Thinking of breaking up with your long layers? (And your bf... but that's a story for a different day...) Enter: The shaggy bob, a retro-meets-modern haircut that's effortlessly cool and full of attitude.
But the questions on everyone's lips? What exactly makes a bob shaggy? How is the 'do best styled? And how can you revamp the 1970s cut into a fresh 2025 take? Well, with the expertise of professional hairstylist Chlöe Swift, your dream hairstyle and all there is to achieving it is just a scroll away. Snip snip!
What is a shaggy bob?
As its namesake would suggest, a shaggy bob is the combination of two iconic styles: the classic bob and the '70s shag. "It's got the blunt shape of a bob but with all the choppy, textured layers that give it that cool, undone edge," hairstylist Chlöe Swift says.
"The shag part of the look is all about layers, movement, and texture," says Chlöe. "It usually features shorter layers around the crown, often paired with a fringe, working really well with natural wavy textures." So, paired with the shorter lengths of a bob makes for a shaggy bob.
Stevie Nicks and Jane Fonda of the 70s, and even Meg Ryan circa 2000, we're coming for your rock and roll hair.
Who is the shaggy bob best suited to?
Good news! According to Chlöe, the shaggy bob is super adaptable. "It suits most face shapes – you may just need to tweak the length of the layers and overall length. For example, round faces would need longer face-framing layers and a longer overall length (past the jawline) to help elongate the face.
"Whereas heart-shaped faces could opt for a heavier fringe as they have more space on the forehead, and could go for a shorter overall length to highlight a smaller jawline."
Hair type-wise, the shaggy bob is great for those with medium to thicker hair types, particularly if you have natural texture or curls. Chlöe says that "the layers of the cut enhance that natural texture and take away some weight."
That said, fine hair types can wear it too, "especially if it's more volume and shape you're looking for," Chlöe says. But just remember to keep the ends blunt for a fuller look.
How to maintain the shaggy bob:
The shaggy bob is a style that's meant to look lived in. Think: 'I woke up like this', meaning that on a day-to-day basis, it's relatively low-maintenance. That is "if you’re happy with that tousled, imperfect finish," Chlöe emphasises.
"Regular trims are key to keep the layers fresh and avoid the shape going flat," Chlöe counters, adding that a salon appointment every six to ten weeks may be necessary, depending on your preferred length.
How to style the shaggy bob:
As mentioned, the styling of a shaggy bob depends on your hair's natural texture—the wavier, the better. But Chlöe says that her go-to advice is: enhance what you’ve already got. "If you've got waves or curls, use a diffuser with a bit of mousse or curl cream to bring them out. I love to use Oribe Matte Waves Texture Lotion before diffusing my hair.
"If your hair is more on the straighter side, then a sea salt spray (like Maria Nila Salty Mist) or a dry texturising spray (like Living Proof's dry volume & texturising spray) can give your hair that gritty, undone texture it needs."
Shaggy bob inspo:
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.
