Exploring the perfect bob cut to flatter every face shape

No one can point to a particular era and confidently say that was when the bob cut was invented. But we do know that it has stood the test of time and cropped up (pun intended) now and again throughout history. However, it wasn’t until the 20th century that this hairstyle started coming into its own. It was embraced by the flapper culture of the 1920s, sort of like a rebellion against a rigid patriarchal system that looked down upon women with short hair. That’s when the bob cut went from being a mere haircut to becoming a movement. It was considered a symbol of liberty, modernity, youth, and the rejection of traditional gender norms. And the fact that it looks adorable on almost anyone only added to the cause.

Unsurprisingly, the bob cut still holds one of the top positions on the hair trends pyramid. While it has gone through quite an evolution over the years, it remains a celebrity favourite. In the last year, numerous A-listers have opted to chop off their flowy tresses in favour of a feature-defining bob. Think—Hailey Beiber, Zendaya, Priyanka Chopra, Kourtney Kardashian, Gigi Hadid, Sydney Sweeney, the list goes on. And let’s be honest, if so many of our favourite celebrities are sporting the bob, it certainly influences on the rest of us.  

The question we are here to answer though, is what is the fascination with cropped hair? Why have women throughout history been drawn to its appeal? in order to answer that, we must first understand what a bob cut is. It’s a haircut where the length falls anywhere between the chin and collarbone (or shoulder if you’re going for a lob but we’ll come to that). It can be customised with textures and layers to suit each individual’s hair texture and face shape. For instance, if you have a round face, a bob can help create a more elongated appearance. If you have fine or thinning hair, adding layers to the bob can create the illusion of voluminous locks.

That is the beauty of the bob cut—it is attention-grabbing, it pushes your facial features to centre stage and, as a bonus, it is so much easier to style and maintain. If you’re convinced and are considering the look, here are some of the different variations of the bob cut and whom it’s ideal for. There’s a bob cut look for nearly everyone.

The classic bob 

If we ask you to close your eyes and imagine a bob haircut, what do you picture? A straight and strong cropped hair look that is the same length all around? That is the classic bob. The beauty of this haircut is that plays well with most hair textures and face shapes. Of course, considering its versatility, you could customise it in so many different ways. For instance, you could go shorter to give the illusion of more volume or you could give it loose curls for some extra dimension. It’s also one of the easiest looks to style, just invest in some good anti-frizz products. This helps avoid that pomeranian tail look. 

Layered bob  

Are you looking to shake things up when it comes to a hairstyle? A layered bob is a cut to seriously consider. It’s not too crazy but it still has transformative powers. They have a variety of lengths that blend all together to create shape, volume, and movement in your hair. If you have fine hair and want to give it some bounce, a layered bob is the way to go.

A-line bob

Think back to the last time you watched Rihanna’s 'Umbrella’ video. Remember her haircut? That is an A-line bob. It’s shorter in the back and gradually gets longer as you move towards the front. Of course, you don’t have to go as short as Riri did but you should know that an A-line bob is still a celebrity favourite. The only thing to keep in mind is that this haircut looks much better on people with straight hair as the edges and angles wouldn’t stand out as much in textured hair.

Asymmetrical bob  

An asymmetrical bob is where one side of the hair is longer than the other. More often than not, one side is chin length and the other is almost to your collarbone. It’s a bold and chic look that creates the illusion of volume. Not to mention, it has endless styling possibilities—you could wear your hair straight or with loose waves.

Curly bob  

People with curly hair often assume that having cropped hair is not an option. We are here to prove that theory wrong. A curly bob is all about experimenting with your hair while embracing this texture. Depending on your curl and hair type, this cut could be a variety of lengths and dimensions. For instance, someone with loose curls could cut it shorter to boost volume while someone with corkscrew curls would keep it longer. 

The lob 

If you want to go short but not too short, the lob is for you (hence the name—long bob). Ideally, it extends until the neck and shoulders. Just like a classic bob, this cut works well with pretty much all hair textures and face shapes and can be styled in myriad ways.  

Feature image credit: Pexels

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