The bob is officially back in town! And with the summer of the short cut heating up, you might be wondering which of the dozens of trendy looks is just right for you. Whether it’s to stay on top of the most popular looks of the season or as a way to beat the heat, your next cut is bound for bob/lob territory. And we have the expert-recommended formula to determine the best bob or lob for your face shape.
Featured Experts
- Dimitris Giannetos is a celebrity hairstylist and Moroccanoil global ambassador
- Paul Labrecque is creative director, master stylist and colorist with Paul Labrecque Salon and Skincare Spa
- Gonn Kinoshita is a celebrity hairstylist and Balmain ambassador
- Castillo Bataille is a celebrity hairstylist and Matrix celebrity stylist
- Mark Townsend is a celebrity hairstylist
Why Are Bobs So Trendy?
Summer is definitely heating up, so it’s not necessarily surprising that the bob has rocketed to the top of trending haircuts. But that’s not the only reason this short cut has become the look of 2024.
According to celebrity hairstylist and Moroccanoil global ambassador, Dimitris Giannetos, they’re also super easy to maintain. “Bobs are trending this summer because they are easy and great for warmer temperatures,” he explains. “You can add layers to the body, or opt for face-framing layers. This style is always easy to keep up with and when styled looks super fun and flirty.”
So, You Want a Bob or Lob
Choosing to go short can be daunting, and no one wants a bad hair day that you have to grow out for a few months to correct. That’s why creative director, master stylist and colorist Paul Labrecque with Paul Labrecque Salon and Skincare Spa recommends taking your face shape into account early in the process.
“If you’re considering going short, you want to consider how round your face is,” Labrecque explains. “This tells your hairstylist where to make the line stop. You do not want the hairline to end where the face holds its width.”
According to celebrity hairstylist and Matrix celebrity stylist, Castillo Bataille, your face shape can also help determine what texture is right for you. “Styles like graduated layers can add balance and structure to square or heart-shaped faces,” Bataille explains, “while straight lines help balance out round faces.”
The Best Bob or Lob for Your Face Shape
When you’re looking to go short, there are some important tips to keep in mind. “It’s dependent on how much hair and what kind of texture you have,” explains celebrity stylist and Balmain ambassador, Gonn Kinoshita. “But ultimately I try to create an elongated, oval shape using different techniques.”
What you don’t want is a completely circular-shaped cut.
“Good professionals will try to make ovals, never circles when cutting, trimming and styling,” explains Labrecque. “If a bob ends in the wrong place along the face, it can easily make a circle shape.” That’s the bowl cut, which you probably want to avoid.
Round Faces
“A lob works better than a bob for those with a round face shape,” Labrecque explains. Bataille adds that there are several different style of lob that benefit rounder faces, including highly textured wavy lobs or the addition of side-swept bangs. “Waves add a playful touch to round and oval face shapes, which can be enhanced with a diffuser or curling iron for added texture,” he explains. “The asymmetry of side-swept bangs can be very flattering for this face shape.”
Square Faces
“Square face shapes can benefit from a graduated long bob, where graduated layers provide balance and structure,” Bataille explains. “Straight lines can also help balance the square face, so a straight lob with bangs is also a good choice.”
“Square faces should have added softness under the chin, not at the chin,” Labrecque adds.
Heart-Shaped Faces
Unlike square faces, heart-shaped faces benefit from a cut that ends at the chin. “With this face shape, the width is on the forehead, so a chin-length is good,” Labrecque explains. “And curtain bangs are great to soften a wide forehead too.”
If you want to keep some length, though, Bataille recommends opting for a straight lob with babylights. “Subtle babylights can add brightness and dimension to the heart-shaped face.”
Oval Faces
“Oval shapes benefit from the addition of softness and movement,” Bataille explains. Wavy lobs or the addition of side-swept bangs can help accomplish this.
“Oval faces can really have a bob or lob cut to any length,” Labrecque adds. “But if the client’s neck is very long, I prefer a lob.”
The Trending Bobs and Lobs
There are also a host of super-trendy looks that can flatter a host of different face shapes and hair types.
“All hair types can wear the hydro bob, this looks great on straight, wavy, and curly hair,” explains celebrity hairstylist Mark Townsend. “This cut looks great with some texture as well. I add loose waves or bends with styling iron and finish by dry shampoo at the roots to keep the volume and I run a small amount of Semi di LIno Smoothing Cream ($26) mid lengths to ends to add shine.”
And amidst the return of the old money bob and bell-bottom bob, there’s also the expert-adored staples that will never go out of style.
“My favorite bob to cut and style is the box bob,” Kinoshita says. “It’s a very light and choppy cut.”
Styling the Best Bob or Lob for Your Face Shape
