If you've ever tucked your hair behind your ears and thought, hang on, this looks... chic, congratulations, because you were onto something...
Coined by hairstylist and AEVUM salon owner Tom Smith, the tucked bob isn't a haircut so much as a styling sleight of hand. It's a subtle repositioning of the hair that instantly makes fine or thin strands look thicker, sharper, and far more intentional.
As Tom explains in a TikTok from back in 2024 (read: this is a timeless look!), the tucked bob style is ideal "if you want to accentuate your cheekbones or widen a narrow or longer face." In other words, it's contouring, but for hair.
The genius lies in how the hair is gathered and tucked behind the ears, creating structure through the sides while leaving volume at the crown. Minimal effort, maximum payoff, AKA, the beauty holy grail.
Already got a bob? Even better! This is a styling trick, not a chop, meaning no awkward salon small talk required. According to Tom, "it's a really great trick to make the hairstyle look more groomed, and it'll increase the look of thickness and polish within the hair because of how it gathers the hair up."
If your hair tends to dramatically escape from behind your ears by midday (relatable), Tom suggests sliding in a discreet hairpin just behind the ear. Alternatively, a tiny hidden ponytail secured with an invisible elastic can help lock everything in place.
From sleek and centre-parted to softly waved or sharply tucked with a deep side part, the tucked bob is endlessly adaptable. So, consider this your green light to experiment—and your reminder that sometimes the best hair hacks are hiding in plain sight.
Ahead, seven of our favourite tucked bob moments, spotted on everyone from Dua Lipa and Hailey Bieber to even Helen Mirren. And frankly, if it's good enough for Hollywood, it's good enough for us!
Lia Mappoura (she/her) is the Beauty Writer at Cosmopolitan UK. Covering everything from viral celebrity hair and makeup news to the latest trend predictions, she’s an expert in recognising the season’s next big beauty look (before it ends up all over your social media feeds). You’ll usually find her putting TikTok’s recent beauty hacks to the Hype Test, challenging the gender-makeup binary and social stereotypes, or fangirling over the time Kourtney Kardashian viewed her Instagram Story (yes, it’s true). Find her also on LinkedIn.
