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Few haircuts are as distinguishable and famous as the bob. It’s the go-to cut in Hollywood when you want to make a statement and portray a real badass character, but equally timeless is the long bob — also called the lob — haircut.
This style is a classic medium-length cut, but the real appeal of the lob is its versatility. (That’s what makes it a celebrity favorite.) The length is a happy medium for anyone who doesn’t want to chop their hair too short or have it grow too long. It’s just right, like the third bowl of porridge that Goldilocks had at the three bears’ house. But really, if you’re not sure exactly what haircut trend to try at your next salon appointment, the lob is a great option. It can satisfy your need to change without being too dramatic.
Keep reading to find out more about this ever-flattering cut, and then keep scrolling for inspiration photos to bring to your next salon appointment.
Experts Featured in This Article
Dhiran Mistry is a hairstylist based in Charlotte, North Carolina.
Jennifer Korab is a celebrity hairstylist and colorist.
What Is a Lob Haircut?
A lob haircut typically hits at your collarbone or rests right on your shoulders. “As it’s growing down the neck, it’s still a bob, and then it gets to a certain point where it bounces off the shoulders in a weird flick,” Dhiran Mistry previously told PS. “As it gets past that, it will start settling again, and you’ll start entering mid-length hair space.”
There are a few different types you can choose from: a lob haircut with layers; a lob haircut with bangs; a shoulder-length lob; a curly, blunt, wavy, or choppy lob; and even a super-short lob. Proof that it works across all hair textures is how many celebrities have tried the trend for size, from Chrissy Teigen to Megan Thee Stallion, Khloé Kardashian, Simone Biles, and Ashley Benson.
“The ever-flattering lob will work on any hair type,” says Jennifer Korab. It’s short enough to be low maintenance in terms of styling but long enough to still play with. No matter what hair type or texture you have, the style can complement your hair and accentuate your facial features without being too much of a commitment like your classic bob or even a pixie.