Working in beauty, I have lost count of the times the humble bob has been reimagined. We've had the fragmented bob, the old money bob, the soft precision bob, the vintage-inspired antique bob and the tuft bob. And that's just looking at my emails from April.
But while I'm exhausted by all the bobbing around, A-listers apparently aren’t, with Charlize Theron, Margot Robbie and Jessica Chastain all recently lopping off their longer locks in favour of a bob. A special mention must also go to Lily Collins, because while she's had a bob for a while, new pictures posted to Instagram show her bob looking better than ever, with a slight gradient towards the front.
© InstagramPerhaps the new converts to the bib brigade all opted for shorter hair simply because it's more manageable in the summer months. Plus, the awards season has been and gone, so the need for long locks and glamour has passed, meaning the gals are free to cut their hair into edgier looks.
The explanation could be that simple, but I like to read into things more, and I'm leaning towards a different reason for the resurgence of the bob – and life coach Mhairi Todd, who also recently cut her hair into a bob, agrees.
The bob rebellion
We're both of the assumption that bobs are the ultimate act of rebellion. With the gross manosphere becoming more prevalent, and women increasingly leaning into the trad wife, homemaker vibe, those of us casting off the traditionally feminine long, flowing locks, are staging an act of rebellion against looking and behaving like women "should". Take that, Andrew Tate!
© WWD via Getty Images"There's a long cultural history around hair and womanhood," Mhairi begins. "Hair has always been shorthand for how society values women. Long hair has often equalled youthful and desirable, while short has been coded as practical or neutral.
"Underneath that are the generational layers. For baby boomer and older generations, long hair was part of the 'ideal woman' package, because women were prized primarily for appearance and compliance," she adds.
Mhairi continues that this notion is being rejected by women of all ages – in particular millennials and Gen X. "That message collides with a totally different reality," she laments. "We're expected to do it all; build careers, raise children, stay attractive, age well, and hold everything together. I think many women cut their hair but because they're tired of performing to beauty standards they didn't consciously sign up for in the first place."
On the wave of women rejecting society's expectations, Mhairi adds: "I believe what we're slowly seeing is a shift from hair as an object of external validation to hair as a vehicle for self-definition."
© WireImageMhairi has been growing her hair since having her first son six years ago, but this year had it cut to her shoulders. "I had mermaidy visions, soft waves, dreamy Instagram hair goals," Mhairi says of her long hair. "Every few weeks, that fantasy came to life thanks to my hairdresser. But in between, it wasn't actually serving me. There was a lot of old energy tied up in that hair, pardon the pun. So, the chop felt symbolic as well as literal. It was a release. And it feels brilliant. It’s healthy, manageable, I can style it myself, and it feels like a small act of rebellion. I did it because I wanted to. That’s it."
The new bobs
Charlize Theron: The Contoured Bob
© Getty ImagesCharlize debuted her new bob at the premiere of her latest film, Apex. The actress recently said that the film came as time she was "struggling a little" and "feeling out of control," – perhaps snipping off her hair was a way or regaining that control.
For the premiere, Charlize had her hair styled over to one side for a wet-look edgy vibe, which we're calling "the contoured bob", a look which focuses on "bespoke architectural tailoring," according to Philipp Haug, celebrity stylist and Co-founder of hair salon Haug London Haus.
"This look creates a frame that acts as 'built-in contouring' for the face," he continues. "The hallmark of this style is a finish that looks expensive yet feels effortless. It’s characterised by ditching the harsh lines of a traditional bob in favour of a lived-in, touchable texture. A versatile cut that allows the hair to be tucked behind the ear to reveal the cheekbones while keeping a rounded, flattering shape.”
Margot Robbie: The post-pool bob
© Corbis via Getty ImagesCasting aside both her super-styled Barbie hair, and her wild and untamed Cathy Earnshaw hair from Wuthering Heights, Margot has gone ultra-modern with her new look, which Caspar Finch, stylist at Hershesons Fitzrovia, calls "post pool hair” - letting the hair sit naturally undisturbed while drying.
Margot's take on the bob is less about sleek precision and more about effortless movement – and I think it's the perfect statement of reclamation. Not only becoming herself again after several all-encompassing roles, but also reminds us who she is away from motherhood.
Her new style is not the slicked back traditional wet look we're used to celebrities wearing, instead it's soft, piecey and a little imperfect, which keeps it modern and effortless. Caspar adds: "It's great for the summer months as it is low maintenance and doesn’t require heat styling."
Jessica Chastain: The thickening bob
© Getty ImagesJessica Chastain is famed for her flame red hair, and it looks more beautiful than ever in its latest iteration, chopped into a chin-skimming, full bob. The actress' new look embraces the classic bob, making her hair look thicker than ever – a great trick if your hair is thinning.
"Jessica's bob frames the face beautifully and instantly elevates her look. It feels both timeless and directional," comments celebrity stylist Melissa Timperly.
While Jessica isn't emerging from a period of change (that we know of!), she's certainly made a statement with her new mane…
