Bored Of The Classics? Ask For A Layered Bob At Your Next Salon Appointment

By Charlie Colville

4 months ago

Messy layers are all the rage this season


Craving a change? If it’s a bob you’re after, you’ve come to the right place. Doing the rounds in the salon this season is the layered bob, a cheeky take on the classic short hairstyle with bags of volume, texture and personality. Here’s how to style it.

More Bob Hairstyles To Try Now

What Is A Layered Bob?

‘A layered bob is a short or medium length hairstyle that has been thinned out with layers to create less weight, more texture and to add body and volume to the hair,’ explain Gennaro Costabile and Piera Maggio, senior hairstylists at Adem. ‘It’s not as neat as a classic bob, and doesn’t feature the straight-across cut you might expect. It’s a personalised style, with more volume and texture. It also tends to look more refined when dry, thanks to the layers.’

@brooklynmccabe_ chopped my hair last year & have had a lot of fun with a short hairstyle 🤎 currently in the process of growing it back out but I kinda miss the bob?? #shorthair #hairtransformation #bobhaircut #hairinspo #pinterestaesthetic #layeredhaircut ♬ Trees and Flowers by Strawberry Switchblade – Angela ★

And it seems a large part of the internet is keen to abandon the straight-cut bob for its ultra-layered counterpart. Searches for the hairstyle have continuously spiked on Google over the last 12 months, while TikTok remains awash with hair inspiration videos focused on the trend.

But why the sudden popularity? The team at Adem think it has to do with the boldness of the cut. ‘People may want a layered bob to give their hair more character,’ they say. ‘It’s not always the easiest style to pull off, but it creates a confident woman when it works.’

Who Suits This Cut?

Since this cut isn’t really defined by a specific shape, texture or length, it’s pretty easy to adapt to anyone wanting to try it. Just make sure you have a consultation with your stylist to better tailor it to you.

@samanthacusicklondonThe 90s layered bob with a classic blowout , we are totally sold. Make sure you hit the link in our bio to book your next hair appointment. Colour by @rachelsyas | Cut and styled by @lovemeknot_ for @katie_budenberg in our Notting Hill salon.♬ A&W – Lana Del Rey

How To Ask For A Layered Bob In The Salon

When asking for any hairstyle outside your normal look, you’ll want to make sure you and your stylist are on the same page. Do your research ahead of time and bring in pictures of the cut you’d like to try as an example for your stylist.

The Adem team also recommend having a consultation with your stylist. ‘We like to find out the client’s personal routine at home first, so we can narrow down the level of maintenance and styling needed,’ they say. ‘We would then analyse the face shape and decide on the style of layers together.’

How To Style A Layered Bob

Where a straight-cut bob may need a bit more maintenance to keep those clean lines in check, the layered bob is a little more hands-off. This is a cut that thrives on natural texture and movement, so very little styling is actually needed.

‘Work with the texture of the hair,’ recommends the Adem team. ‘We would advise the client to use easy, simple and minimal products. Keep the hair natural, as the layers speak for themselves.’ For an extra volume boost, you can also use light amounts of sea salt spray to help lift the strands.

Hair Inspiration

1. 90s Layers

2. Messy Layered Bob

 

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3. Square Layered Bob

 

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4. Layered Lob

 

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5. Coily Layers

 

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A post shared by Sofia El-Haj (@sofiaelhaj)

6. Layered French Bob

 

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A post shared by SAL SALCEDO (@salsalhair)

7. Rounded Layered Bob

 

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8. Wolf Cut Bob

 

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A post shared by David Stanwell (@davestanwell)

9. Layered Beach Waves

 

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A post shared by @the_bob_haircut

10. Curly Layered Bob

Featured image: Berlin Fashion Week SS25 Streetstyle (c) Denis Grigorev