The bob is officially back in town! As the summer of the short cut heats up, you might be wondering which of the trendy looks is right for you. Whether it’s to stay on top of the most popular styles of the season or as a way to beat the heat, your next cut is bound for bob/lob territory. We have the expert-recommended formula to determine the best bob or lob for your face shape.
Featured Experts
Dimitris Giannetos: Celebrity hairstylist and Moroccanoil global ambassador
Paul Labrecque: Creative director, master stylist, and colorist with Paul Labrecque Salon and Skincare Spa
Gonn Kinoshita: Celebrity hairstylist and Balmain ambassador
Castillo Bataille: Celebrity hairstylist and Matrix celebrity stylist
Mark Townsend: Celebrity hairstylist
Why Are Bobs So Trendy?
Summer’s heat naturally leads to shorter haircuts becoming popular. Celebrity hairstylist Dimitris Giannetos explains, “Bobs are trending this summer because they are easy and great for warmer temperatures. You can add layers to the body, or opt for face-framing layers. This style is always easy to keep up with and when styled looks super fun and flirty.”
So, You Want a Bob or Lob
Choosing to go short can be daunting. Creative director Paul Labrecque recommends considering your face shape early in the process. “If you’re considering going short, you want to consider how round your face is. This tells your hairstylist where to make the line stop. You do not want the hairline to end where the face holds its width.”
Celebrity hairstylist Castillo Bataille adds that your face shape can help determine the right texture. “Styles like graduated layers can add balance and structure to square or heart-shaped faces, while straight lines help balance out round faces.”
The Best Bob or Lob for Your Face Shape
Celebrity stylist Gonn Kinoshita emphasizes creating an elongated, oval shape. “Good professionals will try to make ovals, never circles when cutting, trimming, and styling,” Labrecque explains. “If a bob ends in the wrong place along the face, it can easily make a circle shape.” This can lead to a dreaded bowl cut.
Round Faces
“A lob works better than a bob for those with a round face shape,” says Labrecque. Bataille adds that textured wavy lobs or side-swept bangs benefit rounder faces. “Waves add a playful touch to round and oval face shapes, which can be enhanced with a diffuser or curling iron for added texture. The asymmetry of side-swept bangs can be very flattering for this face shape.”
Square Faces
“Square face shapes can benefit from a graduated long bob, where graduated layers provide balance and structure,” says Bataille. “Straight lines can also help balance the square face, so a straight lob with bangs is a good choice.” Labrecque advises that added softness should be under the chin, not at the chin.
Heart-Shaped Faces
Heart-shaped faces benefit from cuts ending at the chin. “With this face shape, the width is on the forehead, so a chin-length cut is good,” Labrecque explains. “And curtain bangs are great to soften a wide forehead too.” Bataille suggests a straight lob with babylights to add brightness and dimension.
Oval Faces
“Oval shapes benefit from the addition of softness and movement,” says Bataille. Wavy lobs or side-swept bangs can help accomplish this. Labrecque adds, “Oval faces can have a bob or lob cut to any length, but if the client’s neck is very long, I prefer a lob.”
The Trending Bobs and Lobs
Super-trendy looks can flatter various face shapes and hair types. “All hair types can wear the hydro bob,” says celebrity hairstylist Mark Townsend. “This cut looks great with some texture. I add loose waves or bends with a styling iron and finish with dry shampoo at the roots to keep the volume. I run a small amount of Semi di LIno Smoothing Cream mid lengths to ends to add shine.”
Among the trending styles, there are expert-adored staples. “My favorite bob to cut and style is the box bob,” Kinoshita says. “It’s a very light and choppy cut.”
Embrace the perfect bob or lob for your face shape and stay stylish this summer!