From Sophia Richie to Selena Gomez, the bob has made a comeback, and it’s chicer and sleeker than ever before. Whether you opt for a perfectly precise, chin-length cut or something piecey and more lived in, there’s an art to crafting a look tailored to you. If you are thinking of going shorter, here’s our guide to achieving the best bob for your look and our top recommendations for at-home care.

‘I recommend pairing a blunt bob with a disconnected bang, almost treating the bang like a separate haircut. Having two distinct lines creates more structure and shape to the cut to sharpen the look and it adds more visual intrigue where it could otherwise fall flat. By having two distinct lines, your natural face contours stay visible.’ - Jay Reed, Stylist

If the bob is at the chin, I like the bang to be around or above the cheekbone, to further counter the face. I think that helps draw lines to the structure of the face in a more flattering way. If the bang hits below the cheek, it can hide your features too much.” - Jay Reed, Stylist

The Cut

A bob or pixie only works if it looks like it was specifically tailored to what makes you uniquely beautiful. With that in mind, face shape, hair texture, and preferred styling routine are all important factors when deciding to chop your tresses.

Oval Face: For oval faces, a blunt bob delivers sharp, chin-length precision that enhances your natural symmetry, while an asymmetrical pixie adds modern edge without compromising balance. If you prefer more movement, a textured lob with soft, lived-in layers provides effortless style while keeping your proportions perfectly framed.
Round Face: For round faces, an angled bob, longer in front and shorter at the back, lengthens your silhouette, while a voluminous pixie with height at the crown adds a slimming effect. Side-swept bangs also help soften fullness and create a more structured, flattering frame.
Square Face: A soft, layered bob with wispy ends helps soften strong jawlines, while a choppy pixie uses piece-y texture to diffuse angular features. Curtain bangs framing the sides of your face provide a balancing effect for sharper angles.
Heart-Shaped Face: A chin-length bob adds width at the jawline to balance a narrower chin, and a pixie with a side fringe draws attention upward to your eyes and cheekbones. An inverted bob (shorter in back) also creates flattering fullness where it's needed most.
Long Face: Blunt bangs paired with a bob help visually shorten the face, while a pixie with volume at the sides adds width to balance length. A wavy bob with soft curls creates the illusion of a rounder, more proportional shape.

It think it’s great to try a bob right above the shoulder. It’s long enough that you can still fit in a little ponytail— and, if it’s worn curly, then it gets to chin length which is super chic and it gives a different, shorter look. - Anabel Santos, Stylist

The Care

While short cuts are can be lower maintenance from day to day, they often require more visits to the salon to keep the shape, unless your end goal is to regrow healthy length. We recommend coming back for shaping every 6-8 weeks to keep your cut sharp, and precise.

Bobs can be styled in a number of different ways now-a-days. My go to preference is sleek and shiny with a Mason Pearson mixed bristles flat brush and a classic flat iron to help seal the cuticle. The key to this style is to follow the shape of the head and allow the ends to look narrow and tapered. You can also choose to go a different route and use the flat iron to create flat waves for movement and depth. A bit more “lived in” texture. You could also flip the ends out and channel the Italian Bob look. Or give the finish a more “wiggy” look by using texture spray to rough it up! - Nico Aceves, Stylist

Styling

Swap heavy products for lightweight texturizing sprays or sea-salt mists to add movement to stagnant lengths. Heat tools like curling wands or flat irons can help blend layers, and you can try loose waves or bended ends under for a polished look.

Sleek & Smooth

If you are opting for a blunt, sleek cut, we recommend hydrating and smoothing products to prep for your blowout. Lightweight sprays and creams help lock in moisture, tame frizz, and maintain volume without weighing your hair down. Our stylist recommend:

Piecey & Playful

Embracing texture can add mesmerizing body and movement to your style. Whether you are using air-dry cream to plump your waves and curls, or a curling wand to add subtle bounce and movement, a good texturizing product and flexible hairspray will keep your bob full of body all day. Our stylists recommend:

‘Using a light weight nourishing cream like oribe’s Super Shine Light will define the waves and keep the hair soft. This cream with add shine and an effortless, sexy, undone look. I also love to sleek it all back on a 3rd day hair look’ - Anabel Santos, Stylist

The Grow Out

If a bob is more of a short-term style for you, the grow-out doesn’t have to be awkward. We recommend soft layers or a shaggy textureto blend uneven lengths as your bob grows out. If you do find yourself styling an in-between length, creative styles like pinned-back sections, half-up buns, or curls can help ease the grow-out.

Salon Approved Products

The Ultimate Bob Hair Guide