The Bob Is Summer’s ‘It’ Haircut

...But It’s Not What You’re Thinking...

​There was a time when bobs were synonymous with soccer mom, 12 year-olds and Upper East Side prepsters. But as the ladies of Hollywood are proving, a short cut can be breezy and cool, and not the least bit snoozy. Whether worn sleek or wavy, angled or blunt, this summer’s "it" style is trending precisely because it’s so damn versatile. (The fact that it also keeps hair from sticking to the back of your neck is a nice bonus.) 

Angled Bob
After years of rocking a lob, Kristen chopped off a few extra inches in March officially putting her in bob territory. Hitting at just under the chin with slightly angled ends, the cut is elegant with a little edge (much like the wearer).

Razored Bob
The modern take on "surfer girl hair" still involves plenty of waves and beachy texture, but instead of long, cascading strands down the back, it’s blunt and thick and much (much) shorter—seen here on Julianne Hough at the Billboard Awards earlier this month.

Side-Swept Bob
Cate’s bob has a similar texture and length as Julianne’s, but instead of parting her hair down the center, she swept everything up and over to one side—again proving there’s no wrong way to do it.

Layered Bob
We’re going to take a wild guess and say we weren’t the only ones who saved Mandy’s softly tousled brunette bob to our phones when she debuted it in March. Just barely clearing her shoulders and cut at a slight A-line so that the longest pieces are in front, there’s plenty of volume and movement throughout.

​Sleek Bob
Fact: A sleek, center-parted bob will always be classic. Lightly curl in the ends to frame your face and use a shine spray on the mid-lengths and ends to get that reflective sheen.

Slicked-Back Bob
Whereas curled in ends are classic, flicked out ones are cool. Slick back the top and tuck both sides behind your ears to get the full effect. (Might we suggest a flicked cat-eye to match?)

Banged Bob
Leave it to Jessica Chastain to show us that two trends (bangs and a bob) are better than one. Worried about reliving your kindergarten bowl cut? Ask your stylist to snip into the ends to give it more movement and break apart the line, so it’s not just one solid block of hair.

Asymmetrical Bob
Or if you’re one of those people who like the idea of bangs, but always end up regretting them by the next sweaty day, consider an asymmetrical bob with barely-there bangs that blend into the rest of your hair (though one could argue they’re just layers at that point). Tuck the other side behind one ear for maximum effect—and to show off those killer cheekbones like Charlize did at CinemaCon last month.

Sharp Bob
For the lady who wants a no-nonsense cut, a sleek, chin-length bob with sharp lines is a solid option. We love how Greta Lee’s minimalist cut requires very little styling, but still looks "done" (a very welcome thought—especially as we head into the muggier months).

Chin-Length Bob
Mother of Dragons, the Unburnt, Protector of the Seven Kingdoms and ultimate hair chameleon: Emilia Clarke shows us that it is possible to grow your hair out from pixie to bob without sacrificing style (or, um, rocking an unintentional mullet) along the way.
 This Summer trend brought to you from PureWow