It’s minimizing to call what’s happening with bobs this year a trend. I’d sooner deem it a complete cultural takeover. I’m faced with cunty fresh cuts on my commute, in prestige television shows, at my grocery store, and swaying sophisticatedly in workout classes. It feels like every day on my Instagram feed, there’s a new bob reveal, treated with the reverence and celebration of a pregnancy or engagement announcement. And I participate in the comment section revelry wholeheartedly. Because in every form they take, bobs devour, and I’ve become 100 percent convinced this cut is the chicest and most practical possible way to wear your hair.
“It’s clean and intentional, and it can completely transform the way someone carries themselves,” says Kazu Katahira, a celebrity hairstylist with Forward Artists in New York, NY. “And what I love most is how customizable it is. No two bobs are the same when you are doing it right. You can play with the length, the angle, the texture, and it becomes this little signature for the person wearing it.”
I witnessed this wide variety of bob possibilities during Cosmo’s photo shoot, dedicated to documenting the hairstyle’s takeover. We invited 30 women with New York City’s greatest bobs to come in, show them off, and share what makes the bob lifestyle a preferred one. From the French bobs to the graduated ones, these 30 New Yorkers have all braved the big chop and are better off for it. They’re also proof that there’s no one fixed way to rock this haircut. So ahead, find some inspiration and the reference pictures you’ll be showing your hairstylist—along with guidance from the greats on how to live your best bobbed life.
Lumia Nocito, 26
Occupation: Artist/DJ
Social handle: @lumia.nocito
Hair type: Just found out I’m 2B.
The most unexpected thing about having a bob? How many people remember me from DJ sets as “the one with the bob.”
Best bob styling tip: Let it live.
Joan Adler, 66
Occupation: Attorney + Mom!!! [Editor’s note: Mom to Cosmo’s creative director, Samantha Adler]
Hair type: Wavy/curly
The ultimate famous bob inspiration: Meg Ryan
Best bob styling tip: Pray for low humidity and the mercy of the hair gods.
Ava Noble, 24
Occupation: Dancer/actor
Social handle: @AvaNoble
Describe your bob without using the word bob: Chic as fu*k
The most unexpected thing about having a bob: I cut my hair to a bob the day after a breakup….Happy to report that single men love a bob. The pickup lines always stem from the bob. Life hack for a single girl in NYC.
Best bob styling tip: Bob blindness is real—you will keep going shorter until your friends tell you to stop. Don’t let the trim get out of control! Shout-out Li at Cutler Soho.
Madison Johnston, 29
Occupation: Model/artist
Social handle: @madisonjohnston
Hair type: Curly (but she has a mind of her own...)
Ultimate famous bob inspo: Nadia Lee Cohen (I want to be her)
The most unexpected thing about having a bob: You can look like a million different things at once. Young, old, cute, hot, or sometimes a little like Lord Farquaad.
Isabella Lalonde, 29
Occupation: Artist and founder of Beepy Bella
Social handle: @isabellelalonde
Hair type: Curly
Describe your bob without using the word bob: Pungent
Ultimate famous bob inspo: Me at 5 years old, Edna from The Incredibles, and Kiki’s Delivery Service.
Maddie Young, 27
Occupation: VIP Relations at Gucci
Social handle: @madelisey
Hair type: Cantonese
Describe your bob without using the word bob: F*ckass
The most unexpected thing about having a bob: Feeling the breeze on your neck.
Jade Litaker, 29
Occupation: Broadway Actor/Singer
Social handle: @jadeamberlitaker
Hair type: 4 A/B
Ultimate famous bob inspo: I think Rihanna was the first with a bob who made me really want one.
Best bob styling tip: Having locs and a bob?! Honestly, water. Just spraying some water makes all the difference.
Ambe J. Williams, 37
Occupation: Photographer
Social handle: @ambejphotography
Hair type: Kinky curly 4 A/B
Ultimate famous bob inspo: Velma Kelly
Best bob styling tip: For the curly girls—the Doux mousse, water, and a dream!
Terry Hu, 29
Occupation: Actor
Social handle: @huisterry
Hair type: 1.5 B
Describe your bob without using the word bob: Wolf cut…
Ultimate famous bob inspo: Traditional bob → Rose Byrne in US Weekly “Celebs w/ bob hairstyles”...My cut bob→ Hyunjin from Stray Kids
Chloe Troast, 28
Occupation: Comedian
Social handle: @chloe_troast
Hair type: Brown :(
Ultimate famous bob inspo: Will Byers on season 1 of Stranger Things
The most unexpected thing about having a bob: Getting a cold neck. Also I have a long neck, so sometimes my silhouette looks like a penis/mushroom.
Ella Snyder, 26
Occupation: Model, writer, superstar extraordinaire
Social handle: @ellasnyder
Hair type: Fine and wavy
Ultimate famous bob inspo: Anna Wintour, duh, but also Gracie Abrams <3
Best bob styling tip: See Jaz Shepard in NYC for the best cut of your life.
Jessie Hooker-Bailey, 37
Occupation: Actor/educator
Social handle: @jessiehookerbailey
Hair type: Curly
Ultimate famous bob inspo: The curly Whitney Houston bob
Best bob styling tip: Moisturize!!
Julia Knitel, 32
Occupation: Actor
Social handle(s): @JuliaKnitel
Hair type: Pretty wavy
Ultimate famous bob inspo: Diane Keaton…obvi
Best bob maintenance/styling tip: Just…don’t do anything. A great haircut will do so much of the work when it’s short!!
Kelsey Healey, 24
Occupation: Model/Actor/DJ
Social handle: @KelseyHealey
Hair type: Thick, semi-wave
The most unexpected thing about having a bob: How much more confident I feel!
Best bob styling tip: I never used much product…until I had a bob…or else it just feels like a helmet.
Rachel Seville Tashjian Wise, 37
Occupation: Fashion critic, The Washington Post
Social handle: @theprophetpizza
Hair type: Insanely thick and bleached
Describe your bob without using the word bob: Crisp
Ultimate famous bob inspo: Bernice from F. Scott Fitzgerald’s “Bernice Bobs Her Hair”
Danielle Mareka, 27
Occupation: Model/beauty influencer
Social handle: @daniellemareka
Hair type: 4C
Describe your bob without using the word bob: Eclectic
Best bob maintenance/styling tip: Mini flatiron!! Best life hack.
Chloe King, 38
Occupation: Director, Fashion & Lifestyle in retail
Social handle: @chloe4dayz
Hair type: Linguine straight
Ultimate famous bob inspo: The Supremes
The most unexpected thing about having a bob: The bob community
Best bob styling tip: Get as blunt a cut as you can bear! And Oribe Dry Texturizing Spray
Jean Stone, 75
Occupation: Retired from the federal government, now on IG, volunteer for NY Senior Medicare Patrol
Social handle: @idiosyncraticfashionistas
Hair type: 1B/1C
Describe your bob without using the word bob: Signature look—low-maintenance between haircuts.
The most unexpected thing about having a bob: I can never start a life of crime—the police would find me so fast!
Stephany Faublas, 35
Occupation: Media personality/creator
Social handle: @stehfuhnee_
Hair type: 4C, heat-treated
Describe your bob without using the word bob: The essence of my mother.
Best bob styling tip: Bobs look best when they’re a little old. Dry shampoo is your best friend.
Ella Emhoff, 26
Occupation: Textile artist, content creator
Social handles: @ellaemhoff, Substack: softcraftsclub
Hair type: 3B. Used to be 3A, but your hair texture changes every seven years.
Ultimate famous bob inspo: Ilana Glazer. Great bob.
Best bob styling tip: Mousse will make it super voluminous. Oil is great in the summer for a nice, messy look.
Mackenzie Thomas, 26
Occupation: Writer
Social handle: @mackenzie
Hair type: Thin as fuck. Light as air. I blame my dad.
Describe your bob without using the word bob: Evocative
Best bob styling tip: Your hair is gonna look like shit for a whole calendar year, but that’s actually really important for your bob education.
Sierra Rena, 23
Occupation: Fashion stylist and content creator
Social handle: @sierrarenas
Hair type: 3B/3C
Ultimate famous bob inspo: Edna Mode
Best bob styling tip: Don’t be afraid to use heat.
Merlot Sanders, 30
Occupation: Musician/model
Social handle: @yung.merlot
Hair type: Unnatural, my hair has been through it all.
Ultimate famous bob inspo: Hari Nef
Best bob styling tip: A Dyson, unfortunately ($$$)
Josephine Dupont
Occupation: Model
Social handle: @josephine__dupont
Hair type: Curly, but I won’t blow it out.
Describe your bob without using the word bob: Cunty.
Ultimate famous bob inspo: Linda/Shalome/Whitney
Best bob styling tip: Keep the scissors in your purse.
Clara Perlmutter, 26
Occupation: Content creator
Social handle: @tinyjewishgirl
Hair type: 3A if I’m lazy; 3B if I’m taking care of myself
Describe your bob without using the word bob: What season 5 Carrie Bradshaw should’ve given.
Ultimate famous bob inspo: Not season 5 Carrie Bradshaw. TBH, my 19-year-old self and, lowkey, Owen Wilson as Hansel but without the bangs.
Maya Allen, 32
Occupation: Beauty editor and expert
Social handle: @mayaalenaa
Hair type: Naturally 4C
Describe your bob without using the word bob: A power cut. It’s like a power suit for my hair. It makes me feel fierce and effortlessly chic without ever having to try too hard.
Best bob styling tip: Dry shampoo. Imperfect is perfect. Embrace the texture—it just works!
Cyrenae Tademy, 26
Occupation: Stylist
Social handle: @chanelncrocs
Hair type: Curly
Describe your bob without using the word bob: Cunt.
The most unexpected thing about having a bob: The less hair I have, the more powerful I feel.
Sasha Arijanto, 33
Occupation: Artist
Social handle: @sashaarijanto
Hair type: Jew-Asian
Describe your bob without using the word bob: Comic book character.
The most unexpected thing about having a bob: Number one “They always come back” catalyst. Also, it’s the best haircut if you hate washing your hair.
Paige Viti, 32
Occupation: Photo Director, Vogue
Social handle: @pkv15
Hair type: Short, blonde, cut straight (but I’m not)
Ultimate famous bob inspo: Probably Leo [DiCaprio]? Or River [Phoenix].
Best bob styling tip: Starlina, my hairstylist
Nancy Chidi, 26
Occupation: Actor and filmmaker
Social handle: @vournalist
Describe your bob without using the word bob: French
Ultimate famous bob inspo: Amélie from Amélie
Creative director: Samantha Adler. Visual director: Scott Lacey. Senior visual editor: Emily Adar. Senior fashion editor: Jessica Neises. Motion graphics designer: Ying Chen.
Annabel Iwegbue is a culture editor at Cosmopolitan, where she primarily covers pop culture, lifestyle, relationships, and digital trends. She previously wrote for Harper's Bazaar, The Knockturnal, and Black Film. She's originally from Charleston, South Carolina, and is currently based in Brooklyn, New York. She holds a B.A. in Journalism and Cinema Studies from New York University. You can check out some of Annabel’s work here and also find her on Instagram and Twitter.
