Why The Bob Is Still The Biggest Hair Trend For 2025
While the bob cut isn’t new, it’s one of the most enduring hairstyles year after year. Here, celebrity hairstylist GEORGE NORTHWOOD shares the right bob for every hair type, as well as his effortless styling tips and inspiring iterations
Kiera Knightley, Zendaya, Selena Gomez, Cate Blanchett – it’s clear that the bob is the celebrity hair trend that’s here to stay for 2025. The biggest takeaway from this trending cut is that there’s an iteration for every hair type and texture that’s flattering and delivers on styling ease. “If you choose a bob that’s right for your hair, it won’t need much styling,” affirms Northwood. “It’s OK to choose one that’s not [appropriate for your hair type], but it’s important to understand that you’ll likely have to put a lot of work into it. The choice is yours.”
The minimalist blunt bob
Forever fans and recent converts of this one-length, razor-sharp style include Kiera Knightley, Cate Blanchett and Lily Collins. “The key is not about styling it straight but about the cut – keep it one length all over, with no shape at the front, and slightly above the shoulder,” says Northwood. It’s ideal for finer hair types but you can make it work if you have thicker hair, too. Simply take a bit of the weight out of the lengths, since thick hair can look too chunky when it’s all one length, but avoid any choppiness.” To style, Northwood suggests letting your hair dry naturally, whatever the texture. “Add a dollop of hair cream or a hydrator, then let it do its thing – if you can avoid blow-drying your hair, that’s a bonus, as this style looks its best when air-dried.” If your hair dries too straight, consider adding a loose wave using a curling iron. “It should look easy and effortless but still polished.”
The big and bouncy bob
Whether you call it the Old Hollywood bob or an updated version of last year’s ‘mob wife’ big-hair aesthetic, the key to this type of bob is all about volume and, more often than not, a sultry side parting (think Zendaya and Selena Gomez at the Golden Globes). “It’s a great bob if you have thick, curly or textured hair because it looks best when your hair looks thick,” says Northwood. The cut, he says, is still quite blunt, but with a bit of shape around the face so that it doesn’t look too round. “If you don’t have thick hair, you’ll need to blow-dry body into it first, which can be hard work on a daily basis.” If you do have thick, curly or textured hair, there’s still a bit of maintenance involved here. “This style looks best worn blow-dried with a big round brush, or you can use hot rollers or a curling iron to really embrace the volume.” Start with a volume spray or lotion before blow-drying and finish with a hydrating cream or oil on lengths – especially if you have textured hair. “The look is very rich, nourished, healthy-looking hair.”
The choppy bob
This timeless style of bob is nice if you like to wear your hair a bit shaggier and undone as opposed to polished or styled. Look to previous iterations worn by Natalie Portman, Jenna Ortega and Emily Ratajowski for inspiration. “It’s very chopped-into and almost layered through with choppiness, and it pairs well with a grown-out fringe. It looks equally chic when worn a bit longer than your traditional short bob, just verging onto the collarbone.” Think Helena Christensen here. It’s easiest to style if you have naturally wavy or curly, medium to thick hair. “If you have quite fine or thin hair, beware of too much layering, as this can make it look even thinner and limp,” says Northwood. When it comes to styling, a simple texture or surf spray is all you need. “This type of bob is especially good for the beach, because it’s very shaggy, and it’s easy to scrunch up and dry naturally – but, at the same time, it’s also long enough to pull into a ponytail, however small, to get it off your face in the heat.”
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