I take great pride in my long hair, but these 22 bob hairstyles make a convincing case for chopping it all off
The humble bob isn't going anywhere any time soon, folks
The bob hairstyle is officially the biggest hair trend of 2024, because just a couple of months into the year, it's already proving to be everywhere. From the French bob to the lob, the humble bob isn't going anywhere (although long hair is making a comeback, too).
Although there's a lot to consider—face shape, whether or not you have thick or thin hair, styling capabilities, desired style—one thing's for sure: they'll never go out of style, and that's pretty much a fact. There are so many variations of the cut to choose from that it's virtually impossible not to find one you'll suit.
There's the classic chin-skimming bob, of course, but also more modern iterations such as the Scandi bob and the 90s bob. And the good news is, if you need a visual representation of these choppy styles, there's a whole host of A-listers in the celeb-sphere with great bobs to choose from—there's plenty to choose from in our hair archives.
Keep reading for the best bob hairstyles 2024 has to offer. Tempted much? I know I am, and I've had long hair my whole life.
1. The Bieber bob
The boyfriend bob, AKA the Bieber bob, is exactly what comes to mind when you think of a bob. Chin grazing, chunky ends, and a slight wave. It literally looks perfect. All of a sudden I'm considering taking 20 inches off.
2. The French bob
Raye is the moment, and her bouncy French bob is currently giving me all of the inspiration I could possibly need.
3. The slicked-back bob
Florence Pugh is making a very strong case for the androgynous, slicked-back bob—and I'm all ears.
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4. The glossy bob
If you are naturally blessed with glossy hair, Charithra Chandran's fringed bob is one for your inspiration board. If, like me, your hair could use a shine boost, look to hair glosses.
5. The soft bob
Thin and fine-hair ladies, here's one for you. Carey Mulligan keeps her bob soft and fluffy to generate lived-in volume.
6. The blunt French bob
While French bobs might be known for being lived-in and seemingly unstyled, Naomi Campbell shows that the polished French bob, with a blunt fringe and finish, looks equally as good.
7. The Hollywood bob
A side-swept, perfectly waved, glossy Hollywood bob? Greta, I'm listening.
8. The lob
Jenna Ortega has made a choppy bob the look of the past couple of years. Adding waves for extra texture creates gorgeous movement which looks effortless.
9. The ombré bob
If you thought you couldn't experiment with colour with a bob, then let Milly Alcock's Golden Globes 2023 look inspire you. The blonde ends make the sleek bob extra special. We love the addition of the face-framing strands too.
10. The wavy bob
A bob cut above the chin might feel super short, but it looks incredible on so many people, including Lana Condor. And hey, think of all the time you'll save drying it.
11. The wispy bob
Rihanna's wispy bob and fringe style might've debuted back in 2016, but I still love it just as much to this day.
12. The wavy lob
Probably the go-to hairstyle of the decade is the lob, aka the long bob, popularised by many a celebrity over the last few years. Whether you like a curly lob or tousled, mid-length waves, this is probably the most versatile hairstyle you can go for, as Chrissy Teigen shows.
13. The braided bob
Marsai Martin gives us a lesson in how to create a middle-parted, blunt braided bob. I couldn't love this look any more if I tried.
14. The side-swept lob
Even more dramatic than chopping off all your hair is chopping off all your hair and having a fringe cut in. Whether you prefer a blunt full fringe or sweeping side bangs, your hairdresser will help you choose the right one to suit your face shape.
15. The asymmetric bob
Want a dramatic 'do that makes an impact? A poker-straight asymmetric bob ticks all the boxes.
16. The cropped bob
Allow Kerry Washington to convince you to try a blunt, cropped bob with a micro fringe. It's sure to turn heads and get compliments.
17. The wet-look bob
Charlize Theron has tried so many bobs on the red carpet, but this 2021 bob has to be up there with our favourites—a tousled and slightly wet look.
18. The coiffed lob
Margot's coiffed, asymmetric long bob is the epitome of chic.
19. The curly bob
Yara Shahidi wore her curly hair with blunt cut ends and a slightly wispy fringe.
20. The half-up bob
Emilia Clarke's look is a perfect example of how to style the half-up do with a bob.
21. The undone bob
Take your cue from the original queen of the bob and go for a centre parting and a subtle side fringing.
22. The vintage bob
She may have grown it out now, but Lily Collins had one of the best bob hairstyles we've ever seen. Although she usually styles it wavy, we also love this vintage vibe.
Get the look:
Get a super sleek finish with these BaByliss cordless straighteners that'll glide through your ends with ease.
Dionne Brighton is a writer at Marie Claire UK, specialising in all things shopping, beauty and fashion. Born and raised in North London, she studied Literature at the University of East Anglia before taking the leap into journalism. These days, you can find her testing out the latest TikTok beauty trends or finding out what the next full Moon means.
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