The Korean Bob Is 2025’s Next Big Salon Obsession
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3 days ago
Soft, sleek and feminine, the Korean bob is making waves in the salons this year – here's how to style the look, according to professionals.
We’ve had Italian bobs, French bobs and even Japanese bobs take the spotlight in recent months, but the latest take on the short hairstyle hails from Korea. Here’s everything you need to know about the Korean bob.
What Is A Korean Bob?
‘A Korean bob is a classic, below-the-jawline bob,’ explains Gen Itoh, Style Director at STIL. ‘This slightly longer take on the bob has a sense of volume and natural subtle movement, especially around the face, to create curved lines that help soften the face.’
The look, which is characterised by soft, face-framing layers and a sleek appearance, is designed to be tailored to the individual – making it a popular choice for customisation. ‘The Korean bob is a very feminine and flexible style which allows it to be worn by a wide range of people,’ adds Gen.
@noism.jin 京都で唯一短いスタイルのハッシュカット発信してます レイヤーボブが可愛すぎる😳 #ハッシュカット#韓国アイドル#winter#Spark#ミディアム#ボブ#レイヤー#レイヤーボブ#ベージュ#シースルー前髪#京都ハッシュカット#オシャレファッション#ootd #美容室 ♬ Supernova – aespa
Gen also notes that, unlike other traditional bobs, the Korean bob offers a lot more flexibility when it comes to styling. He points out that you’ll often see a Korean bob accompanied by ‘a heavier shape with a natural side fringe, or a curtain fringe paired with a centre parting’ or even chunky, heavy bangs.
‘You have the longer Korean bob with a long fringe, which definitely gives a flexible, stylish and feminine feel,’ he continues. ‘But we are also starting to see medium length bobs coming in, just above or on the shoulder, with some slight flicks and movement. This kind of extension of the Korean bob also reminds me of an early 2000s Meg Ryan.’
But why the name ‘Korean bob’? The stylist tells us that this particular rendition of the bob is making waves in Asia – more specifically, South Korea – with many celebrities in the entertainment industry bringing attention to the look. ‘I’ve mainly noticed the look on K-pop idols,’ says Gen. ‘Twice’s Momo and Aespa’s Winter are good examples of the Korean bob in action.’
Who Suits This Cut?
One of the main draws of a Korean bob is its adaptability – making it a good cut to tailor to the individual. ‘The Korean bob provides a flexible shape to work with, making it suitable for many people,’ highlights Gen. ‘For texture in Asia, a perm service will likely come with this cut to create movement. But here in the UK there is an advantage for this look, as most people have natural movement in their hair and just need a bit of smoothing, blow drying or a touch of styling.’
@saeroniee Finally just cut my hair short after a long time! 🥹 I trust my hair stylists from @HomiE hair 💇🏻♀️🖤 I brought a picture of #korean tassel hair cut which is a trendy bob #style in #korea and kimberley the hair stylist satisfied me with the #hair cut and the color🧺 It turned out exactly how I wanted it to be like 🫡 #bobhair #koreanhair #hairstyle #shorthair #tiktoksg #vlog #hairinspo #fyp #foryou ♬ Just 10 centimeters – 10CM & BIG Naughty
How To Ask For A Korean Bob In The Salon
In the salon, Gen recommends asking for ‘a classic bob with a soft long fringe’ with a length that ‘sits below the jawline.’ As the stylist notes, ‘this is because Korean bobs need to incorporate movement and volume, and the hair length will shrink a bit once it’s styled. How much the length will jump up depends on how you are going to style it, so it is very important to have a good consultation with your stylist to better understand how much length you’ll need.’
How To Style A Korean Bob
‘Volume and subtle movement are the keys to this look,’ highlights Gen. ‘For styling I would recommend Velcro rollers and large curling tongs. Both need to be done on dry hair, after blow-drying, and with styling products that hold and maintain the shape, as well as protect against humidity to provide a long-lasting finish.
‘Using the right products for the right hair type, at the right timing is very important,’ he adds. ‘This is something you may wish to discuss with your stylist as well.’
Hair Inspiration
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Featured image: British Fashion Council
