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This bob is a good choice if you have straight hair. The bob may appear to be one length but the layers and slightly shorter back length keep it from looking heavy.
A Slick, Slicked Bob
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A sleek, wet look can be achieved by anyone with any hair type or age. Model Maye Musk is a great example. This is a super-cool option if your bob isn’t long enough to be worn in an updo but you want to pull your hair back to highlight your outfit.
Curlybob
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Who says curly bangs aren’t possible? Your stylist can frame your face by adding a few short curls to your cut, like Gayle King.
Bob with Sideswept Bangs
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Iman’s stylish, sleek bob is both timeless and trendy. Iman’s side-swept bangs draw attention to Iman’s eyes and frame her face perfectly.
Asymmetrical Bob
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The angle of the haircut, as seen on Linda Fargo (fashion icon), adds a little interest to a simple style. The straight edge, though it would also look great textured or wavy, emphasizes the asymmetry the best.
Curly Bixie
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Growing out your hair can be intimidating if you are a fan of the pixie cut. Halle Berry, the most famous pixie-cut wearer from the 1990s and 2000s, proves that a bixie can be a great option to add some length to your hair without adding a lot of time to getting ready. This style is a cross between a short pixie cut and a bob. It looks great on all hair textures.
Smooth Bob
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Mary Berry’s smooth, voluminous, bob haircut is a good example of a hairstyle with lots of layers that doesn’t look choppy. Your stylist can add volume to hair that is thinner and may lay flat by cutting it in layers. If you have fine hair, use a volumizing mousse and shampoo to blow-dry your lob. To get your ends to curl, use a paddle brush instead of a round brush.
Sleek Bob with Blunt Bangs
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The model Naomi Campbell’s bob may be a little on the lob-side, but it frames her face beautifully and only requires a light spray of hairspray and a small amount of smoothing cream.
Tousled Bob
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Michelle Obama’s hair is perfect for any occasion. It can be worn to work or on a date. This look can be achieved with a wide barrel curling-iron and a fine mist of hairspray. If you want a more beachy look, curl your hair without putting the ends in the iron.
Bouncy Blowing Out Lob
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Meredith Vieira’s classic lob is a classic. Or that gorgeous root smudging. For the look, use velcro rollers or a round brush to blow-dry hair.
Side-Parted Bob
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Regina King’s cropped haircut is easy to maintain and offers many styling options. When blown out, the side part looks even more sleek.
Messy Bob
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J.Lo can dress up or down her messy bob, but texture spray is essential. Oribe Dry Texturizing spray ($52) gives a voluminous, yet natural finish.
Art Deco Bob
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Helen Mirren’s curly, perfectly coiffed bob is a classic style that we often see her wear.
Sleek Bob
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This Tamron Hall haircut combines a French bob with an undercut that is both provocative and sophisticated.
Choppy Bob
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Cate Blanchett has a choppy, wavy bob that is perfect for anyone who wants to look effortlessly chic. She keeps her hair short (just above the shoulders), for a look that you can achieve with a curling iron or product. We’re ready for either.
Soft Glam Bob
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Lynn Whitfield shows that a blunt, sleek bob can be tricky on natural hair, but it is totally worth it. Wrap your hair up at night and apply heat protection on silk press days.
Silver Ringlet Bob
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Rita Moreno’s gray ringlets are a great example of a hairstyle with a lot of depth. Consider a hair glaze to keep your silver strands shining and striking.
Finger Waved Bob
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The two most important Jazz Age beauty symbols are finger waves and bobs. Stock up on mousse if you want to channel your inner Josephine Baker. The Curl Enhancing mousse from Design Essentials is a good choice ($17).
Sultry Wave Bob
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Wrap loosely your hair around a curling iron that is 1.5 to 2 inches long to get this naturally touseled and wavy bob. As seen on Jessica Lange, a slight bend will highlight the highlights of strands.
Sleek Voluminous Bob
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A sleek bob doesn’t have to be so smooth. Alina Cho elevates the blunt cut to new heights with her soft volume.
Windswept bob
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Michelle Satter is right when she says that waves of this length are effortless. Longer hair would have weighed down the undone texture, airy volume and windswept texture.
Bob Length Locs
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Whoopi Goldberg proves that locs can look great at any age, length, or stage. The natural silver roots add an extra dimension to this style.
Feathered Bobby
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Jane Fonda is known for her many short hair styles, but the feathered bob may be the best of all. The wispy, graduated layers give her hair volume and frame her face without adding weight.
Glam Bob
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It’s Vivica A. Fox turns up the heat with a bob. These va-va-voom curly hair and the ultra-deep side part were for a purpose.
Teased Bob
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Carole Bayer Sager’s bob has many layers. It is also shaped in a rounded way. The short layers have been shaped to give a round appearance. Most of the volume is concentrated at the top.
Sculpted Bob
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Patti LaBelle’s undulated style is all about structure. To recreate this style, you’ll need to use hairspray and mousse to give it maximum hold.
Sexy Bob with Asymmetrical Body
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Patti LaBelle is not a one trick pony. The singer-actor’s voluminous, asymmetrical bob is proof of her style.