A low-maintenance bob is for anyone who always chooses ten extra minutes in bed—then acts surprised when they’re running late and their hair is staging a full-blown protest. The style is all about polish without feeling precious—and it doesn't require a standing appointment with your straightener to look chic either.
The whole point of a low-maintenance bob? Ease. A haircut that works with your natural texture, grows out gracefully, and can be air-dried without a ton of fuss. So if you value sleep over a 40-minute blow-dry (same), scroll on for six of the best low-maintenance bobs to screenshot before your next salon appointment.
Japanese bob
Sleek, softly sculpted, and usually grazing the jaw, the Japanese bob employs a cutting technique that prioritizes balance and micro-precision, allowing the shape to frame the jaw without appearing heavy. It's designed to fall perfectly into place, meaning minimal styling beyond a quick blow-dry or even an air-dry with a smoothing cream. Plus, the clean lines mean it grows out evenly, morphing into a longer, equally polished shape rather than a mushroom situation.
Collarbone bob
Commitment-phobe? The collarbone bob is for you! Sitting right at the collarbone (duh), this length is forgiving and versatile. It ties up, tucks behind ears, and as it grows, it simply becomes a lob (long bob)–no awkward in-between, no emergency trims.
Blunt bob
The blunt bob relies on its cut, not layers, to make a statement. Translation: less styling. Let it dry naturally for a cool, slightly undone edge, or straighten for glass-hair drama. Because it's one length, it grows out uniformly and keeps its shape for weeks.
French bob
Taking inspiration from the Parisian chic woman, the French bob is a little shorter, often chin-length, and is sometimes paired with a wispy fringe. It thrives on texture – I'm talking a bend, a wave, even a bit of bedhead. The charm is in its imperfection, so you can largely leave it alone and call it a day!
Bob with face-framing bangs
Fringes can be high-maintenance, but curtain bangs? They're the low-maintenance loophole for those who want shape without full commitment. The longer, softened, face-framing pieces are already parted (taking half the styling work out of it) and are cut grazing eye-length, meaning they blend seamlessly as they grow. Minimal coaxing needed!
Boho bob
Confession: The boho bob is not low-maintenance for everyone (boo). Got pin-straight tresses? You may want to pass on this one. But for those with natural texture and waves, look no further. The boho style is designed to work with your hair's bends and coils. Air-dry, scrunch, and go! It only gets better and more romantic with time.
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.
