Listen, the bob is easily one of the chicest haircuts there is. I first cut a sharp, cunty bob in college, and beyond a few attempts to grow out my hair, I've stuck with it since. It'll never go out of style, trust. But it's in the nature of a trend to evolve, and in real time, we're seeing lengths finally extend past the collarbones (you know, unless you opt for another big trend rn, the “clavi cut.” Consider it the graduation of the lob, but not necessarily entering "long hair" territory. And it’s been effectively named “the girl next door.”
Coined by hairstylist Marc Mena, this cut “is that perfect mix of sweet and sexy—it’s polished, but never trying too hard,” he says. “The kind of hair that makes people think you just wake up like that.” Hence why I actually ditched my own bob in favor of it last week with a fresh set of Great Lengths extensions (FYI, they’re the ones basically every celebrity uses, if you also require some assistance in the length department after your bob chop last year).
To get the cut, Mena says to ask for “soft, blended layers with face framing that starts around the cheekbones or lips.” Anywhere from the clavicle to the armpit is a good length here. But “the key is keeping the ends airy and fluid, nothing blunt, nothing too perfect,” Mena adds. “You want it to feel like it just falls that way naturally.”
I've always wanted long hair, but waist-length locks will never grow out of my head, nor even look natural on me, considering my hair's density. I'd rather have a few short hairs that look healthy than some long, stringy ones, you know? But I've been lusting after a longer cut for months, constantly saving inspo (some of which you'll see below). Finally, I made a move: extensions. If you have a bob or lob and are craving the inches, K-tips are undetectable, comfortable, and not damaging to your hair (although, of course, it's quite the investment). I've had mine for a week, and absolutely everyone is shocked by how natural it looks. "You look yassified, what happened?" one of my coworkers uttered at the office. She couldn't believe it when I said, "Oh, it's just the five new inches added to the ends of my hair."
It felt like a soft next step after having a bob for so long. And if your bob really does just grow out, more power to ya. Simply ask for a little bit of layering to freshen it all up for spring. If you need a few ideas before you head to the salon, keep scrolling.
Celebrity Inspiration:
Ariana Greenblatt
Remember Ariana’s bob on the cover of Cosmo? That didn’t grow out overnight! Mena also used Great Lengths extensions to add some inches to play with. (In fact, Ariana was my muse for the whole transformation above.) This wavy style is proof that you don’t have to sacrifice your mermaid-esque hair for a slightly shorter length.
Madelyn Cline
Mena also styled this cut for Madelyn Cline, featuring just a few layers to add dimension.
Keke Palmer
Best part about this cut? You get just enough hair to swing around, but it’s not so long that styling takes ages.
Demi Lovato
Long layers can help give movement and bounce, especially for blowouts like this.
Megan Thee Stallion
A mid-length style looks fantastic for curls and coils too, á la Meg’s layered cut here with lots of volume.
Hailee Steinfeld
Go ahead, add the fringe—it blends well with a long, face-framing layer too.
Chrissy Teigen
These smooth, flipped ends are exactly what the “girl next door” haircut is about.
Scarlett Johansson
The “girl next door” doesn’t have to be blown out with fluffy waves. This cut looks equally fresh on soft, natural waves (whether this is how you air dry or if you add some texture with a hair straightener).
Meet the expert:
Marc Mena is a celebrity hairstylist who is known for his work with Madelyn Cline, Ariana Greenblatt, Madelaine Petsch, Mindy Kaling, and more. He is also a Great Lengths ambassador
Why trust Cosmopolitan?
Beth Gillette is the beauty editor at Cosmopolitan with more than seven years of experience researching, writing, and editing hair stories.
Beth Gillette is the beauty editor at Cosmopolitan, where she covers skincare, makeup, hair, nails, and more across digital and print. She can generally be found in bright eyeshadow furiously typing her latest feature or hemming and hawing about a new product you "have to try." Prior to Cosmopolitan, she wrote and edited beauty content as an Editor at The Everygirl for four years. Follow her on Instagram for makeup selfies and a new hair 'do every few months.
