Many of us have a little voice in our heads chanting, "Chop it off!" as we gaze at our hair in the mirror. There's just something about a bob haircut that feels enticing whenever we're in need of a change. It's continually one of the year's biggest haircut trends [1] for a reason. While deciding to take the plunge and cut your hair into a bob can be difficult, once you do, you'll have a ton of options when it comes to styling [2]. Who knows, maybe getting a bob hairstyle will allow you to unlock that main-character energy that you've been chasing all along.
The short bob haircut [3] is one of the most versatile hairstyles for short hair [4]. That's what makes it so great: it works for all hair types [5] and textures and looks drastically different depending on the length, layers, or inclusion of bangs. Popular variations include the blunt bob [6], A-line bob haircut (aka angled bob haircut [7]), and the cool french bob [8] — and that's only a select few from a long list.
Plenty of A-list celebrities are big fans of the chin-grazing style. In addition to Bieber, you also have Millie Bobby Brown, Emma Stone [9], Lily Allen [10], and even Megan Fox [11].
Ahead, we're breaking down the chicest types of bob haircuts around that will convince you to lean into your short-hair impulses.
Cowgirl Bob
A cowgirl bob [12] typically features blunt ends, a small amount of layering, and a little wave to it. Length-wise, it's usually above the shoulders.
Prada Bob
The Prada bob [13], which has been seen on stars like Joey Healy, is a blunt cut that swoops inward above the jawline. It's typically styled with an exaggerated side part.
Baroque Bob
The baroque bob [14] is all about volume. It's short, typically falling right underneath the chin or at the shoulders, but it has a romantic look. It's styled with a lot of layers for volume and texture.
Hailey Bieber's Choppy Bob Haircut
Bieber's bob haircut is choppy with soft layering throughout. It can be worn wavy or straight.
Millie Bobby Brown's Bob Haircut
Brown's bob haircut features flipped-in ends for a slightly retro feel. It looks great with a severe middle part.
Italian Bob Haircut
As seen on Simona Tabasco from "The White Lotus [15]," the Italian bob [16] is luminous and wavy with lots of texture and body.
Curly Bob Haircut
Bobs look stunning on curly hair [17], as seen here.
Medium Bob Haircut
A medium bob haircut is great for anyone on the fence about chopping off their hair — you still should be able to put it in a low ponytail with this length.
Long Bob Haircut
If you're afraid of going too short, opt for a long bob haircut [18] that reaches your clavicle. Most of these cuts are all one length.
French Bob Haircut
The french bob haircut [19] is a super chic style that is easy to style. It looks great on any hair type.
A-Line Bob Haircut
For a more dramatic cut, go for the ever-popular A-line bob haircut.
Angular Bob Haircut
Angular bobs can be softer if you add more layers to the style and don't go as short. They can also be worn wavy or straight.
Pixie Bob Haircut
If you're not afraid of going super short, the pixie [20] bob haircut can be a great head-turning option.
Sleek Bob Haircut
A sleek bob haircut looks great styled with a middle part and lots of shine on the ends. Add some hair oil for an extra glossy look.
Curly Bob Haircut With Bangs
Pair your curly bob haircut with bangs for an ultra-voluminous look.
Textured Bob Haircut
Textured bobs are great for those with wavy and curly hair textures. For this type of haircut, a texturizer is your best friend.
Shaggy Bob Haircut
Shed all of that extra length and dead ends with a short, chin-grazing shaggy bob [21]. Bangs look great with this style.
Choppy Bob Haircut
To add lots of body and movement to your hair, opt for a choppy bob haircut. This works especially well on those with fine hair types.
Box Bob Haircut
The box bob [22] perfectly frames the face for a sharp, angular look.
Wavy Bob Haircut
If you have wavy hair, you'll find that styling your bob is easy without any heat as long as you have the right products. Use a mousse directly out of the shower to enhance your natural waves.
Bob Haircut With Layers
Layers don't have to be choppy — you can get smooth, cascading ones like this. Just ask for face-framing pieces.
Bob Haircut With Bangs
Bangs elevate your traditional bob haircut in seconds. It doesn't matter if you choose to go ultra short or keep your hair slightly longer.
Flob Bob Haircut
The "flob" haircut [23] features ends that are flicked in for an added touch of personality. This can easily be achieved using a flat iron, but don't forget heat protectant.
Inverted Bob Haircut
An inverted bob haircut [24] is slightly longer in the front and shorter in the back, creating a face-framing style. We think it looks best styled with a middle part.
Wavy Long Bob Haircut
This long bob haircut has a lot of texture at the ends of the hair for movement. Style it with a 1.25" curling iron and beachy waves.
Blunt Bob Haircut
The blunt bob haircut [25] pairs perfectly with the micro bangs at the front; however, the look is just as chic without bangs.
Angular Wavy Bob Haircut
The angular bob is a classic choice. It makes for a head-turning haircut and looks great with naturally wavy hair or styled wavy using a curling iron.
Textured Bob Haircut
A textured bob haircut works great for those with thick hair — it'll give you so much body, and you won't have to do too much when it comes to styling.
Wavy-Long Bob Haircut
Not big on change? Ease into your new look with a long bob haircut. You can always opt to go shorter later or grow it out if you don't like it.
Pixie Bob Haircut
An ultra-short, pixie-bob-haircut combo is great for anyone who's over the maintenance that comes with having long hair. It's super quick to style.
Bob Haircut With Wispy Bangs
The wispy bangs [26] on this choppy bob haircut are the icing on top of the cake. They're longer, so they can be parted down the middle for a curtain-bang [27] look.
Stacked Bob
A stacked bob [28] is typically cut in the back with graduated elevation. There are layers in the back of different lengths, which add fullness.
Sharp A-Line Bob Haircut
If you really want to make a statement, go for a sharp A-line bob. This looks even more intense if you have sharp features.
— Additional reporting by Renee Rodriguez [29]
Jessica Harrington [30] is the senior beauty editor at PS, where she writes about hair, makeup, skin care, piercings, tattoos, and more. As a New York City-based writer and editor with a degree in journalism and over eight years of industry experience, she loves to interview industry experts, keep up with the latest trends, and test new products.
Renee Rodriguez [31] is a staff writer and social producer for PS. She writes across all verticals, but her main areas of expertise focus on fashion and beauty content with an emphasis on reviews and editor experiments. She also produces social content for the PS TikTok and Instagram accounts.