The Hime Bob Is The Coolest Hairstyle In Salons Right Now
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2 days ago
Japanese street style is making its way west this season – and its first stop is the salons, where the hime bob takes centre stage.
Give your bob a major refresh with one of the biggest burgeoning trends of the season: the hime bob. The Japanese cut is laying down roots in global salons – and on the red carpet. Here’s everything you need to know.
What Is A Hime Bob?
Originating from the traditional Japanese hime cut, the hime bob is a short, modern take on a classic. Featuring the same formula of a longer, all-around length with short side pieces (and sometimes a blunt fringe), the cut is quickly gaining speed as a rising hair trend for 2025.
‘Instead of being layered and textured like most bobs we see at the moment, the hime bob has a step that cuts more bluntly at the front,’ adds Anna Wiig, hair stylist, colourist and founder of wiig haircare. ‘The pieces, that help frame the face, are called sidelocks.
‘This particular style originates from Japan – they tend to have good style!’
@toyopett hime cut bob×地毛風ストレート . どんな髪質の方でも扱いやすいhairに☺︎ . hair @toyopett instagram @toyopett . クセが強い→cut/straight/treatment クセが弱い→cut/treatment クセが無い→cut/treatment . . . #ボブ #前下がりボブ #切りっぱなしボブ #縮毛矯正ボブ #縮毛矯正ショート #ストレートボブ #ストレートショート #縮毛矯正 #髪質改善 #地毛風ストレート ♬ 接吻 – Original Love
The hime cut itself is experiencing major red carpet revival this season, with the likes of Miley Cyrus and Lady Gaga both wearing the hairstyle to the GRAMMYs. Although, as Anna mentioned, the trend has historical origins in Japan.
Meaning ‘princess’ in Japanese, the hime hairstyle was made popular by noblewomen in Japan’s Heian period (794 to 1185), who wore the haircut in the imperial court. It followed a tradition where women would grow out their hair until they reached adulthood, with the act of cutting the front lengths shorter becoming part of a coming-of-age ceremony known as ‘Binsogi’.
Nowadays, the hairstyle is yet another fun trend to play with. ‘It’s a nice way to experiment with shorter hair without making the full commitment,’ muses Anna. And it certainly makes a statement at events.
Jellyfish vs Hime Cut
While there’s been some confusion around the the hairstyles recently, Anna confirms that the hime cut does indeed differ from TikTok’s famed jellyfish cut. ‘With jellyfish hair, the shorter length is cut all the way around the head in one continuous line, with longer lengths peeking out the bottom – like a jellyfish,’ the stylist tells us. ‘With the hime, it’s just two smaller sections at the front that are cut shorter with the rest being longer.’
Who Suits This Cut?
‘This cut best suits those with smooth and straight hair,’ warns Anna. ‘For the hime cut to stand out, you can’t have too much texture or curl as it will just look like an unblended layer.’
@haristylish2003 Hime Bob#trending #fyp #xuhuongtiktok #tócđẹp #xuhuong #himecut ♬ nhạc nền – Võ Thanh Vinh
How To Ask For A Hime Bob In The Salon
To request this cut in the salon, Anna suggests you ‘ask for sidelocks, with a break in length compared to the rest of the hair.’ Although the stylist warns you ‘be prepared and know what length you would like them to be and how much hair you would like to go into it. As always, try to bring a photo to show the style you’re after.’
How To Style A Hime Bob
‘You want to try to achieve a smooth look with this,’ emphasises Anna. ‘Opt for straightening irons or a smooth blow dry will work well. Apply a smoothing serum and a tiny bit of hair spray to hold the look in place.’
Hair Inspiration
Classic Hime Bob
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Colour Block Bob
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Blonde Lob
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Choppy Hime Bob
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Shaggy Bob
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Hime x Wolf Cut Hybrid
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Sleek Bob
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Hime Lob
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Ruffled Bob
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