The bob haircut is one of the most widely-worn, and widely-adapted haircuts in history. The cut was ground-breaking when it was originally introduced, and that impact doesnít
seem to have changed much in all the decades that have passed in the interim. Bob haircuts range from the traditional chin-length style, to long blunt shapes, and even shorter, more-modern, edgy looks. Itís these shorter
and edgier styles that weíre dealing with today, since they require some special handling to get the proper effects.
If we are going to deal with this particular incarnation of the bob, we need to discuss some important factors that have to be considered to make sure the cut is going to be
suitable for the individual. These factors include the hairís texture, the hairís wave pattern, the shape of the face and the overall balance of the silhouette. Letís take each factor separately:
The texture of the hair is important in that it will determine how much length will be required to make the hair lie the way it is intended to for the style. Since the bob is
meant to fall in a smooth shape, thicker diameter hairs will need more length (and more weight) to enable the hair to lie properly. On the other hand, hair that is very fine needs to be very dense (many hairs per square
inch) in order to provide the kind of look that makes the short, stacked bob work.
The short, stacked bob is best suited to hair that is straight or only mildly wavy. Wavy and curly hair types add a lot of volume to the style which can make getting the
desired silhouette difficult. Since the desired look is a smooth, straighter style (or at least a gentle curve) the more wave there is in the hair, the more straightening and styling must be done to create the look that is preferred.
There is a bob style for every shape face, but the short, stacked bob is not suited to every face. Since this bob falls to a point around or just below the cheeks, with a strong
weight line around the middle-point of the head, it isnít suitable for women with round or wide faces. It is also not necessarily flattering to those with a squared face shape. These face types will simply be made to
appear more broad by the cut. Ideally, the short, stacked bob is best worn by those with an oval or even a narrower face to provide balance.
Cutting the Hair
Executing the cut in question is generally a straight-forward proposition. Start by sectioning the hair into the standard seven-section parting. (See here for instruction on the
Once the hair is separated and the perimeter is left free, you can begin shaping the intended silhouette and go from there. The first step is deciding whether or not the style
will include a fringe (bangs). Optimally, this decision will have been made well in advance of beginning the cut, but defining the fringe area, if any is to exist, is the first item on the agenda.
If there is to be a fringe, start in the center and snip a half-inch segment to the desired length. Carefully cut the remaining fringe area in half-inch increments, alternating
from left to right, to help ensure an even cut. Once the fringe is defined, cut the forward edges of the sides to the desired length.
If there isnít going to be a fringe section, you should cut a half-inch segment in the front/center of the face to the maximum length desired for the cut. Work from left to right
and cut in addition half-inch segments until you reach the sides of the face. Remember not to cut the initial guides too short. You can always trim a bit more off, but growing it back takes time.