InStyle

Hair

30 Bob Haircuts for Every Face Shape

 

From a sharp bob to a lob—and everything in between.

Angled, with bangs, tousled with beach waves, or super sleek and straight, you'd be surprised how many different ways you can style a bob haircut. Its wearability—and the fact that it looks good on every face shape—is likely why it's a hairstyle that's stood the test of time. "A bob length can vary from jaw length to just off the shoulder," stylist Jenny Balding tells us. "This means it's very versatile for all hair textures and face shapes." So if short hair is in the cards for you, you're in luck. We pulled together a round-up of 30 bob haircuts for your reference with tips from Balding and stylist Jenna Spino.

Meet the expert

• Jenny Balding is a co-owner of Cutler Salon x Arlo SoHo Salon in New York City.
• Jenna Spino is a stylist at Maxine Salon in Chicago.

 

Keep scrolling for proof that bob hairstyles work for every face shape, hair type, and texture.

Loose Waves

Saoirse Ronan's chin-length bob hits right at her jawline, showcasing her killer bone structure. Bendy waves complement her diamond face shape by lending softness to her look.

Natural Curly Bob With Bangs

Those looking to show off their hair's natural texture should turn to Nathalie Emmanuel for some hairspiration. Be sure to ask your stylist to incorporate strategic layers to your cut since this will lend your curly bob its shape.

Flipped Out

Lucy Liu's bob is styled by flipping the hair out and away from her face, opening it up. "It's great having the option to sometimes flip up the bottom of the bob instead of the typical under curl," adds Spino. The result is fun and flirtatious.

Textured Waves With Bangs

The beauty of Sofia Boutella's wavy bob with bangs is that it's perfectly undone—like bedhead but better. Apply a texturizing spray to land her edgy style.

Side Flip

Short haircuts like the bob flatter all hair textures, fine strands especially. For an instant boost of volume, flip hair to the side and add some product, such as Moroccanoil Root Boost, for good measure. Charlize Theron shows us how it's done.

Side-Swept

Cautious about bangs? Then simply opt for a low-maintenance style. Side-swept fringe, as seen on America Ferrera here, blends into the layers of the hair for a sleek and seamless finish.

Voluminous Waves

Jane Fonda creates texture and volume in her romantic bob with the help of layers and loose curls. This style works well for anyone looking to feign a thicker and fuller head of hair.

Flipped In

By curving the ends of your bob toward your chin and styling it sleek and straight, you can completely transform the look of your haircut. Exhibit A: Regina King.

Blunt Bangs

On the shorter side of the bob spectrum, Kat Graham's chic haircut hits right above the chin. This length also looks amazing with a set of full, blunt bangs. "I love it styled straight and sleek, showing off the clean lines," says Spino. "I also love that her bangs are textured—it softens the bob and shows off her eyes."

Shaggy Waves

"Jennifer Lawrence's shaggy textured bob is one of my favorite bobs because it's very low maintenance and works well on mostly everyone," Spino tells us. "It can be styled many ways: air dried, straight, curled, waved. It's extremely versatile and easy to wear while still trendy."

Textured

Kelly Rowland is picture-perfect proof that you can't go wrong with a wide-brim hat and a bob. To get her hair's tantalizing texture, we recommend working a small amount of Oribe Matte Waves Texture Lotion throughout damp strands.

Sleek and Straight

Chriselle Lim demonstrates that a precise center part, along with a straight style, is the perfect formula for a sharp bob that slays. "This effortlessly chic bob has super clean lines and not many layers, if at all," says Spino. "The blunt bottom emphasizes the jaw area, being extremely flattering to every wearer."

Half-Up, Half-Down

As Sarah Paulson shows us, a half-up, half-down hairstyle on a bob draws even more attention to your jawline and the cut's mod bluntness. This works well on her oval face shape (as does any cut and style on oval faces, really), but will also complement a round face since it elongates.

Curly and Structured

Tracee Ellis Ross's curly layered bob is the perfect cut for curly girls. "This bob is very layered, giving it the round shape and enhancing her curls with volume in all the right places," comments Spino. "The look is soft but trendy."

Textured With Micro Bangs

Zendaya's short, textured bob with bangs is super cool. "Bangs draw attention to the face—with her bangs being cut short, it opens up her face," says Spino. "This can be a more aggressive look, giving her some edge."

Deep Side Part

A deep side-part like Gabrielle Union's here creates the illusion of side-swept fringe, in case you're not ready to fully commit. Not sure which hair part is right for you? Consider your face shape.

Brushed-Out Curls

Taraji P. Henson wows with this natural curly bob. By brushing out her curls, she creates an ethereal look that we can't stop swooning over.

When brushing out curls, do so on damp hair after first applying a curl cream. This will protect hair and minimize frizz. Also, brush using light strokes to avoid damage.

Angled Cut

A prime example of an updated angled bob, Jenna Dewan's cut is slightly longer in the front than the back. Simple, yet stunning. To get her hair's glossy finish, invest in a shine spray.

Shaggy Bob

Julianne Hough's bob is just like the shag but shorter. She pairs her textured chop with piece-y, wispy bangs. The resulting style frames her face to a T.

Center Part and Waves

Volume, waves, and a center part? It's an all-around win, Jourdan Dunn. Try this cut if you've got thick tresses since the choppy ends and layers will help to remove some of your hair's density.

Brushed Back

Changing up the standard side part, Emilia Clarke brushed the other section of her bob back, creating volume at the crown.

Mussy Texture With Bangs

Amandla Stenberg wears her wavy bob with the cutest set of wavy baby bangs. The mussy style is perfectly imperfect.

Straight and Accessorized

Emma Roberts accessorizes her chin-length cut by pulling back a section of hair with a barrette. Not an accessories person? Let us convince you otherwise.

Old Hollywood Glam

Gigi Hadid embraces Old Hollywood with her retro bob. To really bring this look together, a classic red lip is a must.

S-Waves

Even as your bob starts to grow, bangs will continue to be the ultimate accessory. Case in point: Mila Kunis and her S-waves.

Curtain Bangs

Beyoncé's box bob with mini curtain bangs is a throwback to the '90s. "This cut typically has no layers and sits right around the jaw," says Spino. "I love using natural textures to enhance the [box] bob. It can be an easy wash-and-wear cut."

Classic Blowout

Naomi Watts's bob proves that you can never go wrong with a classic smooth and voluminous blowout.

Blunt and Wet

Leave it to Jennifer Lopez to modernize a classic cut and give it some much-needed edge. Her blunt bob à la wet look feels utterly refreshing.

Asymmetrical Waves

Flipping your hair over to one side can create a different gradation in length. One example? Jane Krakowski and her wavy, full-looking bob.

'50s-Inspired

Ayo Edebiri stuns in this classy '50s-inspired bob. The fact that it's so sleek and the ends are playfully flipped? Iconic.