Colder weather calls for heavier sweaters, longer layers, and triple-wrapped scarves. As cozy as that can be, when paired with longer hair, it can quickly turn annoying. Before you know it, your strands are getting caught in your outerwear, blowing about in the wind, and becoming perpetually frizzy or knotted in the back. While we love down-to-there hair,we’re quickly becoming fans of the opposite in preparation for winter weather. And we’re not alone — one look at our favorite celebs’ red carpet and street style tells us that sweater weather and shorter hair go hand-in-hand. Ahead you’ll find out everything there is to know about the seasonal strand sitch and whether it’s right for you.
How to Achieve the Ultimate Chin-Grazing Bob
As with any haircut, the trick to walking out of the salon with the style you have in mind is to come prepared knowing what you want, as well as what you absolutely don’t. “Anytime you ask your stylist for a new cut, bring in inspiration photos and be specific about the length,” Leo Izquierdo, co-founder of IGK Hair Care, says. “Ask for their input if they feel the direction you’re going in is right for your hair type, face shape, and style.” (Photo via Hero Images/ Getty)
Since anyone and everyone can rock a chin-grazing bob, the key is how it’s tweaked to flatter your unique features and lifestyle. “Stylists can cater to the individual,” Howard McLaren, co-founder and creative director of R+Co, says. “It can be tailored with bangs, cut so it’s all one length, or with texture to allow for multiple looks.” The stylist may add a bit of a face-framing angle on rounder and more oval face shapes to help slim features, whereas more angular bone structure can get away with a single length straight across.
And, when it comes down to hair types specifically, Arthur Shamalov, a senior stylist at Eddie Arthur Salon in NYC, says that, while short strands can suit all face shapes and hair types, bobs are especially beneficial (not to mention low maintenance) for fine hair. “It creates a style dimension between the color and adds fullness to hair,” he says.
As for the actual cutting, there are options. If you have curly hair, scissors are likely best to help maintain your texture while shedding length. However, when it comes to fine, coarse, or thick hair, celebrity stylist Leon Gorman tosses the shears aside in favor of razors. “My favorite way to create a new chin-length bob with modern warmth and sex appeal has got to be with razoring and texturizing the mid lengths and ends,” he says. There are a few different ways to go about razoring — your stylist can slice straight across as hair is hanging freely, or twist small sections of hair and razor from the mid-lengths to ends to create a lived-in, textured finish.
No matter your face shape or the way your bob is cut, knowing how to style your strands plays a big role. After all, that’s how these cuts can take new form every other day. “Ask your stylist to show you three ways to wear the cut, and choose products that will give you options to change your look,” McLaren says. Or, to make things even easier, keep scrolling for five Hollywood-approved short bob hairstyles.
Jessica Chastain
Jessica Chastain has forever been known for her gorgeous red mane, so when she chopped it off in favor of a bob in June of this year, it was a pretty big deal. Gone were the days of long, blown-out tresses, and in their place came a deconstructed wave. “She’s managed to maintain that old Hollywood glamour she’s so known for but add a little edge to it,” Kelly Araujo, master stylist at Medulla & Co in Toronto, says. (Photo via Venturelli/Getty)
To achieve Chastain’s red carpet ready look, Araujo says to start by rough-drying wet hair, using a round brush on the front pieces to ensure face-framing flyaways are smoothed. Next, take a one-inch curling iron and wave hair toward your face. Araujo says the trick is to use your eye line as a guide so that the first bend of the wave sits just above your eye. “This is what gives this look that old Hollywood feel,” she points out. “Make sure all of your waves are curled in the same direction, so they sit nicely together.” Once you’ve curled your entire head, use a Denman Brush ($11) to brush hair from the root to the cheekbone. “This ensures that the roots are smooth and shiny and maintain that glamorous bend that frames her face,” she says. To lock the look in place, finish with a texture spray on the ends and gently rub them together to nail the perfectly imperfect appeal.
VANESSA HUDGENS
Vanessa Hudgens’ asymmetrical cut falls just below the chin so that, when straight, she has the ultimate ’90s bob, but when curled, it frames the face with a beautiful retro effect. (Photo via Kevork Djansezian/ Getty)
To imitate her smooth strands, towel-dry your hair and apply a nourishing leave-in conditioner like IGK’s THIRSTY GIRL Coconut Milk Leave-In Conditioner ($28). Use a round brush while blow drying to help shape your strands. “Be sure to flip the hair toward the face and down — not out,” Izquierdo points out, explaining that it will encourage hair to fold under instead of poof out. Complete the look with a spritz of shine-enhancing hairspray and one last pass of the brush for shine.
Lucy Hale
If you’re leaning toward a short cut that sits at chin level whether it’s styled or not, look no further than the Pretty Little Liars lead. “This bob is the most popular bob photo that clients bring me,” Araujo says. “I see a photo of Lucy Hale in my chair at least twice a week. And I mean, I’m not exactly shocked, because this haircut and effortless style, truly is hair goals.” (Photo via Taylor Hill/ Getty)
Unlike some hairstyles that look like they take zero time to achieve, but really require semi-pro styling skills, Hale’s textured tresses are as simple as one, two, three. First, rough dry hair with a blow-dryer, using a round brush to keep any face-framing flyaways in check. Next, spray hair with a texture spray (make sure it has heat protection) and create s-waves with a flat iron. Run the straightener down a portion of hair to create a bend. “Stop about one third of the way down, unclamp the straightener, and then put it back on, bending the iron in the opposite direction to secure the wave,” Araujo explains. Repeat this process all over your head.
SAOIRSE RONAN
“I love a good blunt bob,”Araujo says. “Saoirse Ronan’s is fun because it’s sleek, and the fact that it has no layers, makes it sit perfectly tucked behind her ear.” While the other stylized bobs pride themselves on volume and texture, thissmooth style is ideal for fine-haired babes who don’t want to pump their hair full of product. (Photo via Gabe Ginsberg/ Getty)
To score the understated, no-frills look for yourself, prep damp hair with a lightweight hair oil that doubles as a heat protector. Focus the product from your mid-lengths to ends and pat the remaining residue across your roots. Next, blow dry hair with a round brush and part to your preferred side. “When hair is dry run ends through a flat iron for a crisp beautiful line,” Araujo instructs. Finish by tucking hair behind your ears and spritz with a shine-enhancing hairspray, like Fave4 Flex Reflect Lightweight Glossing Hairspray ($18).
Kim Kardashian
You didn’t think we’d write a story about chin-length bobs without including Kim Kardashian, did you? Despite only rocking the style for what seems like the blink of an eye in summer 2018, Kim Kardashian West inspired women worldwide to ditch their long locks and side parts in favor of a short, middle-parted, slightly turned under ‘do. And, can you blame them? (Photo via BG017/Bauer-Griffin/ Getty)
To slay the style, after showering, “gently squeeze out moisture with an Aquis Microfiber Towel ($35) or Turban ($30) instead of a traditional towel, as they can be too harsh for damp, fragile strands,” says celebrity stylist Justine Marjan. Spritz OUAI Smooth Spray ($26) and “use the ghd Air Blowdryer ($199) and an R+Co Round Boar Brush ($80) to blow-dry the hair sleek, setting with Kitsch Creaseless Clips ($8) around the face,” Marjan says. After the hair is completely dry, go over each section with a flat iron, follow with a flat boar-bristle brush, and spray lightweight, gloss-enhancing hairspray, like Tresemme Micro Mist Hairspray ($5), from roots to ends. If you want a touch more shine, Marjan recommends rubbing some Bumble and bumble Hairdresser’s Invisible Oil ($20) through ends.
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