Off Campus' Hannah Wells (AKA Wellsy) is responsible for a lot of things. Three of them being: raising the standards of fictional boyfriends, making me briefly consider going to an ice hockey game (for said fictional boyfriends), and convincing every devotee of the Prime TV show that the layered bob is destined to be the haircut of summer 2026. Ever since I tore through the episodes, aside from being a fully paid-up Dean Di Laurentis stan (I'm a prostitute of feelings... can you tell?), it's Hannah's flippy, layered bob that has lodged itself in my brain rent-free.
Now, while the layered bob in general is set to dominate salons this summer, for those of us with finer hair, there's a particularly clever variation worth knowing about. Enter: The tiered bob. Designed to create movement, shape and the illusion of fuller strands, it's the low-maintenance cut to have on your radar.
According to Philipp Haug, co-founder of Haug London Haus, the tiered bob works because it brings together "shape, layered and a bit of graduation through the back" in a way that creates plenty of styling possibilities. So, whether you prefer hair that's sleek and polished, a boucy blow-dry or soft, undone waves, Haug says "the versatility of this bob is really cool" – which, in haircut terms, is exactly what you want to hear before booking the salon appointment!
And not only that, but the added structure and stacked graduation of hair helps to create movement and dimension, making the style seem fuller; this works particularly well on finer hair types.
All that aside, the tiered bob's greatest selling point (IMO) is its timing – because when it comes to seasonality, it's brilliantly practical. As Philipp points out, "it's great for summer as it's easy to wear and cooler than longer lengths" – music to the ears of anyone who spent the past week with their hair permanently clipped off their neck.
I may be colour blind, but like Dean Di Laurentis, the tiered bob is giving nothing but green flags. Call it the Off Campus effect.
Tiered bob inspiration pics
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Lia Mappoura (she/her) is the Beauty Writer at Cosmopolitan UK, with over four years of experience reporting across the brand's print, social, video and digital platforms. Lia covers everything from emerging trend analysis to viral celebrity hair and makeup moments, making her an expert at spotting the season’s next big beauty look (before it takes over social media feeds).
In 2025, she was named The Rising Media Star at the Love Perfume Awards with The Perfume Shop, recognised for her outstanding digital fragrance content and for building genuine authority within the space. She is passionate about challenging outdated beauty stereotypes, championing inclusive representation in beauty, and educating readers on the trends, products and conversations shaping the industry today. Follow her on Instagram or find her on LinkedIn.
