While it may seem intimidating, there are professional “tricks” that anyone can learn to style a chunky bob with bangs. This style looks good with both natural waves and with hair that has been waved by a tool. Once you learn how to do this, you will have an elegant style that will draw attention anywhere.
People believe the hardest part of this style is the waves. However, it is the bangs that make or break the hairstyle. Many years ago I had a client with beautiful waves from her natural texture. After getting the natural waves, she decided to give herself bangs. The waves were wonderful and the bangs were very unpleasant. It took me 20 minutes just to sculpt her bangs so they fell naturally into the waves instead of sitting on top as if they belonged to a different hairstyle.
A true skill is getting bangs that look like part of the style, rather than looking like an afterthought. The wave is an honest gift, adding texture and movement. *You’ll need to merge the fringe into that same wave structure as otherwise, it looks like you have two different haircuts on your head. When this style comes together as intended, it is one of the most attractive combinations out there. It does have the charm of being unrefined, while still looking elegant. The chic charm does suggest you just rolled out of bed, a look that is undeniably awesome, even if it is a bit misleading.
#1: Softly Fringed Wavy Bob with Shoulder-Length Movement
The bangs do perfectly, breaking over the forehead with enough separation so it does not look like a wall. The cut lands right at the shoulders so the waves can move without being weighed down, and there is a subtle layering in the mids to keep it feeling light. It is the type of cut that looks like it takes no effort which means it was done really well.
#2: Loose Wave Bob with Face-Framing Bangs
This haircut looks unique and polished in pictures, but it is even rarer to find a cut that actually looks better in real life. The cut has the type of weave that is just defined enough to have some structure, but also looser to create a more relaxed vibe. Also, the bangs are cut at the brow and do not cover the whole face and are more complimentary. You practically do the least and maybe even let it air dry, and if you throw on a little sea salt spray, you’re good to go.
#3: Coral-Toned Textured Bob with Soft Bangs
I’m a fan of the coral color here, and I say that with genuine honesty. A tone like this on finer hair gives the illusion of more density with color variation. The waves look defined, but not crunchy. The bangs are wispy enough to show some skin, and the rest of the bangs will make the whole look feel less heavy, so it’s great. I’m going to be honest with you, maintaining fashion colors like this requires a lot of commitment. If you’re that type of person, color depositing shampoo and touch ups are going to be needed, but this is a beautiful choice.
#4: Textured Wavy Bob with Lived-In Bangs
If you want something ‘easy but cute’, this is the style for you! The texture is very minimal, probably something like second-day waves, and most wavy bobs tend to look their best in this situation. If your hair is completely straight, texturizing spray is going to be your best friend, and maybe 1 quick pass with a wide-barrel for some waves, but that should be all you need.
#5: Natural Wave Bob with Soft Curtain Bangs
The waves are due to the layering, and even though it could go unnoticed, the layering it is what makes the waves nice. Without the layering, this would just be a bob with a bend. This is better. The bangs are soft and a little parted to become almost curtain bangs which gives nice openness to the face. I would recommend this to someone with a square jaw based on how the layers fall around the chin.
#6: Balayage Wavy Bob with Textured Bangs
The addition of hairbaalyage is understated but lovely. It even looks like natural grow out which is what you want! The waves are light and dimetional without being too obviuous. The bangs are textured to a level that is perfect to be more relaxed, and the length being above the shoulders is ideal because the hair has just the right amount of weight to sit nicely, but not enough to pull the waves out.
#7: Copper Wavy Bob with Wispy Bangs
Brown hues add warmth to the overall color story and help the textures look more defined than they are. The bangs are ultra wispy. They were cut to create a cut that falls apart and floats softly. The good thing about this cut is that the finer the hair, the more dense the illusion will be due to the layers, and without the bulk. Do keep in mind that this means you will likely have to use a curling iron more than you’d expect if your hair doesn’t naturally hold a bend.
#8: Chin-Length Wavy Bob with Soft Fringe
I love the length here under the chin. It catches at a point where the hair’s natural swing does some styling for you. The fringe is soft and a bit piecey. The highlights running through the mid-section add warmth to the overall look and prevent it from being flat. This is the kind of cut that looks better the less you do to it.
#9: Tousled Chin-Length Bob with Textured Fringe
I like how the waves look natural, and the cut is designed to go with that rather than against it. The fringe is blended in, and not sitting as a separate piece, and having that little texture is perfect. A little light texturizing paste in the mids will do a lot here, but go easy, and it shouldn’t look ‘done.’ If your hair is really thick, this shape is going to need some more frequent maintenance to keep it from growing into something wider than you’re wanting it to.
#10: Long Wavy Bob with Soft Face-Framing Bangs
The length of the hair definitely works for me as an extended bob because the extra length alters how the hair flows. I also really like that the bangs are soft enough to just be pushed out of the way for days I don’t want to deal with them. The layering makes a really nice effect when all of the hair is pushed to the front with the layering concentrated around the face for that nice cascade. It’s a smart style for people who are in the middle of the extremes of “I have bangs” and “I don’t have bangs.”
#11: Curly Bob with Full Fringe
This cut does contain real life, and the bangs have been cut to join that energy instead of trying to flatten them to something more manageable. That’s super important, because nothing is worse than a curly cut with bangs that have been clearly cut for straight hair. The layers give it shape without volume reduction, and I enjoy the retro quality about the whole thing. The cut does most of the work, but you will need a decent curl cream to maintain the definition.
#12: Layered Wavy Bob with Piecey Bangs
The bangs are piecey, not just grown out, which is a small detail many people overlook. The layers here are doing exactly their job, providing movement. so that the hair swings instead of sitting stagnant. Trims every 5-6 weeks will keep this look sharp, especially in the fringe, because bangs reach a length where they lay a certain way to be effortless, and that’s when they start looking unkempt.
#13: Soft Curls Bob with Wispy Fringe
These curls appear diffused and not like they were styled with a curling iron making the style appear more natural. The wispy bangs are just light enough not to compete with the rest of the hair which has a lot of volume, and the highlights just create enough dimension to keep it interesting without cluttering the look. If your curls tend to frizz, a hydrating oil will keep everything polished.
#14: Light Wavy Bob with Root-Shadow Fringe
The root shadow, although a small detail, adds a lot. It gives everything a depth that a single-process color just can’t achieve. The waves are super light and bouncy, and with finer hair like this, that light, bouncy is interpreted as volume and that is the whole game. The fringe is soft and a little shaggy, which fits the relaxed aesthetic of the rest of the cut. This is one of those styles that I would say actually gets better on day two, which is high praise coming from me.
#15: Casual Shoulder-Length Wavy Bob with Bangs
I love this cut’s simplicity. It isn’t trying too hard but it is very well executed. The waves look natural and effortless. The bangs are positioned juuuust right. The layering adds dimension without being overly obvious, which I appreciate. This is the perfect cut for someone who wants to look put together on a Saturday morning without having to do anything to their hair, and I mean that in the best way possible.
#16: Airy Layered Wavy Bob with Feathered Bangs
This cut has multiple layers that give it an airy look. It is especially great for fine to medium hair because weight is movement’s greatest enemy. The hair waves look natural because the waves aren’t tight. They look like they would newly form themselves on a windy walk, which is the standard for this style. The bangs have a bit of feathering to soften the line that “cuts” the forehead. If your hair isn’t very cooperative, just a wave spray and some scrunching should get you about this look.
#17: Thick Textured Wavy Bob with Layered Bangs
This is what a wavy bob is supposed to look like on thicker hair when done correctly. It is structured, shapeless and voluminous. The strategic layering takes out weight and allows the waves to form without the hair poofing to form a triangle shape. I often hear complaints like this about thick bob clients. The bangs have been layered to help them blend into the sides, which gives a very modern vibe. For everything to stay in place, a smoothing cream is a help.
#18: Polished Wavy Bob with Soft Sweeping Bangs
What truly differentiates this cut from other wavy bobs is the extra polish and refinement with the layers. Each layer is cut with the precision needed to achieve a clean outline while still allowing for movement which is very much a balancing act. The bangs are soft and also side swept as opposed to blunt which is nice, and brings some added openness to the face which is lovely. Choppiness is particularly prominent with thick hair so in that case you will want to work to ensure that the inner layers are properly thinned so that you retain this sleek feeling instead of it all expanding outward.
#19: Tousled Wavy Bob with Full Fringed Bangs
The bangs are almost weightless and are very well balanced when a full fringe is combined with a textured. They’re looking a little flat, which can be a beachy wave look, and it is trending right now. The medium density, it can fall naturally. Realistically, you will need to visit the salon for these bangs and expect to do some maintenance every three to four weeks because they will need trims. However, you will be rewarded with a look that is very unique and interesting each day.
#20: Textured Wavy Bob with Sweeping Soft Fringe
I love the softness to the entire cut. The fringe rests on the forehead rather than bluntly across, and the waves are soft but look defined rather than looking stiff. The look is especially good for finer hair as the texture gives the illusion of more hair, which is one of the few honest to goodness things in hairstyling that is true. A light mousse on damp hair before drying will help hold the wave pattern without weighing anything down.
#21: Layered Modern Bob with Piecey Soft Bangs
This bob haircut is great! The extra layers on the crown and middle section create a fullness which avoids the mushroom effect that gets layered bobs critiqued. The bangs are relaxed enough in their sections to feel casual while framing the face nicely on the sides. The hairstyle is young without being too obvious, and that’s a great look to attain. The haircut will not need a ton of upkeep to maintain, but the styling is needed, so this is not a wash and go cut for most hair types.
#22: Sun-Kissed Wavy Bob with Chin-Length Layers
This bob balayage looks super pretty and sun-kissed, especially at the top of the waves where the light bounces off the bob as it swings. For chin-length bobs, placing color there is much more effective as there is a smaller amount of hair to disperse the color. Each highlight makes a big impact and stands out. The gentle layering in this haircut is done well enough to guarantee that the haircut doesn’t end up looking a lot more bulky than a single blunt length. The bangs are cut to blend in with the whole shape of the haircut. This style is a particularly good choice for round and oval faces as the chin-length layers provide a bit of vertical stretch.
#23: Wavy Bob with Dimensional Layered Fringe
This haircut features special fringe layers that make it stand out from an average wavy bob hairstyle with bangs. Unlike most bobs that have a blunt cut bangs, this one has bangs that are cut at graduated lengths which merge with the side layers. This makes for an effortless flow from the bangs to the face framing layers to the rest of the haircut. It may seem like a detail that many will overlook, but this detail shows the craft of the haircut. The extra waves also aid in the layers separating and creating an effortless dimension.
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