- There’s a bob for everyone: From Scandi bobs to heart-throb bobs, the cut is totally customizable—just ask hairstylist Anne Veck, who says you can tailor a bob to any face shape.
- But it is a lifestyle shift: Bobs look effortless, but they require commitment—from regular trims to daily zhuzhing.
- If you’re thinking about the chop, read this first: Here are the signs a bob will or won’t work for your hair, routine, and vibe.
You’ve seen all of our inspiration articles on the best bob hair trends like the boho bob, Scandi bob , and heart-throb bob , and now you're here: contemplating whether you're ready for a short haircut.
At Cosmo, we refuse to believe anyone “can’t pull off” a bob. As hairstylist Anne Veck puts it, “The bob is a great style because it’s highly adaptable to most face shapes. You can tailor it perfectly by playing with the length or deciding on a dramatic micro fringe or a soft, side sweep.” In other words, there’s a bob for everyone.
But cutting a bob isn’t just getting a new haircut—it’s a full-on lifestyle shift. As a proud bob-haver myself, I ran through all the considerations before chopping my hair to its shortest length ever last year—zero regrets, but definitely lots to think about. So… how do you know if you’re actually ready for one? Let’s get into it.
Signs that a bob will work for you
You have medium-textured straight or wavy hair
Texture plays a huge part in the type of bob that will suit you. For instance, thinner hair will look great with a blunt cut and thick hair looks best with a graduated style to take some of the weight out of the hair. But if you have medium thickness, straight or wavy hair, a bob is a no-brainer, as almost any cut will work for you with little daily styling needed for that effortless, cool girl vibe.
You don’t mind high-maintenance styles
No matter your hair thickness, texture, or density, bobs require a lot more upkeep than longer styles. Bob maintenance is nothing to sniff at when you have to make sure you have a trim in the diary every few months. And if your hair grows quicker than normal, then it might need to be more frequent than that. Can you afford this kind of upkeep? It’s definitely something to factor into your beauty budget at least quarterly if you do have the snip.
You like to make a statement
Bobs are a statement style and if you go from really long to really short, you will get comments and questions about your new look. As someone who thrives on people complimenting my hair, I loved this, but if you don't, you might want to do a gradual cut, rather than a big chop to stop the inevitable attention your new look will bring.
You want to enhance your facial structure
Bobs are an excellent way to do some gentle facial contouring without booking in with an aesthetics clinic. Working with your stylist, you can cut and layer your bob to emphasize the contours of your face. Styles like the bottleneck bob are built to flatter when gently waved and suit everyone.
Signs that a bob may not be best for you:
You have a really active lifestyle
Something I didn’t think about enough was the constant styling I would be doing after working out, as it’s harder to hide hair that needs a wash when your hair is shorter. Also, you need to think about how long your hair needs to be to be tied back. It sounds small, but dozens of hair ties later, you will be cursing the day you sat in that salon.
You live in a super-humid climate
If your hair is highly porous (curly-haired gals and bleached peeps, I’m talking to you), it’s not impossible to have a bob; it’ll just take a few more products to keep it looking fresh when it's sticky and humid outside. I mean, I live in drizzly London and have a bob, so it is doable, but there have been weeks where I have to wear my hair in a low bun for the majority of the days to keep my strands tucked away from the elements.
You are really time-crunched
Low maintenance? We don’t know her here in bob-land. Yes, it’s less laborious to style than, say, bangs, but any bob (no matter your hair texture) will require at least a few minutes each morning to zhuzh, so you have to factor this into your getting-ready time.
Keeks Reid is the Beauty Director at Cosmopolitan UK. While she loves all things beauty, Keeks is a hair fanatic through and through. She started her career in beauty journalism in 2013 as editorial assistant at Blackhair and Hair magazines working her way to Acting Editor of Blackhair magazine at 23 years old. She spent much of her career working in trade hairdressing media at Hairdressers Journal, Salon International and the British Hairdressing Awards. Which is why she is a regular contributor to Cosmo's Curl Up franchise. Now, alongside her Cosmo work, she presents, creates content on social media and works with a range of beauty companies; from magazines and websites to beauty brands and salons.
