It may be more than 100 years old, but the bob is as popular now as it was in the 1920s. But do you know your inverted bob from your pageboy? Akin Konizi, international creative director of HOB Academy, looks at the various types of bobs and how to achieve them.
“The bob never goes out of fashion, the style has just evolved over the years. There are many different types of bob haircuts, and the great thing it is there is a style to suit all face shapes and hair textures. From the graduated bob to one length or inverted bobs, the change of angle is what makes it different. The bob is the most important and valuable haircut that you can do, because it will always ensure you are developing your technique for the perfect haircut. Creating the perfect bob is the holy grail for most hairdressers!”
Akin Konizi looks at the four key bob shapes everyone should know
- Classic bob
This style is one length all around the head, and is typically chin length. There are no layers, so can be blunt cut or point cut if you want it to be softer. - Square bob
A square shape with a square, strong fringe, it was popular in the 80s and is making a comeback. It is typically jaw length.
- Inverted bob
This type of bob is shorter at the back and longer through the front. It features a tapered back with lots of layers for a curved finish.
- Graduated bob Graduated bobs are one of the more common types of bobs. Stacked layers through the back give the style a curved finish, getting longer towards the front.
All bob lines should start at the centre back and end at the front. One continuous flowing line, with no joins, and typically the last hair at the front of the line should be the longest – that’s the sexy bit!