I enjoy giving customers spiky bob haircuts. The reactions I get from customers after seeing their new short haircuts are always exciting to me. A lot of customers seem to think getting a short haircut means they will get a boring haircut and will lose their chance to have long hair again. What I think they don’t understand is that a well done spiky bob haircut is more fun and interesting than any long boring haircut. No, I am not saying this just because I am the one doing the haircut.
I also enjoy these hairstyles because of the variety and flexibility they offer. I had one amazing client that had been growing out her hair for two years. This was because someone told her that having short hair would make her look older. When I gave her a textured bob haircut, she didn’t cry because it was an extreme haircut. She cried because the haircut suited her and it was what she needed. That is what a good short haircut can do. A good short haircut can make your face glow. The best part is that it often doesn’t require a lot of maintenance and effort to look good. This is usually the main reason most people end up deciding to get a short haircut in the first place.
#1: That Fiery Red Textured Bob
Red hair is always very eye catching and playful! Your cut is going to give you a beautiful light reflection! Your layers also give you that more framed and tousled look that you are going for. Clashing red hair is going to be very high maintenance, as you’ll have to come to the salon often for touch ups so the color stays looking fresh. You may want to think about getting a deposit color shampoo between visits. I’m sure you’ll have the youthful look that red hair provides! With the cut being easy to style, it’ll be the color that takes the most energy.
#2 That Soft Tousled Layered Bob
The cut is meant to look like she just woke up and that her hair is doing its own thing. Obviously, we want to achieve that look, and as part of that goal, we have some light layering to create a more organic feel, and that layering blends seamlessly throughout the cut. What I love most about this particular look is the color. The combination of warm and cool tones is very well blended and looks natural. The hair will need a little bit of texturizing spray to hold the messy look in place, and once you get the hang of it, you shouldn’t have any trouble getting it to take about five minutes along with a blow dry and your fingers, which is a pretty good.
#3 Lived-In Textured Bob with a Little Warmth
The cut I recommend the most often is this one, and for good reason — 9 times out of 10, it works for everyone I see. The layers feel light and airy, and the highlights blend beautifully. They give the effect of being you just got back from the beach rather than painted on. I think the most flattering look for shorter hair is one that feels ‘lived in’. My one reservation is that I wouldn’t recommend this cut for people with really thick, coarse hair, as with the right styling it can look puffy. For fine and medium hair though, this is an absolute dream. The perfect finish is just some styling cream scrunched into damp hair. Done!
#4 Face-Framing Layers That Actually Do Their Job
I enjoy the framing detail on the hairstyle The highlights are a good warm tone and hit her skin tone excellently. That length is really dolling The layering is extremely intentional. It’s not just hastily cut layers; everything moves together and it all works in harmony. There’s a lot of volume here with no flat spots. This kind of haircut is the kind that gets people complimenting you for it without knowing exactly what the reason is. There’s really low maintenance with this haircut but it does take some effort in the morning. You can’t just air dry and go out.
#5 Soft Waves Just Above the Shoulders
Getting a cut that sits right above the shoulders is a win in my book, but a length that gives enough room to avoid that first-day panic is an even bigger plus. The waves are soft and easy, and with the volume added through the crown, it’s perfect. Many people’s hair tends to lie flat at the top, so a deliberate cut like this is often the answer. This could work particularly well if you have fine hair since the crown layers create fullness without having to use extra product. That said, do keep a light wave spray on hand for the days where your hair is particularly stubborn.
#6 The Short Shaggy Bob That Just Works
I appreciate a shag cut, and this one definitely looks as if the model has just run a hand through their hair and gone on about their day. The shag cut looks great because of the layers which give movement, and the texture makes it less polished, which is the whole point. Shags are great for finer hair because the layers also create volume and give the illusion of a fuller head of hair. That said, I’ve noticed that shags will need more regular trims than you’d think. I’m talking every five to six weeks. You’ll quickly lose the shape of those layers once they grow out. Leave it too long, and you’ll just have a blob instead of a hairstyle.
#7 Volume Where You Need It
This style is good for everyday use. It is not too over the top and it still looks good. The layers are done to add volume where most people need it, at the sides and towards the crown, and the highlights are subtle enough to not look done. If you’ve never had a short haircut before, I think this is a good place to start because it’s still a short haircut but not a huge risk. It is overall low maintenance but fine hair will need some sort of volumizing mousse to keep it looking good through the afternoon.
#8 Light and Airy with Movement
An easy and breezy vibe is definitely achieved with this cut. The layers feel light and give an airy quality to the cut. I especially appreciate this on finer hair because it never looks weighed down. If your face is round or heart-shaped, these layers will be very flattering. They soften the look just enough without being too over the top. To bring out the texture, just a bit of product through the ends is all you need — simple as that.
#9 Natural Waves with a Polished Edge
I like how this option works with the natural wave instead of fighting against it. If your hair has a bend or texture to it, this cut will bring it out in the most ideal way. It has layers that bring movement to the hair, but are not so dramatic to look like it all fell apart by lunch. The volume is perfect in all the right places. If you have hair that tends to fall flat, a little styling cream at the roots should give you some lift without the crunch or stiffness. It is one of those styles that looks better on day two which is the dream.
#10 Soft and Tousled with Dimension
The blush color is doing a lot of the work, that lighter shade captures the layers and gives the whole cut more dimension than it would with a single flat color. The cut is soft, bed-head, and there is nothing harsh about it, which I think is important when you go shorter because you don’t always want edgy, sometimes you just want it pretty. Here, fine hair works really well because the layering gives the illusion of fullness without the bulk. I think this would be stunning if you are going lighter for the first time, the cut and color together just feel fresh and bright.
#11 Feathered Layers for an Easy Day
Feathered layers can be a little out there, and styles can be done well or not so well. A great example shows that the desired length hits just above the jawline, which keeps it modern. The light, gentle movement is created by texture, while the ends are worked with a bit of paste to make that piece-y look happen with little effort. That said, I will say that to maintain the cut, layers are going to need to be done more often. Blending should not occur more than six weeks to keep and preserve the feathered effect.
#12 Gentle Waves Just Above the Shoulders
This is a classic for a reason. A simply well done bob with a few soft waves and gentle layers to help it feel current instead of dated. Sits right above the shoulders which is that universal length that seems to work for just about everyone. The movement in this style is subtle. It’s not trying to be beachy or messy, just quietly pretty. If your hair is on the finer side, you may want to keep a volumizing spray handy to keep that bounce going throughout the day. But honestly, even without product, this is a cut that just behaves itself.
#13 Warm Highlights with Easy Movement
The highlights are so great! It really lightens up the hair, and I don’t see any stripy or overpowering highlights. The soft layers in the cut give that movement I really like. It works so well! It also puffs up the fine hair and softens the structural frame around the face. If you have been thinking of changing your look but want to play it safe, this is great. Consider getting regular trims as this will keep the hair looking fresh rather than grown out.
#14 Soft Bangs and Textured Layers
I like to explain to my clients that bangs typically involve a big commitment. But when they do decide to go for it, it usually pays off, and in this case, it certainly does. It offers a really nice gentle frame for the face that softens everything. The rest of the cut incorporates nice texture that blends well with the bangs and layered bangs. The highlights do a great job of giving just the right touch of dimension without being too loud. This combo works especially well for heart shaped and oval faces. On most days it should just take a few minutes and not too much trouble to style. The bangs may be the trickiest part, as you will probably have to do some sort of round brushing to keep them in position.
#15 Choppy and Playful with Just Enough Highlight
Choppy bobs are an absolute joy to cut. It’s so satisfying to take my shears to the hair and watch all that texture come to life. I really love the playful quality of this one; I think it makes it look younger. The layers are uneven – which is actually a good thing – and the highlights are meant to play up the contrast so the choppiness really pops. If your hair is fine, this cut will give you a lot more visual density than you’re probably used to. It will require more styling than some other smoother looks on this list, so keep that in mind. You’ll definitely want to put some product in to create that intentionally messy vibe, and you might consider doing some flat iron work on a few pieces. Contradictory as it sounds, that’s just short hair for you.
#16 The Shaggy Bob You’ll Actually Love
I’m not upset about getting another shaggy bob. This one feels really natural, and I appreciate that. The layers are soft, and the texture looks like it was just cut and left alone. The mark of a good cut is it looks good with little intervention. The length falling right above the shoulders is just enough to switch it up and style it differently if you want, but day to day it’s the type of the style that you can just air dry and it will do its thing. Fine to medium hair is going to be happiest here, anything thicker might need some thinning to keep it from getting too bulky.
#17 The Pixie Bob in Silver
This hairstyle is amazing and I wish more people would wear hairstyles like this! The length is bold, and practical. Is going gray naturally? This cut is a great way to embrace the change. Subtle layers make this cut more dimensional and it is very low maintenance. The only thing you will need to use is some purple shampoo to avoid brassiness and that’s pretty low maintenance in my opinion. Overall I think way more people need to be considering this hairstyle!
#18 Layered Bob with Body and Texture
This is a great haircut that can definitely be styled in a ton of ways. It is a perfect blend of edgy and conservative; It is a perfectly balanced layered bob. This style provides great volume and texture for fine hair. The ends of the hair are nice and soft, and the layered movement adds interest to the hair so it doesn’t look boring. This cut is a great option to choose if you are going from longer hair, and you are not ready for a big change. It is short enough to be a significant change, but similar enough to your long hair to not scare you. It is also very easy to grow out if you decide short hair is not for you, but I doubt that will be the case.
#19 Rich Brown with Face-Framing Warmth
The warm color of the face-framing pieces will look wonderful on a client’s complexion, especially that rich brown. The soft layers are quite natural and accentuate the cheekbones. No part of the cut was done with an architect’s precision, but it was a good cut that knew how to get those finishes. This is the kind of hairstyle I love suggesting for those who aim to look sophisticated without putting in a lot of time on hair styling. The shorter length does mean more regular trims to maintain the shape, but the everyday styling is very easy — some product in damp hair is all it takes.
#20 Simple and Clean with Soft Dimension
This bob is great because it is simple and doesn’t need to be anything more complicated. The soft layers give it movement, and the highlights are just enough to keep it from being boring. It touches the jaw which is super flattering :) I would recommend this for someone who wants something polished and effortless. It is also low maintenance which is nice. For fine hair, I recommend getting a trim every 5-6 weeks to keep the shape from getting muddy.
#21 Textured Bob with Personality
This style has a lot of personality! The lively and playful layers give a lot of movement without looking chaotic! Not every stylist gets this right but this one nailed it. It’s a style that looks good no matter how you choose to style it. A little bit of product goes a long way. It will work great for fine and medium hair, but if yours is thicker you may need to do some work to keep it from poofy on the sides. This cut has a lot of good fun energy and I like that!
#22 Side Layers That Know What They’re Doing
The side layers are creating face framing movement in a nice way that isn’t too overpowering. The youthful hair length just above the shoulders and the flattering shape overall are very nice. It would work with some subtle highlights, but it works as is too. The natural volume with fine to medium density is a plus. This is layered enough that regular upkeep will keep the layers from growing into each other, but that is true about most layered looks.
#23 Fluffy Layered Bob with a Little Lift
I love the lift at the crown of this cut! It’s so fun. The layers are giving that fluffy look as if you just ran your fingers through your hair and walked out the door. It’s such a versatile length that accentuates the natural shine in your hair. If your hair doesn’t do that naturally, I suggest using some root lifting spray to achieve this volume before blow drying. This is one of those haircuts that gets people smiling when they see it in the mirror, and that’s always the aim!
#24 Gentle Lift with Soft Layers
This is a much simpler version of the textured bob that still has layering. The root lift allows for a not-so-flat look. It is a super easy cut and feels appropriate for nearly every occasion and requires little thought when dressing. This will be especially nice for round faces and, with layers, it is important to maintain because as time goes on, the cut will feel heavier and flatter. Overall, good cut!
#25 Short and Spiky with Real Energy
This spiky bob is really fun and exciting. With this style, I bet a lot of people will feel a lot braver than they did when they first sat down. The spikes and layers provide great volume and great movement. The spikes look nice and playful as opposed to aggressive. This style is great for rounder faces and helps hold the balance. With this bob, it will require some work to get it looking the way it should which will include the use of wax or paste to really set the spikes in place. This bob is perfect for anyone who really likes to style their hair as it is fun to play with.
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