5 Of Our Favourite Zendaya Bob Moments Of All Time
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4 weeks ago
We track the star's short hair revolution
If anyone’s star is still on the rise, it has to be Zendaya’s. The actress has become a household name in recent years, thanks to a string of strong performances – her most recent being tennis drama Challengers. But the hype around Zendaya isn’t limited to her onscreen appearances. The star has also cultivated a name for herself as a trendsetter; method dressing for press tours, wearing elaborate gowns to awards shows and trialling the latest beauty trends in the public eye. And with this in mind, we would argue that Zendaya has one of the strongest bob games in the business.
In celebration of the star’s hair evolution, we track down some of our favourite bob moments from over the years – and tell you how you can nail the look at your next salon appointment.
How To Get The Zendaya Bob
The Birkin Bob
We’re kicking off our list with the bob that started it all. Zendaya debuted her first headline-grabbing crop back in 2017, during the press run for The Greatest Showman. But why the hype? At the time, Zendaya was probably best known for the ultra-long hair she wore throughout her later years on Disney Channel – and so this transformation was a marker for the next step in her career in cinema, alongside the release of both Spiderman: Homecoming and The Greatest Showman that same year.
And the bob in question? On this occasion, the actress chose a sleek Birkin bob. ‘The Birkin bob is a modern twist on the classic bob haircut, inspired by Jane Birkin’s iconic French girl style,’ explains Bridget Hannon, founder of Blush and Blow London. ‘This version combines the timeless bob’s structure with a relaxed, tousled texture, giving it a more “lived-in” or effortlessly chic look. It’s also usually paired with Birkin bangs, which just graze the eyebrows.’
Get the look: You can find out how to style an Birkin bob with our guide here.
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The Baroque Bob
We had to wait a few years for Zendaya’s bob renaissance, but we welcomed it with open arms when she donned a Hollywood-approved take on the hairstyle back in 2023. Walking the red carpet of the NAACP Image Awards, the star wore her bob in elaborate curls designed to give a sense of old Hollywood glitz (think Marilyn Monroe).
TikTok has since dubbed the hairstyle a Baroque bob. Named after the opulent art and flamboyant styles of the Baroque era, the bob is a more dramatic, voluminous version of the short hairstyle – and perfect for the glamour of a red carpet appearance.
Get the look: You can find out how to style an Baroque bob with our guide here.
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The Macro Bob
Our love of Zendaya’s short hair thankfully didn’t go unnoticed, as the actress continued to wear her hair short at various events over the next year. At the 2024 Oscars, for example, the star wore a slightly longer version of the Baroque bob – known as the macro bob.
‘A macro bob is a slightly longer bob, with soft layering often created with a razor,’ highlights Stéphane Ferreira, Operations Manager and Senior Stylist at Live True London. ‘While this bob is longer than most bobs, the key difference lies in the styling. The defining feature is volume and movement – it’s ultra bouncy, and often has a side parting to accentuate this feature.’
Get the look: You can find out how to style an Baroque bob with our guide here.
(c) Mike Coppola/Getty Images
The Inverted Bob
Now we know that Zendaya’s choppy bob in Challengers was a wig – but that doesn’t mean it didn’t look amazing. The actress donned multiple wigs so that she could step into the role of Tashi, but it was the inverted bob that signalled a revival of the inverted bob. An iteration of the 00s hairstyle, Zendaya’s version featured a softer graduated length, giving it much more modern (and less severe) feel.
‘This version of the inverted bob is less harsh than graduated bob styles of the past, with a less sharp cut and more of a soft finish,’ explains Stéphane Ferreira, Operations Manager and Senior Stylist at Live True London. ‘Clients are always looking for new bob styles to try out – and this has been seen on many celebrities lately, including Zendaya. It’s easy to style and can be adapted to suit length preference, it makes a great option for many.’
Get the look: You can find out how to style an inverted bob with our guide here.
Zendaya as Tashi in CHALLENGERS, directed by Luca Guadagnino, a Metro Goldwyn Mayer Pictures film. Credit: Niko Tavernise / Metro Goldwyn Mayer Pictures © 2023 Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures Inc. All Rights Reserved.
The Old Money Bob
And while Tashi’s retro bob might not have been real, Zendaya’s Challengers press tour bob was very much real. Channelling the super glossy, voluminous waves of TikTok’s viral old money aesthetic (think old school, upper class vibes), the star brought the country club look to the red carpet. Sticking to her signature method dressing, Zendaya’s full bob was teamed up with a series of tennis-themed outfits – the perfect nod to Challengers.
‘The old money bob is characterised by its simplicity and refined appearance, typically featuring a length that grazes the jawline or falls just below it,’ says Jason Crozier, hairdresser at Neville Hair and Beauty. ‘The cut is clean and structured, with subtle layers that add volume without overt texturing.’
Get the look: You can find out how to style an old money bob with our guide here. (And to get Zendaya’s sleek shade of old money blonde, see here.)
(c) Warner Bros.
Featured image: Challengers 2024 Press Tour (c) Warner Bros.
