When I was three years into my career, one of my clients came in with a magazine photo showing a chin-length bob. Most people would jump at the chance to get a big chop, but this client seemed really nervous. Having hair down to the middle of her back had been a staple in her adult life. Describing the change caused her hands to shake, and she was really worried about what I thought. I reassured her that the length of hair really was not the biggest concern. The emotional part of losing hair is about finding a new silhouette. She departed with a chin-length bob, and while I certainly wouldn’t call it a television-worthy transformation, I definitely observed an enhancement in her confidence and posture. She really loved her new look.
This is precisely the effect that a well-executed short bob achieves. Hair is arranged to highlight the client’s facial features, rather than hide them. There are tons of styles to choose from when it comes to short bobs, including near pixies, structured jaw length bobs, and collarbone grazing waves. Some of these styles are quite low maintenance while others will require more than you think. I’ve compiled a variety of styles that differ in texture, maintenance level, face shape suitability, and I’m happy to share which cuts are worth the effort, and which ones are probably better off as a photo.
#1: Soft Textured Pixie with Easy Volume
This is the type of cut I recommend to clients who want to stop stressing over constant hair upkeep. It’s short enough to be layered for movement, and gives fine to medium hair the fullness longer styles don’t. If you have a heart or oval face, this will sit really nicely. One thing, though, a styling product is a must. Light texturizing paste is the difference between you looking just rolled out of bed, and you looking like you rolled out of bed with purpose.
#2 Natural Curly Bob That Actually Works at This Length
Most of my curly hair clients regularly ask me about going this short. The answer is conditional based on your spring-back and curl pattern. This is just above the chin with some really gentle internal layering so the curls can move freely without creating a triangle shape, which is a common fear. Being this length is great for round or oval face shapes because the curls will add volume where it is needed and the length of the jaw will create a nice balance. It’s not really considered high maintenance, but some familiarity with your curl pattern is a must. At this length, it’s inevitable that you will have to submit to your curls and that will definitely be on display.
#3 Asymmetrical Silver Bob with Soft Texture
I surprised myself by liking this cut. With asymmetrical cuts, especially shorter ones, things can go a lot of different ways, but this one has just enough asymmetry that it feels intentional instead of making the whole look off balance. I think the textured layers help soften what would otherwise be a very harsh cut. If you are starting to go silver, this would be a great cut to help your hair look intentional instead of like you just let it grow out. The extra framing will most benefit those with oval and heart shaped faces, and yes, those sharp angles won’t last unless you come for trims every five to six weeks.
#4 Layered Copper Bob with Warm Face-Framing Pieces
I appreciate the color because it does about half the work here. The warm copper with gentle waves looks luxe, giving fine to medium hair an almost two times density. The cut is a standard layered bob and is at a safe medium length. It’s nothing groundbreaking. It’s about the color, and this color combo with the waves, elevates the whole service. I’ll be honest, if you’re not ready to be in the salon every four to six weeks for maintenance, don’t pick this color. Copper doesn’t last and fades plum.
#5 Silver Textured Bob with Soft Bangs
Bangs on a short bob can go one of two ways, and this one went the good way. The bangs are blended well enough to diffuse into the rest of the texture so there isn’t an obvious harsh line across the forehead, which is what ages people with bangs the quickest. The layering throughout the cut provides the hairstyle good dimension, and the silver color looks really good and not antique. Getting this color look intentionally will take some purple shampoo and a little bit of purple toning touch up, but the cut is forgiving and will look good in between appointments.
#6 Curly Layered Bob in Rich Chocolate Tones
This cut does a great job of mixing color and texture, especially the curls. The chocolate color of the curls adds depth and a sense of movement to the layers. The length is also ideal as it shows the definition without getting too out of control. This is a really ideal cut if your hair is naturally curly and of medium density. A good curl cream is definitely going to be needed to keep the definition, especially on day 2 or 3. The only thing I would mention is if your curls are really tight, this length could shrink a lot more than expected. Be sure to discuss it with your stylist.
#7 Warm Copper Bob with Playful Movement
To be realistic, I think this cut is fun, but I want to be realistic about it. With fine, wavy hair like the example, those fun layers look great when styled, but when they’re not, you’re likely to end up in limb territory sooner than you’d like. This looks like one of those bobs that seem to photograph super effortlessly and well, but of course, a ton of effort is required. That would be effort in the form of volumizing mousse and a diffuser (or some quick directional piecing do with a flat iron). The copper color warms everything up and is super flattering on round and heart-shaped faces.
#8 Silver Bob with Natural Texture and Easy Movement
What I appreciate about this one is that it lets the natural blend of silvers do the talking. There are no extreme highlights or toners that try to make it something it’s not, just a lovely bob that is well-cut with soft layers and lots of texture to avoid it from falling flat. This is the kind of cut you want if your hair is finer because it gives the illusion of movement with the layers and doesn’t remove too much bulk. The length is ideal as you can have it just above the shoulders so you can tuck it behind your ears or pull back one side if you want to switch it up.
#9 Choppy Bob with Soft Bangs at Chin Length
A chin-length bob with bangs can look either stunning or awful, and most of the time, this is due to the texture of the style. This one gets it right. Intentional choppiness and layered texture create volume and visual interest without looking hacked. Bangs soften the overall look. If you are looking to thicken your hair visually, I recommend this cut for fine to medium hair. If your hair is extremely thick, this haircut might make it look super heavy and wide around your chin. This is why that talk with your stylist is key.
#10 Sharp Angular Silver Bob
A precise angle was executed on this cut and it shows; the frame from back to front is seamless and the chin line is very purposeful. This design is contingent on the hair being kept smooth and taken care of. It’s stunning if that’s your desired aesthetic. It’s a sleek design and you will need straight hair, or the desire to straighten it. This is not a cut you can just wash and go with. Frequent trims will be required; the front angle is going to need it because when it starts growing the whole shape of the point is gone. The silver color fits here because it remains polished and not messy. If you naturally embrace your gray hair and want a look like this, it is on the structured side, but it is worth it.
#11 Textured Copper Bob with Cheekbone-Framing Layers
This design is great because the layers guide the attention to the cheekbones and jawline without bringing in an old school Rachel Green vibe. The copper color adds warmth to the look, and the layers keep it from looking too polished which, is what almost all of my clients want when they say, ‘I want it to look like I didn’t put any effort into it.’ For fine to medium hair, this is a better cut, but for thicker hair I’m going to direct them to something with more internal weight removal because those face-framing pieces can puff out too much when there’s too much density behind them.
#12 Tousled Blonde Bob with Soft Layers
For bob hairstyles, this is considered short and for those who want to go shorter but don’t want to make too extreme of a change. The finish is laid back and nice enough to be worn everyday. The bob works for many different kinds of face shapes, and is great because nothing is too extreme. The light blonde color is great and brightens it up, but of you’d rather go darker, you can achieve a similar look with your natural color. Just keep in mind that the tousled look does require some effort to achieve in the morning with the use of sea salt spray and some scrunching.
#13 Layered Silver Bob with an Elegant Side Part
This is the type of cut I would recommend for someone wanting to look polished but not overly stiff. The layers are soft enough to give you some movement, the side part adds a touch of vintage Hollywood, and the collarbone length gives you the versatility to pull it or braid it. I really like this for women in that grey transitional phase as the layers help to blend the different tones of silver. If your hair is finer, the layers will help give you more movement just be careful about too many layers as you can lose some of the fullness.
#14 Gentle Brunette Bob with Wispy Bangs
This haircut is dependable, and that is something I find more exciting than boring. It has soft layers for added shape, wispy bangs that offer a bit of a frame to the forehead, and the collarbone length is great for everyday clients. This bob is perfect for a wash and wear look. Either blow dry it, and it looks good, or let it dry and add some product to get that polished look. I also love how the texturizing keeps the ends from being too heavy and blunt. I would recommend this to just about everyone with fine to medium hair that wants something classic, but not too boring.
#15 Bold Purple Bob with Straight-Across Bangs
Now let’s talk about the level of dedication for a color such as this. The cut is decent, a clean shoulder length bob with a straight fringe, which will look great with round and oval face shapes. But the dedication is to the purple. This fashion color is guaranteed to wash out and just wait to see how it fades patchy. You will have to commit to color depositing treatments at home between salon visits way more often than you will want to. However, if that doesn’t deter you, and you want the look, go for it. The medium-density hair like this will make it look really good and the contrast really nice. Just understand what you’re committing to.
#16 Ash Blonde Textured Bob at Chin Length
This cut is nice and simple, does what it needs to, and doesn’t require much effort on your part. The chin length is universally flattering, and the ash blonde is modern without being obnoxious. Plus, the subtle layers stop it looking like a helmet. If you’ve got fine hair and you’re after some volume, this type of layered bob is a fantastic option as the layers create the illusion of fullness without actually removing weight. The style would just need a shine spray and that’s the only thing I would add.
#17 Edgy Textured Bob with Wispy Bangs
I especially appreciate the attitude demonstrated here. The layers are choppier compared to the other bobs on the list and the wispy bangs provide an undone quality that is more cool than messy. Its above the shoulder length keeps things more manageable and the added texture means there’s less to worry regarding every strand falling into place. The tousled finish actually looks like it needs a little help.
Adding a dry texture spray, especially at the roots, will help achieve that lived-in feel. The bangs and layers on this one, can be adjusted to ensure it will work on most, if not all face shapes.
#18 Wavy Blonde Bob with Bangs and Sun-Kissed Highlights
I think the blend of waves and bangs has a kind of vintage feel to it that I personally like a lot. It’s kind of like something Brigitte Bardot would have worn to run errands. The waves stay light and bouncy with the above the shoulder length and the highlights are nice and warm without being overly done. I must say though, this type of wave pattern on naturally straight hair is much more work than you are probably anticipating each morning, whether that’s with a curling wand or braids the night before. If your hair is already bent, this cut is going to be really great.
#19 Curly Face-Framing Bob with Natural Volume
For people with thick and curly hair wondering what a bob will look like, check this out! The front face framing layers are essential, as they keep the […] from forming a wall around the face, and instead, allow the hair to fall open and more flattering. The cut hits just above the shoulders, which is the perfect length for curly hair. Short enough to show the shape, long enough that some weight is pulling the hair down so it doesn’t shrink into a round poof. You will definitely want to have a leave-in, good gel, and some cream to maintain definition.
#20 Beachy Textured Bob with Relaxed Waves
This is kind of like a bob, but not trying at all and looking good which is a lie cause there’s def effort, but the energy is there. The waves are simple, the length sweetly grazes the chin in a nice not over the top way and is best for people who’s hair has some sort of wave or curl. For straight hair, you can def get there but you will have to use heat and or a lot of products to achieve this look. I think this cut ages well, and is not something I can say about all the styles on the list. It looks good and appropriate at 25 and 65.
#21 Layered Bob with Subtle Balayage
The balayage looks nice and soft and shorter cuts that’s how I like to see it. If there are too many highlights on a short bob, it can get stripey and look dated really quickly. Here, they’re adding just enough depth to make the layers stand out and provide some dimension. The cut is a classic layered bob that’s ideal for fine to medium hair and this is the sort of look that is really low maintenance and polished. The main upkeep is going to be regular trims because once the layers outgrow unevenly, the shape just disappears and it looks like hair that needs a cut.
#22 Warm Copper Bob with Soft Fringe
I find myself mentioning copper tones in nearly every post and that is for good reason! At bob lengths, copper works its magic! It is the color that reflects the most light and combined with soft, face-framing layers and a curtain bang, it just glows. This style is especially flattering for heart-shaped faces. The bangs bring some balance to a wider forehead and the jawline contouring layers do the work. The ideal hair type for this cut is medium to fine hair as it will create even more volume. I won’t lie, the upkeep is definitely real, but a color depositing conditioner works wonders for extending your appointments and will maintain your color in between!
#23 Rounded Bob with a Clean Silhouette
A well-done rounded bob is usually a great choice. This hairstyle is simple, with straight, clean lines and no designs, and sits above the shoulders. It has been layered lightly to promote movement. It looks healthy, shiny and obviously the hair has been well maintained. Because of the rounded shape of this hairstyle, it is very versatile and can suit most face shapes. This style is great for work and social gatherings. This hairstyle is perfect for going out, as it doesn’t require restyling. To achieve this style, all that is needed is a smoothing serum on the ends for a nice polished finish. This hairstyle takes no more than an extra thirty seconds to do.
#24 Modern Silver Bob with Soft Bangs
I would be comfortable giving this cut to anyone of any age, and of any face shape. The length is above shoulders which is always preferable, The bangs are soft and would grow out nicely. Good for anyone who may have decided they don’t want bangs. The type of layering here is what fine hair needs. The gray tones look modern and are contemporary with how the cut supports the color. A boxy bob would be the same gray would look shabby. The cut has the right amount of texture to look modern. The one non-negotiable with this style is that to keep the bangs from taking over your face it has to be trimmed every six weeks.
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