A French bob, or a classic Parisian women's cut, is a form of a cropped bob that's cut at chin-length and paired with bangs sitting at the brow line. The French haircut has been modernized by certain characteristics including a blunt cut, heavy texture, and beachy wavy hair.
A bob is a short-to-medium haircut, typically reaching the jawline, while a French bob is shorter than chin-length. Other differences include a bob's fringe at the front, while a French bob has more refined layers and blunt bangs.
For the uninitiated, it's basically a super-short, blunt bob, often with bangs, that looks perfectly at home paired with a beret. “A French bob is typically shorter than your typical chin-length bob we've been seeing a lot of lately,” says celebrity hairstylist Alex Brown.
“It is a sharp, outlined, chin-grazing bob and the point of the bob should hit the corner of the mouth,” adds Reed. “The fringe should sit just above the brow – slightly shorter than a usual fringe, but still super chic.
A French bob is a classic and iconic haircut that can be customized to work with most face shapes. However, round faces and wide square-shaped faces can sometimes look a bit wider with a neck or jaw-length perimeter. French bobs are great for fine hair because they are known to be light and fluffy with layering.
The French bob suits every face shape, age, and hair texture. However, you should ask your stylist to adjust this haircut to the shape of your face and the texture of your hair. For example, if you have a square-shaped face, consider opting for a chin-length cut that will accentuate your jawline.
If you have an oval face shape, you can make any bob haircut work for you—including a classic French bob.
And third, the French bob is gloriously low maintenance. The cut pretty much takes care of things, which means you won't have to spend as much time styling it. In fact, it looks pretty when slicked back and wet, plus air drying adds to its messy appeal.
A short French bob is a great haircut option if you are choosing a short bob cut. If you are a girl with thick hair, I recommend this style. It's a breezy, light, and perfectly sculpted bob that will make styling your hair so much easier. Framing your face with subtle curtain layers will really help your eyes sparkle.
If you're going to get a French bob and you have a round face then it's best to get it cut at the jawline and add a fringe. This will help elongate the face, making it appear less round.
Also called the classic Karen cut, the original Karen cut is an inverted bob with side-swept bangs cut at an angle. Chunky highlights with a spiky cut at the back usually accompany this haircut. This is the most typical Karen haircut, and it's also the most recognizable.
To create 'lived in' texture to your messy bob, spritz the hair with 7 Seconds Detangling Spray to add moisture. Next scrunch and twist products in to provoke movement. Then for the ultimate textured hair – spray on dry hair our best selling product UNITE Texturiza spray.
“A bob is one of those styles that can make some people look younger—if done right. But when it's done incorrectly or done on the wrong face, it can make you look older.”
Symmetric Bob with Straight Locks
This bob is one of the more well-liked bob variations because it lacks layers. This sleek hairstyle, sometimes referred to as a soft blunt cut, looks good on faces with an oval, square, or heart shape as it highlights the full face shape.
A bob haircut is great for older women who want a shorter look without going full pixie cut. Bob haircuts are a great style to get the hair off the nape of the neck while leaving length around the ears and face shape. A round brush blow-dry is a good styling technique to achieve maximum volume with this cut.
What to Ask For: A wavy bob works so well with frizzy hair because it takes advantage of its natural curly texture. To make sure your stylist knows that you want a tousled look, "Ask for a deconstructed bob with loose layers," Dave Stanwell says.
Cheek skimming layers with wispy baby bangs, the two trademark elements of a perfect French bob. Sometimes bangs really aren't required to get the desired effect. A few longer face framing layers and you've got the perfect cut.
A shoulder-length long bob haircut for overweight women is a great choice if you have a rounder face. Having length that falls below the chin helps elongate the face.
One-Length Bob
If you want a low-maintenance look, something like Margot Robbie's cut is your best bet. “Depending on the texture of your hair, I find that a one-length bob just above the shoulders is easiest to style—the haircut should do the styling for you,” Brown says.
According to Thompson and Wilson, a bob is not only universally flattering but is also one of the hairstyles that make you look younger because “it softens facial features and opens up the face,” which, in turn, reduces the appearance of wrinkles.
The classic bob is still very popular in France and continues to be seen all over the streets of Paris. The bob hairstyle is designed to flatter the face, specifically the cheekbones, by being cut just at the jawline or below. It can be cut bluntly or with slight layering to avoid any bluntness on the ends.
A chin-length bob is a bob haircut that ends near the chin and mid-neck. Chin-length bobs are also known as a medium bob hairstyle. This bob length works with almost all face shapes, but it flatters narrow faces the most. If you're looking to widen the appearance of your jawline, this bob cut is ideal for you!
If it's less than two and a quarter inches from your ear to the pencil, green light—short hair (like a chin-length bob) will look great on you. If it's more than two and a quarter inches, you may want to consider keeping a bit of length (think: a shoulder-grazing lob or longer).
Instead of your locks falling right at the jawbone, Italian bobs are a touch longer, typically hitting just above the shoulders at the base of the neck. The true secret to nailing the hairstyle though is all about perfecting the curls at the bottom. The curls are slightly textured inwards as if it's V-shaped.