The Bob Haircut Is Officially A Celeb-Favorite For Fall

When it comes to the most iconic hairstyles ever, a bob inarguably takes the cake. A quick history lesson: Though it first debuted in the 1890s on French actor Polaire, the cut really picked up in the 1960s, thanks to its revival from hairstylist Vidal Sassoon (think: a sharp, angular style). And through the decades, a slew of variations have been adopted by Hollywood’s top A-listers. In fact, search in Google for your favorite celebrity following with the words “bob haircut,” and odds are, they’ve tried it at some point. (Read: It’s so good that Anna Wintour has been wearing the look since she was a teenager.)

The thing about bobs, though, is that they can seem a bit intimidating at first. “I think the biggest misconception about bobs is that you’re signing your life away to a single style that you will have to manage and keep up,” Dallin James, a celebrity hairstylist whose clients include Noah Cyrus, Nicole Scherzinger, and Jaime King, tells TZR. “This can be true, but I think the bob is actually quite versatile, and the personality of the cut really comes out person to person depending on their hair texture and density.”

In 2022, stars are continuing to prove just how iconic (not to mention adaptable) a bob is. “Going into fall what is trending with bobs is keeping the shape quite square with no A-lines or sloping angles,” James says. “This keeps the shape and silhouette very classic and modern at the same time.” Think: Emma Chamberlain, Kim Kardashian, Zendaya, Maude Apatow, and Laura Harrier. At the same time, the shaggy bob continues to be a favorite among celebs, as well. “Artists like Billie Eilish have taken the oh-so-popular ‘wolf cut’ from earlier this year and shortened their hair into a look I like to call the ‘bobcat’ cut,” Sunnie Brook, a celebrity hairstylist whose clients include Elisabeth Moss and Amy Poehler, tells TZR. “I think the silhouette of this haircut flatters many face shapes and has inspired those looking for a change to make the chop.”

Not to mention, bob hairstyles are also a great change for the health of your hair. “Coming into fall and after the summer, it’s nice to give your hair a new look and get rid of those ends that got a little damaged from the sun,” Bobby Eliot, a celebrity hairstylist who works with Sydney Sweeney and Julia Garner, explains to TZR. (Yes, the sun can cause split ends to form.)

To keep your hair looking its best, it’s a good idea to get a trim come fall, so why not go daring with a bob? “The best way to really decide which style of bob will work for you is to come prepared with a few inspo images, and that way you can communicate with your hairdresser what you like, don’t like, and really collaborate with them based on your hair texture, what kind of maintenance/styling is reasonable for you, and what works with your lifestyle,” James says.

Ahead, take a scroll through the 15 most iconic celebrity bob haircuts for a bit of inspiration. Plus, find the current bob styles that are trending, according to celebrity hairstylists.

Barbra Streisand’s Bob Cut With Bangs

Legendary singer Barbra Streisand was the queen of the bob haircut back in the ‘60s. For this particular look in 1969, she rocked a flipped-in bob haircut with bangs. According to Johnny Wright, a celebrity hairstylist whose clients include Michelle Obama and Tamron Hall, you might want to show your hairstylist this throwback look. “The bob with bangs is something I see trending [right now],” the expert tells TZR. “It’s for women looking to really switch up their look without going too short.” But, if you want to go short, don’t be afraid to do so.

Twiggy’s Wavy Middle Part Bob

Basically, everything Twiggy did in the ‘70s made a statement, and her bob was no exception. In this 1971 image, the model rocked a retro-looking wavy bob with a middle part. “Someone with finer texture and not a ton of hair does great with a bob because it gives the illusion of thicker, fuller hair,” James says. This classic style is a great starting point if you’re new to the bob game.

Diana Ross’ Voluminous Bob

Though she typically gravitated towards curls back in the day, Diana Ross tested out a bob hairstyle in the ‘70s as well. This chic look, which just touched her shoulders, was full of volume and bounce. “Sun-shaped round layers are gorgeous,” Hunter Schafer’s go-to hairstylist, Rena Calhoun, previously told TZR. Plus, this look can be achieved with both straight and curly hair, according to hairstylist Sam LaBella. “Adding rounded layers and fringe is one of my favorites for tighter curl patterns, while a looser wave has incredible movement and volume with longer layers,” she previously told TZR.

Beverly Johnson’s Soft Lob

Here’s a prime example of the trendy lob (more on that below). In 1985, model Beverly Johnson was seen with a cut that just grazed her shoulders. She could probably get away with throwing her hair into a ponytail with this longer bob style. “This look is equal parts throwback and future-facing — something about embracing yourself just as you are is very of-the-moment,” Jackson Simmonds, an advanced stylist at Julien Farel, previously told TZR.

Natalie Portman’s Ultra-Cropped Baby Bangs Bob

The bob continued to reign supreme in the ‘90s, as exhibited in tons of famous films from the decade. Just look at Natalie Portman's version for the movie Leon, which featured brow-skimming baby bangs, or Drew Barrymore’s blunt bob in the film Scream. “The ultra-cropped length is timeless and so chic,” Kelly Macedo, a hairstylist and owner of Interior Hair in Los Angeles, previously told TZR. “[You can] undercut the back up to the hairline to lose some serious density,” she explained. “Once that heaviness is removed, hair is way more manageable at this length.” Style this haircut with a round brush while blow-drying for an ultra ‘90s feel.

Scarlett Johansson’s Mullet-Bob Hybrid

If you can believe it, ultra-layered mullet bobs, like the one Scarlett Johansson wore back in 2003, are coming back today. “A rock-and-roll mullet is the ultimate cool-girl haircut,” Cynthia Alvarez, a celebrity stylist who works with Shakira and Becky G, tells TZR. “You can rock it with bangs or short, choppy layers.” Her expert advice: Maintain the texture by using a curl gel and scrunching with your fingers.

Jessica Alba’s Side Part Sliced Bob

Still loving a side-part hairstyle? Take notes from Jessica Alba’s polished sliced bob in 2011. “The style can work for pretty much every [hair type] as long as you know how to actually utilize its ‘cons’,” FEKKAI stylist Jordi Martinez-Fenoll previously told TZR. “On fine and straight to slightly wavy hair, the look will be chic, slick, and modern. The cut naturally will, and should, be on the flatter side, but instead of fighting [the flatness], we’ll use it, tucking it behind the ear for extra coolness. On thick, wavy, curly hair, there will be more pyramidal volume, which might sound like a big ‘con’ for some, but to me, can be the ultimate statement on edginess and modernness, especially with a side part.” The actor-turned-entrepreneur’s elevated side-part shoulder-length bob will always be in style (sorry, Gen Z).

Solange’s Brushed-Out Boxy Bob

Bobs don’t always have to be sleek and cut close to the face. Take Solange’s iconic textured boxy bob, for example, pictured here in her glamorous 2016 Met Gala look. “Someone with thicker, more textured hair also does great because it creates a big, boxy shape,” James says. “Solange is a great example of wearing her natural brushed-out curly texture in a bob.” Brushing out natural curls creates a dramatic full-volume effect that looks incredibly bold and chic in bob or lob haircuts of varying lengths.

Hailey Bieber’s Beach Wave Bob

Hailey Bieber (or, Baldwin back at that time) proved just how modern a bob can be with her style at the 2018 Billboard Awards. For the event, the model went with short beachy waves. This look is perfect for the transition between summer and fall. “This is the perfect way to refresh tired strands and leave hair healthy and youthful,” stylist Justine Marjan previously told TZR. “Ask your stylist to cut with a razor for lots of natural movement.”

Kaia Gerber’s A-Line Bob

“Geometric bobs à la Sassoon are great cuts because they make a bold statement and exude confidence,” Alvarez says. “There are no rules when wearing this bob because it’s all about showcasing your personality.” Gerber gave the look a whirl in 2019 with a very bold cut that featured longer hair in the front and shorter in the back for an A-line effect.

Maisie Williams’ Fringe Bob

According to Eliot, fringe bobs, like the style Maisie Williams wore at Paris Fashion Week in October 2020, are going to be huge this fall. “Think blunt ends and longer curtain bangs that are shorter in the center and longer towards the corner of the eyes,” he says. “This shape is flattering on pretty much everyone!”

Denise Bidot’s Blunt Bob

“I am so in love with that bob that is mid-neck and more blunt than soft,” Ted Gibson, a celebrity hairstylist whose client roster includes Denise Bidot and Serena Williams, tells TZR. The hairstylist has been cutting this length on many of his clients, like Bidot (shown above).

Selena Gomez’s Super Sleek Lob

“I always love a long bob, aka a lob,” hairstylist Corey Aaron Scott tells TZR. In fact, he says a lob is drastic enough for a whole new look, especially now for fall. “It’s long enough to still put in a ponytail, and you’ll be able to grow it out by next summer. It’s truly an iconic and versatile haircut.” At the 2017 Met Gala, Selena Gomez showcased a very sleek version of the lob.

Halle Berry’s Cheeky Blunt Bob

Halle Berry is no stranger to a short ‘do, and that includes a bob. The actor turned heads with her super short look at the 2021 Oscars. Brook describes this up-and-coming iteration of the bob as cheeky. “This cut is for the brave-hearted,” she explains. “This length sits just at the cheek, bold and blunt, but is long enough for a sweet ear tuck.”

Kim Kardashian’s Razor Sharp One-Length Bob

Bringing us into 2022, leave it to a Kardashian to set one of the biggest hair trends with a long hair chop that shocked everyone. “Lastly, there’s the Kim Kardashians of the world who, after going through quite a bit of processing for her Met Gala look this year and I’m sure needed to trim a hefty amount of dead ends off, has gone back to a super sleek one-length bob,” James says. “Just like Kim, the bob is great for anyone needing to do some damage control and make a big change.”

As you can see, a bob haircut isn’t a one-size-fits-all style. “The fun is, as it grows out, you can always change it up by layering it a bit more, cutting bangs, shagging it out to a more rocker vibe and really celebrating the texture,” James says. “The possibilities are quite endless.” Hopefully, these iconic celebrity looks will give you some inspiration for your new fall ‘do.