How to Style Your Bob Haircut

Bob haircuts can be smoothed down or tousled to change the look.

The bob haircut has been a mainstay in the fashion world since the 1920s. The style can be modified and tailored to suit a variety of face shapes and hair textures. Traditional bob haircuts are one length, which can be chin length or a bit shorter or longer. Modern versions of the bob include shaggy ends, bangs, A-line shapes and graduated lengths. A bob haircut can be almost as versatile as long hair, but it can be styled without doing much beyond blow drying.

Things You'll Need

• Blow dryer
• Round brush
• Shine serum
• Hairspray
• Gel or molding paste
• Comb

Instructions

1. Wash your hair and use conditioner. Use volumizing shampoo and a lightweight conditioner if you have fine hair and smoothing shampoo and conditioner if your hair is curly, thick or prone to fly-away ends. Rinse well, and towel-dry hair gently.

2. Apply a smoothing serum if you are trying to achieve a sleek hairstyle. Apply a styling cream to add body if you are going to style your bob for fullness. Use the recommended amount of hair styling product as outlined on the product.

3. Blow dry your hair using a round brush for sleek hairstyles. Use the brush by moving your hand in a downward motion and turn the ends under to achieve a rounded look to the ends of your hair. Use a flick of the wrist when brushing to create a flipped-end hairstyle. Skip the hair-drying process if you are creating a tousled hairstyle.

4. Create a tousled look by adding additional hairstyling product such as mousse, gel or styling cream to your hair and scrunch the hair from tips to root repeatedly. Continue the process to make waves in your hair. Use your fingers to wrap sections of the hair around them to create larger tousled sections.

5. Finish your bob hairstyle with a light spray of hairspray to set the style and top with a mist of spray on shine serum. Continue to touch up your hairstyle throughout the day and evening to keep the style looking fresh.

6. Take along hairspray and hair wax to use to create an alternate look for evening. For example, if you created a sleek and polished hairstyle earlier in the day and want to switch to a tousled look, add a quarter-sized amount of styling cream to your hair and tousle with your hands and fingers. Set the style with hairspray.

Tips & Warnings

• Keep hair clean and conditioned to avoid damaging the hair.

• Do not tug or pull at your hair during styling to prevent damage to both your scalp and hair shaft.

References

• Marie Claire Magazine: The Ultimate Haircut: The New Bob
• Good Housekeeping Magazine: The Five Best Haircuts Of All Time
• Fitness Magazine: Hairstyles And Haircuts For Short Hair