The “Riviera Bob” look is perfect for you! It is both stylish and trendy. The chop is now in all the trendy salons and is perfect for those looking for a change. If you want to get inspired for your next style appointment, keep scrolling to check out 25 amazing “Riviera Bob” looks.
When I was at the salon a couple years ago, a client in her early forties came to me with a vacation photo from the South of France. One of the women in the picture was wearing a super boat casual bob, and my client said, “I want to look like I don’t try that hard but still look like that.” That is a prime example of the vibe a Riviera Bob should give. The goal is to have a chop that looks casual, but is actually done. It should look put together even if you woke up and didn’t do a thing to it.
I really respect this cut’s ability to honor the hair you have, especially for women in their 40s. Your texture may be shifting. New grays might be coming in. Maybe you just don’t want to round brush your hair for 40 mins anymore. The Riviera Bob meets you where you’re at. It works with the softness and waves and layers that aren’t too dramatic. I have done this version of the cut on so many different hair types and face shapes, and it still manages to not feel cookie cutter. Here are 25 variations that I think show how versatile this single cut can be.
#1: Modern Smooth Lob with Subtle Layers
There is a serenity to this hairstyle I appreciate. The layers do not make a fuss about their presence. They allow the ends to move, and keep the overall look from being too heavy or blunt. The length is ideal. It is just the right volume to allow for some playfulness without being in the way. The ends have a slight bend, which I’d describe as a wave, and that is what gives the hair its personality with minimal effort. This is the perfect cut for straight hair of medium density that just falls into place.
#2 Chic Layered Asymmetrical Bob
I like the subtle asymmetry. It adds a nice touch because it looks like the hair fell in different places on purpose. The layers look full and voluminous, and no product is needed. Another plus is that this cut looks good with natural grays as well. The layered cut lets silver strands blend in instead of making them stand out like something annoying you have to deal with.
#3 Textured Wispy Curly Bob with Bangs
I love cCuts like these! They inspire me to put my scissors down for a minute to appreciate all the work that went into the bangs. They look great and sit perfectly and soft across the forehead, not looking like they’re trying to steal the show. If you have any kind of natural wave at all, this cut is definitely going to bring it out like you always wanted. The little effort you put into it, the better, honestly, it’s my favorite style to give people.
#4 Sleek Inverted Bob with Soft Highlights
I really like the shape, especially the gentle angling at the front and back which provides some length around the face without adding weight in the back. It looks amazing! The highlights suit you perfectly, simple and natural, just enough to add some dimension but not so much that it looks like you just walked out of a full foil appointment. It can feel a lot heavier than it actually is especially if your hair is on the finer side, but that’s just the nature of that cut. It will need a flat iron now and then to give that polished look but it is not necessary.
#5 Chic Textured Bob with Soft Waves
I think this cut has an individuality that is difficult to replicate. It is one of those things that either works or it doesn’t, and in this instance, it works tremendously. The waves are nice and relaxed, and not too face-frame-y. The chin length keeps it looking fresh and just a tad bold without being too short. I would recommend this cut to someone whose hair cut needs to do most of the work without a sophisticated blowout for it to work because the texture will do the heavy lifting. It’s one of those cuts that has that quality where it looks like you just ran your fingers through it and walked out the door.
#6 Stylish Textured Bob with Subtle Layers
The cut looks awesome because of the warmth of the color – it shows how much color can change the whole feel of a style. There may not be a ton of layers, and the design of the cut is such that the ends don’t get too stuck. This is nice with fine straight hair because while it gives nice movement, it doesn’t feel too heavy. The way the cut shows the balance, between the color and shape, is great, without the dominance of either.
#7 Softly Layered Modern Bob with Subtle Highlights
The way the layers of this cut fall is always fascinating to me. It’s able to create more volume in the mid-lengths of the hair while still allowing for a nice fall at the ends. I love the highlights as they look a bit grown out which creates a really nice low maintenance look. If you have medium to thick hair and are worried that a bob is going to feel too poofy or round, this is definitely a reference you should show to your stylist. The layers control the volume to where you want it and away from the places you don’t.
#8 Charming Textured Bob with Soft Bangs
I love the bangs here because the just touch the brows and then blend into the layers on the sides so there aren’t any harsh lines. Your cut has a softness that looks great in pictures and even better in person, which isn’t always the case. The ends have a slight wave that gives it just the right amount of texture to be interesting without a lot of added. A bit of texturizing spray scrunched in and you’re all set.
#9 Modern Textured Bob with Soft Waves
What really attracts me to this piece is the color. The tones are so rich, and the multi-tonal warmth and depth changes with the light. The waves are relaxing and defined like they were styled with a large barrel curling iron and then shaken out. There is an ease to this, and a lot of that is due to the fact that the cut and color work together so well.
#10 Textured Wavy Bob with Rich Chestnut Tones
I love the color chestnut and the warm, welcoming impression it conveys. The waves look almost hypnotic and the flowing texture wants to go that way. The supportive layers do not hinder that. Somehow the way this style grazes the shoulders gives a particular impression, and it is certainly not one that blends into the background. If you have finer hair, this type of layering is actually quite difficult to achieve as it gives the look of thick hair without the ends looking stringy.
#11 Effortless Beachy Waves with Subtle Highlights
For me, this captures the Riviera spirit the best. It feels as if you’ve been to a warm place and your hair has responded to the warmth. The highlights are very soft and only lift a few strands for a change without a full dye job. The waves are soft and imperfect in a way that takes intention to do this, or a lot of really good, natural hair texture. It’s the look that you’d want to have a good sea salt spray to help it along on the days your hair isn’t doing all the work.
#12 Textured Wavy Bob with Subtle Layers
Here, the balayage has been done really softly, just warming the mid-lengths and ends so there won’t be a harsh grow-out line. This means you can take longer gaps between appointments without feeling the need for a touch up. I can see the layers are more concentrated around the face, and that is clever for finer hair as it adds movement where it is most needed without excessive thinning of the overall density. A lot of placement consideration has been done for the impression of ease.
#13 Modern Textured Bob with Subtle Soft Waves
This specific haircut gives off a vibe of a busy individual who doesn’t have time to deal with their hair in the morning. The soft waves give a thrown together fast look that gives the impression they could come out the minute you walk out the door. The layers are just right to keep the hair feeling full without that heavy feeling. They just have that adaptable quality to it. I can see this working on many different hair types.
#14 Effortlessly Chic Textured Bob with Soft Waves
This balayage looks really nice. It’s low enough in contrast to pull from the base color but high enough to create dimension. For this cut, I like that the movement is happening at the ends of the hair as opposed to starting with the crown, mid-lengths, or anything like that. It keeps the hair smooth and polished at the top and adds more volume and life at the bottom. It’s a great reminder that waves can start lower down and be really effective. When the hair is finer in texture, this helps to look more put together and not too messy.
#15 Sleek Modern Bob with Subtle Textured Layers
I appreciate what they created. I specifically love how it is under-the-chin, because it always appears so nice and clean. I am sure the subtle layers will be great for movement. I know it will be nice and expensive in all the best ways. All of the lines are super clean and I can see this working really well on straight hair. You would be able to let it air dry and it will look good. The face frame is soft and not choppy at all, which keeps it from feeling trendy and which gives it a more sophisticated look.
#16 Elegant Rich Chestnut Bob with Soft Layers
The chestnut color is warm and welcoming. It appears to change color depending on the angle it is viewed from. The primary focus of the layers is movement, not volume. At this length, the layers result in an effect that is slightly tousled, which helps to avoid the hair looking too stiff or polished. This is a versatile hairstyle that can work for anything from grocery shopping to going out for dinner. The most important thing about this look is that everything is in balance. Nothing is too much. The color is subtle, the layers are minimal, and the length is not too short or too long. Everything is in order.
#17 Softly Framed Layered Bob with Subtle Highlights
These face-framing pieces soften everything without looking too specific like curtain bangs. The hair just falls into place, and it takes a good cut to make that happen. Highlighted pieces give a sun-kissed look to the medium brown base, in a way that isn’t obviously from a salon. This is a great option for a client who wants a change but doesn’t want to look different. It simply enhances what’s already there.
#18 Textured Wavy Bob with Flattering Face Framing
I like the shape of this cut. It has fullness, but not roundness, and the waves have so much personality. The chin-length framing is great here too. It’s wavy in a flattering way and minimizes the focus on the chin. If you have some natural curl or wave, this is the type of cut that will really let that texture shine without doing much. It’s one of those styles where the right cut means your hair does the styling itself, and that’s always the goal in my chair.
#19 Layered Textured Bob with Subtle Highlights
I think that the texture is the most interesting part of the style. The texture is slightly rough, which helps it not look overly precious. The highlights are strategically placed so that the layers catch the light and provide some depth, even with flat lighting. The length is great for someone who likes to alternate between wearing their hair down or pulling it half-up, because there is enough length for both options. Not every cut at this length provides that versatility.
#20 Chic Curly Bob with Defined Layers
This is amazing! I love how bouncy the curls look, and how defined they are. I love the appreciation for the layers, as they allow each curl to shine without overshadowing the others. This has such an amazing natural liveliness that is replicable. If your hair is naturally curly, do yourself a favor and get a cut that works with those curls instead of trying to tame them like a lot of people do and this is the perfect example. A good curl cream scrunched in while it’s still wet and then just leave it alone. Trust the cut.
#21 Stylish Textured Bob with Soft Waves
I appreciate the tranquillity this look brings. The waves and layers are quiet and gentle. The length isn’t the sort of compromise that makes you feel bad about it; it truly feels like that’s where the hair wants to sit. I imagine this would work for someone who’s sported longer hair and is ready for it to come up a few inches without making too much noise. It’s an effortless cut, the kind you forget you’re sporting because it just feels right.
#22 Chic Textured Bob with Soft Fringed Bangs
Fringed bang styles are the right amount of weight; they aren’t too face framing or too blunt, just resting there doing their job. The other parts of the cut are untidy and thinned which prevents the style from looking too polished. That is the trick of this style, it’s well balanced. The combination of relaxed and polished styles is a tricky balance to achieve. If you’ve been wanting to get bangs, but worried about the high-maintenance feeling, styles like this are a more relaxed way to experiment with it.
#23 Modern Rich Auburn Bob with Soft Layers
I love how warm and natural this rich auburn color is! On straight hair like this the color really shines because the cut is so simple and the color does most of the work. There aren’t many layers and the ends look a bit flipped. To me, what really stands out is the combination of the bold color and uncomplicated cut. It seems like someone confident really loves their personal style and appreciates a haircut that isn’t too fussy.
#24 Modern Textured Bob with Subtle Highlights
The waves seem incredibly realistic, like you just diffused your hair and let it sit for an hour. The highlights are soft and natural looking, and seem to be around the face and on the top layers which is a nice touch to liven things up without a big color commitment. For someone coming out of a longer style, I think this would be a great transitional cut. It’s short enough to feel new, but familiar enough so you won’t panic when you look in the mirror.
#25 Modern Textured Bob with Soft Flicks
The end flicks give the haircut its charm. The ends are not curled or straightened. They are slightly flicked out which gives a fun element to the more classic style. The bangs are more subdued and blend into the side layers instead of sitting apart and creating separation which adds to the overall balance of the cut. This style is very deceiving because it looks like it took a lot of effort when in actuality the hair just looks this good because of the amazing haircut and that’s a really good thing to say about a style.
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