How to Add Style to a Bob Haircut

A straight and sleek bob can create a polished look for the office.

The bob haircut is classic and versatile, with many variations for different hair types and facial shapes. Different types of bobs include the inverted or A-line bob, the long bob, the "mod" bob and the asymmetrical bob. With any type of bob haircut, you can create a professional and polished look for work, a casual look for days out or a sultry look for the evening. Styling a bob haircut is relatively simple with a combination of tools, products and hair accessories.

Things You'll Need

• Blow dryer or diffuser
• Rounded brush
• Hair straightening iron
• Smoothing hair product (optional)

Instructions

The Straight and Sleek Bob

1. Allow your hair to air-dry for several minutes if it is wet, or gently pat it dry with a towel. This will keep your bob from becoming puffy and frizzy and prevent over-drying with the blow dryer.

2. Apply a smoothing hair product, such as a serum or cream, over the middle and ends of your hair if it is naturally curly or wavy. Depending on the product, this can also be applied after styling is complete. You may not need a product if your hair is naturally straight.

3. Blow-dry your hair on medium heat using a round brush. A round brush will pull your bob haircut straight and allow your hair to curl underneath your chin. Point the blow dryer downward while drying to keep the bob's layers from puffing outward.

4. Clip back the top section of your hair and straighten the bottom layers using a straightening iron on low to medium heat. Bend the iron to allow your hair to curl underneath even farther. You can straighten the top layers in a similar fashion.

The Wavy Bob

1. Allow your hair to air-dry for several minutes and pat dry with a towel. Do not squeeze the hair too tightly as this can cause damage to the hair and make your bob appear frizzy instead of wavy.

2. Blow-dry your hair using your fingers or a diffuser for a more natural, relaxed wave. For loose, well-defined waves, use a round brush to pull the hair straight, similar to the way you would blow dry a straight, sleek bob. You will use the straightening iron to create these loose waves.

3. Twist individual sections of hair around a straightening iron on low to medium heat. Pull the plates of the straightening iron outward, rotating the iron as you go. You may want to twist longer sections of hair twice to keep the ends from sticking out.

Tips & Warnings

• Adding subtle highlights to your bob haircut gives dimension to your hair and illuminates your skin tone. Have these highlights added by a professional, or add them yourself using natural products such as henna for brunette hair, or chamomile and lemon juice for blond hair.

• Hair accessories such as headbands, decorative bobby pins and clips brighten any bob haircut. If your bob is long enough, a ponytail or small pigtails create a relaxed and casual look.

• Never use styling tools on their highest heat setting. This can damage your hair and leave it prone to breakage and dryness.

References

• Formal Hairstyles: How to Add Style to a Bob Haircut
• Bob Hairstyles: The Timeless and Versatile Bob Hairstyle
• YouTube: How to Style a Bob Haircut
• Craftster: How to Create a Wavy Bob Hairstyle