We love a new season chop, and we’re still not ready to get over our bob haircut obsession – which is why we’re eyeing up all the incoming autumn bob content to help us decide which cut to get next.
Photo: Instagram.com/taylorlashae
There’s something about cropped, shoulder-grazing strands paired with heavy knits and roll necks that just hits the spot. Plus it offers a fresh reset for frazzled hair heading out of summer. The question is: what to get? Whether you want something super short and cheeky, or something longer plush and swishy, we’ve looked to social media and some of our favorite pro hair stylists to edit down the most in-demand bob haircuts for autumn.
The French bob
Research from the hair experts at All Things Hair reveals that, despite being a classic, the French bob remains TikTok’s fave bob crush with over 137 million views. One of the shortest bob renditions, the cropped cut is chopped daringly short along the the mouth line and is traditionally accompanied by a straight, brow or lash-skimming fringe. And, it’s about as chic as you can get.
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The crob
Gaining momentum this autumn-winter, ‘the crob’ (or cropped bob) is busy recruiting a loyal fandom… and it’s heavy on nineties nostalgia. “Think: cropped hair that’s not as short as a pixie but shorter than a bob, like Natalie Imbruglia’s ‘90s hair,” says Dom Seeley, International Creative Director at Color Wow. “Or textured, shorter bobs with wispier lengths and movement throughout,” he adds. The ’90s have given us plenty of midi and long inspo lately, “but we’re going to see more of this ‘90s crop come forward for the shorter hair girls that don’t want to brave a pixie just yet,” Dom predicts. The crob is the perfect bob-length transition if you don’t want to commit, all the way (just yet).
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The dad bob
For a cool-girl cut, the ‘dad bob’ is where it’s at. It joins the blossoming league of ‘dad style’ which also counts chunky dad trainers and dad jeans as its signature. In a nutshell, the chop offers up a slightly longer, blockier bob that feels a little more grown-up (and grown-out) than short French bobs and jawbone bobs. It has a ’90s weight and swoosh that feels retro, relaxed, cool and easygoing. Length-wise, they should fall somewhere between your chin and collarbone.
“The dad bob requires less effort and the super chic length allows you the freedom to grab a claw clip for the lazy day hair,” explains top London hair stylist, Hollie Rose Clarke. “It’s the non-commitment bob that allows for a hair change but doesn’t totally change your hair routine,” she adds.
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The bell-bottom bob
The bell-bottom bob has been gaining momentum since the start of the year, but it’s going absolutely nowhere for autumn as more people catch on. This is an example of leaning into an anti-trend and making it fashion. “The flick-out that a bob does is something that people have tried to fight against in the past. When you cut a long bob, it can be quite frustrating when it flicks out on the shoulders,” explains top hair stylist and trend forecaster, Tom Smith, who coined the trend. However, “now, a chic statement, the flicked out shape (worn sleek to the head and combined with a strict side or central parting) is rapidly gaining traction,” he adds. It’s a cute detail that can styled into and out of classic bob shapes to add extra interest and the retro feel is adorable.
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The soft blunt bob
You can’t beat a classic, which is why the soft blunt bob will be one of the most popular autumn bob cuts to go for. Like it’s name suggests the “soft-blunt bob” is a softer rendition of the classic blunt bob. It keeps the jawbone length, but instead of slicing the bottom edge dead straight, it’s less harsh and has a slightly more worn in, gentle base line. Like the OG, it helps make hair look thicker and swishier. An extra bonus is that the technique gives the cut extra texture, which we love. Essentially, it’s the girl-next-door of bob haircuts: cute, approachable and laidback.
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The soft-wave bob
Another smash-hit for approachable bob styles? The ‘soft wave bob’. Here, more emphasis is placed on styling, so a looser, less structured wave gives a slightly slept-in texture. It’s the hair equivalent of No Makeup Makeup – minimally styled, but still super natural looking. And, it’s exactly the right amount of relaxed. It’s perfect to breathe new life into a cut you already have.
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The side-part bob
The side-parting is well and truly back – with over 20 million TikTok views. And despite some talk of it being “cheugy”, the stunning references being served up everywhere we look are proof that it’s worth a spot on our radar. So it makes sense that the side-part bob would be gaining traction too, and it’s such an easy way to change the whole mood of a bob haircut.
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Originally published in Glamourmagazine.co.uk
