Hair
Nov 17, 2023

42 of the Best Bob Hairstyles to Inspire Your Next Haircut

by Mica Ricketts

My hair has recently reached that awkward in-between length: It's no longer the mid-length lob that I visited the hairdressers for last year, but it can't quite be considered a long hairstyle yet. Instead, it's sitting rather uninspiringly on my shoulders causing me to seriously consider going for the chop. I've experimented with shorter hairstyles over the years but have never taken the plunge into a full-on bob.

However, with my Instagram Saved folder full of some of this year's biggest hair trends, I have to admit that I'm seriously tempted to forgo my lengths in favour of something shorter, choppier and infinitely cooler. And a quick look online confirmed so many celebrities, from Kourtney Kardashian to Lily James, have undergone major short-hair transformations over the last couple of years, and their styles look seriously amazing.

So much so that the idea of going for a bob has never been more appealing. If you're unsure what style of bob might suit you best, Adam Reed, hairstylist and ambassador for L'Oréal Professionnel explains, "When styling for round face shapes, we will normally look to elongate the face by adding in side-swept bangs, volume at the crown or even changing the parting to ensure there are clear angles in the look. Square face shapes, on the other hand, should avoid a sharp or blunt bob and instead look to soft layers that will elongate the face shape." Whatever your face shape, there's a bob style out there for you.

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When Zendaya stepped out in with this Italian Bob cut, we immediately took notice. The longer length is ideal if you want to keep some length and volume.

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@greceghanem

Grece Ghanem has opted for a jaw-skimming bob that perfectly complements her beautiful silver shade.

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@basicstouch

Aïda has got the cool-girl summer wave down to a T. Just add a white dress and straw hat.

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@brosiaaa

Ambrosia is giving us all the summer bob vibes with her stunning chop.

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@LILYJAMESOFFICIAL

Lily James's blunt blonde bob is one of my favourite celebrity hair transformations of all time.

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@missenocha

Miss Enocha makes a very good case for a '20s-style bob plus sleek styling.

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@JENNYCHOHAIR

Carey is serving up a triple dose of hair inspiration here with her perfect-length bob, that choppy fringe and her beachy waves.

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@chloehelenmiles

For a retro finish, make like Chloe Miles and add a fringe to your bob hairstyle.

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@LAURAHARRIER

It's not just the fashion that it's worth looking to the '60s for; it's the beauty, too. Laura Harrier's beehive-inspired bob is created by adding plenty of volume at the back of the style and keeping things sleek at the front.

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@naaomiross

A wavy bob in a vibrant shade of creamy blonde is never a bad idea.

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@KAIAGERBER

Kaia Gerber's side parting and tousled waves lend her bob hairstyle some serious French-girl vibes.

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@FEARNECOTTON

I think that Fearne's new short hair looks amazing. Use a texture spray through the ends to give your cut a similarly choppy feel.

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@lifeofboheme

Marta's micro-bob makes every outfit look like that little bit cooler thanks to how effortless and mussed-up it is.

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The queen of the bob, Anna Wintour has a classic chin-length hairstyle that is totally timeless. Pair it with a blunt, full fringe for extra power points.

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It's not just Rachel Stevens's style that we've unexpectedly found ourselves wanting to copy; it's her hair, too. Stevens opts for tonged curls to style her long bob for a polished finish.

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@INMYSUNDAYBEST

Headband + natural curls = the cutest combination, as worn by Sade.

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@BELLAHADID

Supermodel Bella looks great with this retro-inspired bob as her hairstyle of choice.

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@DUALIPA

If I could achieve even a fraction of the shine coming off Dua Lip's black bob, then I'd be one happy beauty editor.

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@MARIA_BERNAD

María's micro bob isn't for the fainthearted, but it looks so damn amazing with her feathered fringe.

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@TANYABURR

Take a low-maintenance approach to bobs by leaving yours to air-dry as Tanya Burr did with her blonde one.

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@FREDDIEHARREL

Freddie's paprika-hued bob (it's going to be one of this season's hottest hair colours, FYI) is perfect for autumn.

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@KERRYWASHINGTON

Hair clips + side parting = the most elegant bob I ever did see. Thanks for the inspo, Kerry.

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@JOURDANDUNN

I'm totally obsessed with Jourdan's chin-length, wavy 'do. She might have persuaded me to wave goodbye to my trademark bangs.

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@ASOS_LOTTE

Think of ASOS Lotte's long bob as the perfect entry point to the hairstyle.

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@TESSAMETHOMPSON

Tessa Thompson's razor-sharp ends are so cool.

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@CHARLIZEAFRICA

Not only do I love the cut of Charlize's style here, but I'm head over heels for that rich, chocolate-brown colour.

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@lizzyhadfield

Another fashion girl who took the plunge into short-hair territory this year is Lizzy Hadfield, and I adore it.

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@EMMAROBERTS

Stylists advise using a hair straightener to re-create the cool, relaxed L.A. waves that Emma Roberts is modelling here.

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@CIARA

Ciara's wet-look, side-swept bob demonstrates the perfect way to give a standard blunt bob an edgier finish.

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@JENNYCHOHAIR

A dramatic side sweep and retro waves deliver red carpet glamour in abundance for Lucy Boynton.

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@PATIDUBROFF

Let's be honest: Margot Robbie's hair always looks amazing, but I have a soft spot for this sharp, short bob that she wore to the Oscars last year.

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@THE_OLUWASEUN

Long, waist-length braids might be totally dreamy, but this bobbed style is serving serious inspo, too.

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@ALYSSAINTHECITY

If I were going to take the plunge for any bob, then it would most likely be a low-maintenance wavy style like Alyssa's.

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@CHRISAPPLETON1

Kim's tucked-under, voluminous bob gives off some serious retro vibes, and we're kind of in love.

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@JODIESMITH

Jodie Turner-Smith's hair game never fails to floor us, but this cropped bob styled into wavy crimps is one of our all-time favourites.

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@LEFEVREDIARY

If you ask us, Amy has one of the best bobs on Instagram. It's a cropped, French style with a shaggy fringe that oozes laid-back cool.

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@FRANNFYNE

Franny's thick, wavy bob complete with a full fringe is the perfect formula for French-girl chic.

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@ALEXACHUNG

You didn't think we'd have a bob roundup without this iconic style, did you? Alexa Chung's shoulder-length, tousled bob has become one of the most famous around (and for good reason).