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Bob Hairstyles You'll Want To Try In 2023

 

The new year is right around the corner, and you know what that means: a fresh opportunity to reinvent yourself. Coco Chanel is credited with saying, "A woman who cuts her hair is about to change her life," and we're liable to agree. You can change your style, your home décor, or your workout routine, but somehow no change feels quite as intense as a major haircut, since a dramatic cut can transform your whole identity. And while it can be scary to make the chop, it's just hair — it always grows back, after all.

While 2022 was all about copper tones, long shags, and '90s bombshell hairstyles, 2023 is decidedly the year for bobs. A classic, short haircut that has endless iterations, bobs can be elegant, fun, and sophisticated (not to mention a great way to show off your neck and shoulders). From a buttery, blonde "Botticelli" bob to a contemporary grown-out pixie, we have all the intel on the best bob hairstyles you'll want to try in 2023.

Boxy, blunt bob

This one-length, boxy bob was seen all over runways in 2022, and is going to be a big trend in 2023, according to Allure. It's a shorter bob that is cut at the same length with no layering, making it a bit boxy and voluminous. Los Angeles hairstylist Sunnie Brook Jones told Allure, "The length hits at the bottom of the chin or shorter depending on your hairline, type, and texture." Hairstylist Michael Dueñas recommended keeping the cut one length, but asking your hairdresser to remove any bulk at the ends of the hair. "This will allow for straight sleek looks, or rounder, fuller, and denser looks depending on your hair texture," he said.

While a boxy, chin-length bob may seem like a big chop to some, this hairstyle can actually be an extremely flattering choice. Brook Jones told Bustle, "It elongates the neck and is pretty low maintenance while having a big cool factor playoff," adding that cutting the hair with clippers can actually be a good way to get the blunt, squared-off ends that are "the signature of this look."

One last bonus of the boxy bob? It will look ultra-cute this winter. According to hairstylist Keka Heron, a box bob "looks great under a winter hat" (via Bustle). And celeb hairstylist Justine Marjan said a boxy bob "doesn't distract from a glitzy holiday party look or from the high neckline of a warm sweater" (via Byrdie).

The mixie

If you're looking for a unique, retro, and head-turning haircut, the mixie is the one for you. According to hairstylist Jamie Wiley, "This haircut will be trending in the new year because of its mix of retro and modern vibes" (via Allure).

A cross between a mullet and a pixie cut, this haircut is short and choppy, with short layers in the front and longer ones in the back. Not only is it the "'cool girl' cut for 2023," according to Wiley, but it's surprisingly low maintenance, too. Hairstylist Amanda Tua told Refinery 29 that, especially for those with curly or wavy hair, it's the type of style where you can wake up, spray a little sea salt spray in it, and be ready to go. "This short style is great for those wanting short hair, but a softer, feminine version," Tua said. However, the choppy layers can also be styled in different ways to suit feminine and androgynous styles alike.

Mid-length bob

If you're not quite ready to cut your hair all the way to your chin, don't worry: Mid-length and longer bobs are on-trend for 2023. This type of bob can fall just above your shoulders or reach down to your clavicle — whatever you prefer. However, to keep things more modern, you may want to opt for a blunt cut with minimal layers, since blunt bobs are trending for 2023.

A great thing about a mid-length bob is that it offers versatility. Celebrity hairstylist Kristen Shaw told Byrdie that "you can wear it both parted to the side or down the middle and it still looks chic." She added that longer bobs also allow you to style them in different ways, whether you prefer smooth and sleek or natural: "The blunt nature of the cut, at a precise length [that's best for] your features ... gives room for you to blow it out or wear it natural, so there's some body."

Princess Diana bob

For those looking for a bob that's both classic and modern, the Princess Diana bob may be a good choice. "It's such a fresh look and exudes confidence and style," celebrity hairstylist Ryan Trygstad said of the Princess Diana look (via Glamour). "The cut itself is a mixture of a very short layered bob edging toward a pixie." It also is a good option for people who aren't super girly, since the haircut is "feminine in a masculine way," according to Andreas Wild (via Allure).

It's also a pretty versatile haircut, as it can be worn straight or curly, and with whichever parting you prefer. "Play with it; try different partings — side, front and slicked back," Wild suggested. It's also not a high-maintenance cut, because it looks equally good after it's grown out for a few months. "When it grows out, leave it for a while before you get a trim as it adds chicness to it and, when styled with the right outfit, looks on point," Wild said.

Cropped shag

Shag haircuts have been getting a lot of love recently, and that doesn't seem to be stopping any time soon. However, a fresher version is in for 2023 in the form of a shorter, shaggy bob. "The '70s will be back in a major way this winter," hairstylist Clayton Hawkins told Bustle. He added that shags are also good options for all different hair textures. The cut is especially great for people who have some natural curl or wave to their hair. Hairstylist Amanda Tua told Refinery 29, "It's perfect for those wanting to embrace their natural wave."

Whether you're looking for a soft and feathery-looking shag like Billie Eilish's, or a more choppy take like Miley Cyrus', this fun, retro hairstyle is definitely a bob hairstyle you'll want to try in 2023. And don't be daunted by the maintenance — hairstylist Corinna Hernandez told Glamour, "[The shag is] a heavily layered cut that's worn messily." The more imperfect this hairstyle looks, the better!

Bob with curly fringe

Curly-haired girls, do we have the bob for you! It involves chopping the hair to right around the collarbones and getting a fringe. This '80s-inspired cut is on trend for 2023 and "will soften your face and enhance cheekbones," according to hairstylist Amanda Tua (via Refinery 29).

If you're someone who prefers to keep some length to your hair, this haircut is versatile enough to work on longer or shorter hair. "Choose from a shorter style or longer tendrils which will frame the face when your hair is tied up," Tua recommends. You can also get a fringe that goes straight across the forehead, or opt for side bangs, depending on your preference. For some inspiration for this haircut, look to '80s icons like Diana Ross or "Dirty Dancing" star Jennifer Grey, or current celebs like Zendaya, Lily Collins, and Rita Ora, who have all rocked this style in recent years.

Blonde Botticelli bob

If you're looking to switch up your haircut and color for the new year, you may be interested in what hairstylist Booth calls "Botticelli" blonde (via Nylon). Botticelli was the artist behind the romantic, iconic "Birth of Venus" painting, which features a woman with long, flowing, warm-toned hair, and this golden-toned blonde is going to be more popular in 2023.

Blonde hair expert Reece Walker said (per Nylon) that the ashy blonde tones many tend to go for are actually on their way out, with warm, "Botticelli" blondes taking over. "I'm not seeing ash tones in blondes this season," Walker told Nylon. Booth agreed that warm-toned blondes are in, saying, "It's an extremely flattering color if you can reverse the brainwashing from the last couple of decades about how warm or brassy tones look bad."

It's no secret that blonde can be a difficult color to maintain, especially if it's not your natural color. However, since warm blonde colors require much less toning, it's definitely a lower-maintenance take on blonde.

Bixie

A cross between a bob and a pixie, this haircut "gives the fullness of a short pixie while keeping the length and versatility of a bob," according to hairstylist Jenna Spino (via Byrdie). It's a good choice for anyone wanting to go short — but not too short — because it shows off the neck and collarbones, but isn't cut quite as short as a traditional pixie.

The haircut offers dimension and movement, since it "blends the blunt lengths of a bob and the short, interior layers of a pixie," according to hairstylist Leigh Hardges (via Byrdie). It's also a versatile cut, which can be blown out to be sleek and smooth, or worn messy: "The bixie is heavily layered and textured, giving it an almost shaggy look," according to Spino.

And, though this cool-girl look may seem like it requires a lot of maintenance, it's surprisingly easy to style. "This cut is perfect for people wanting a chop without committing to the maintenance of a short style. It's a fun, edgy, low-maintenance style that pretty much anyone can wear," Spino told Byrdie.

A focus on fringe

Usually, we'd tell you to resist the urge to impulsively get bangs, but in this case, we're on board. Bangs are trending for the upcoming winter season, and this goes for curtain bangs, full, blunt bangs, and piece-y bangs. "Front pieces are a total in," celebrity hairstylist Ashley Streicher told Bustle, explaining that bangs of all types are in for the winter. Hairstylist Keka Heron agreed: "Fringe textured bangs are a great winter look," she said.

Since shaggy, layered cuts are in, a layered bob with fringe is the perfect way to keep your hair on-trend in 2023. Or, if you're feeling particularly brave, you could opt for baby bangs, which hairstylist Clayton Hawkins said will become increasingly popular this winter. "So many girls are wanting a major change without losing all their length," he said. If this sounds like you, baby bangs may be the perfect option.

French girl bob

For a hair look that's pretty much always in style, check out the "French girl" bob. First popularized by a French actress, Polaire, in the 1890s (per Dazed), the haircut really took off in the 1960s during the French New Wave movement, with iconic actress Anna Karina as one example of actresses who rocked the French bob. In more recent years, we've seen the classic cut on actresses like Natalie Portman in "Leon: The Professional" and on Audrey Tautou in the charming French film "Amélie."

When it comes to the look of the French bob, there is a little flexibility — it can be cut with or without bangs, and it can include some subtle layering, or be mostly one-length. According to hairstylist Alex Brown (via Glamour), "A French bob is typically shorter than your typical chin-length bob we've been seeing a lot of lately. It has a bit of a 'wedge' look to it, and is so chic and stylish." We have to agree!

Bowl-cut bob

Okay, hear us out: Bowl cuts can be cool when they're done right. A bowl-cut inspired bob — that is, one that has rounded bangs and corners with layers around the cheekbones — is no longer just a hairstyle of the past; it's on-trend for 2023, according to editorial hairstylist Cheryl Bergamy (via Bustle).

We get it, a bowl cut isn't for everyone, but the modern take on the cut certainly isn't anything to be afraid of. "It's similar to a bob cut with the addition of subtle layers added to allow for movement to your hair," renowned hairstylist Frédéric Fekkai told Allure. Fekkai added, "As we move into 2023, we'll be seeing a bit more of a '70s resurgence," which makes the bowl cut a trendy, retro option.

One thing to note? A bowl cut can require more maintenance than other hairstyles, so people interested in the cut should be prepared to devote a bit more time to styling and maintaining this look.

Long, layered lob

Another trending cut for 2023 is a longer bob with layers, preferably blown out or styled with hot rollers for a smooth finish. "I see the winter trend moving into longer, softer layers," hairstylist Chris Jones told Byrdie. "Beach waves are great for summer, but for winter I'm moving into more of a round brushed, blowout finish."

A long bob with layers seems like it would be a universally flattering cut, but Jones actually recommends this cut more for people with medium-to-thick hair — those with fine hair may not get the look they want in this case. "Layers tend to work best on medium to dense textures. Layers remove weight, which is great for volume," Jones said. "However, layers remove weight which fine hair can't afford to lose."

Long pixie

There's the mixie, the bixie, and the long pixie. (Clearly, pixie cuts are having a moment.) Similar to a bixie, a long pixie is exactly what it sounds like: a feminine, layered, short haircut that is slightly longer than you'd expect for the typical pixie, but not quite as long as the bixie, which is bob-length. "It's perfect for those who want to try shorter hair but don't want to fully commit," hairstylist Austin Call told Byrdie. It's also an ideal hairstyle for anyone looking to grow out a short cut, according to Call.

"Winter hair is a time of change, a time to reinvent yourself and your look," hairstylist Todd Edwards told Byrdie. "It is also a time to have fun with your hair and be a little more flirty with it, because we all know it's holiday season and you'll be attending lots of parties." Precisely the reason you should try a long pixie in 2023!

Mia Wallace bob

Another classic option is the Mia Wallace (or Anna Wintour, or Michelle Pfeiffer in "Scarface") bob, which is a short, cropped cut right above the collarbones that includes full bangs and is slightly rounded. This hairstyle is a timeless, classic look that works for many different styles and hair types – and it looks good on everyone. "A rounded bob is fantastic because it flatters nearly every face shape," Andrew Fitzsimons, celebrity hairstylist, told Glamour.

Additionally, this sleek haircut is particularly on-trend right now. "Chic, clean lines are breaking the scene this season," James Abu-Ulba, art director and Davines showcase artist, told Byrdie. And because this cut is typically worn straight, it's a go-to option for people with naturally straight, fine hair — those with curly or wavy hair will have to spend a lot more time styling this one. But high-maintenance hairstyles aren't necessarily a bad thing; as hairstylist Frédéric Fekkai told Nylon, "After two years of on-and-off isolation, there is an appetite for glamour this year."

Curly, mid-length bob

A short-to-medium haircut, plus curls, plus lots of volume = the perfect hairstyle on natural hair. "Together, the length and shape of the cut help to build really stunning volume for natural girls," said César DeLeön RamiÌ‚rez, Mizani global artistic director and celebrity stylist, per Glamour.

This cut is also pretty low maintenance once you figure out a routine that works for you. Hairstylist Devin Toth recommended (via PopSugar) mixing a curl-defining cream with a gel. "You can scrunch it or twist sections of hair into smoother and thicker coils," he recommended. For those who feel like a curly bob may not offer much versatility, Toth has a recommendation for that, too: "Slicking one side back with a styling gel and securing it with a fun hair accessory is a really cool way to change up your curly bob hairstyle," he said. Overall, a curly, medium-length bob is a fun and stylish way to update your hairstyle in 2023.