Should I Get An Italian Bob Or A French Bob? The Difference Between The Two Popular Cuts, Explained

My mood boards are almost exclusively filled with Euro summer and bob haircuts right now. It's the biggest summer hair trend for a reason! It's breezy, off your shoulders (mostly), easy to style (if you know how), and looks chic on legit every face shape and hair texture. But how on earth do I decide between the two hottest versions, hence the conundrum I'm having right now: Italian bob vs French bob. Let me explain them both.

What is a French bob?

French bobs are typically chin-length or shorter with a blunt cut. They don't have as much natural movement and bounce through the ends, but often tend to incorporate bangs or face-framing layers that add definition. Fine hair and a French bob go hand-in-hand: It makes hair look a bit fuller since the blunt ends are stacked on top of each other, but gets rid of a lot of the weight that can make your hair look flat against your head at the roots.

What is an Italian bob?

Italian bobs are voluminous and usually feature layering that adds lift and creates a round shape. For this reason, they usually accentuate thick and coarse hair textures, including those with wavy or curly hair. But it’s not off-limits for fine hair by any means; the cut might just require more in-depth styling to achieve the same tousled volume.

What is the difference between an Italian bob and a French bob?

While both are shorter cuts, an Italian bob is generally a bit longer and goes past your chin, sometimes even hitting just at your shoulders (like a lob). They’re usually more voluminous and layered, whereas a French bob has a blunt cut to emphasize its sleek look.

How to style an Italian bob

Styling is often a bit different between these two bobs. Think of the vibes. Italian summers are sexy and romantic, so a bob inspired by that would be too. It's curly and glam, complete with dramatic side-parting and a soft, fluffy finish. You can wear it with your natural texture, or opt for a big, bouncy blowout (a round brush and hair dryer will be your friend with this cut, btw).

Italian Bob Inspo

Zendaya’s side-swept Italian bob

Lori Harvey’s clavicle-length Italian bob

Selena Gomez’s old-Hollywood-esque Italian bob

Kendall Jenner’s blonde Italian bob

How to style a French bob

Summers in Paris, though, are busier and on-the-go, hence why a French bob is typically so simple to style. Usually, it's enough to just air dry, spritz in some texturizing spray, and shake it out. Or grab a flat iron and add a few bends around your face to add movement.

Add Cosmopolitan as a preferred source in your Google search results.

Use your Google account to add this to your settings.

Add to Google settings

French Bob Inspo

Gracie Abrams’s sleek and smooth French bob

Keke Palmer’s middle-parted French bob

Maren Morris’s French bob with curtain bangs

Yara Shahidi’s side-parted French bob

Why trust Cosmopolitan?

Beth Gillette is the beauty editor at Cosmopolitan with eight years of experience researching, writing, and editing hair stories that range from low-porosity hair products to reviewing K18. She regularly tests and analyzes hair products while working with the industry’s top hairstylists to research new trends.

Beth Gillette

Beth Gillette is the beauty editor at Cosmopolitan, where she covers skincare, makeup, hair, nails, and more across digital and print. She can generally be found in bright eyeshadow furiously typing her latest feature or hemming and hawing about a new product you "have to try." Prior to Cosmopolitan, she wrote and edited beauty content as an Editor at The Everygirl for four years. Follow her on Instagram for makeup selfies and a new hair 'do every few months.