The Bob

Definition: The Bob

December 26, 2007

Originating in the 1920s, the bob is a short, blunt, and classic hairstyle in which the weight of the hair falls between the ears and chin. It can be styled with or without bangs and in various lengths, but a proper bob never grows past the shoulders.

Below are photographs depicting many different modern bobs. Kate Bosworth wears a classic-length one blunt-cut bob, Christina Ricci wears a shorter, more manicured Louise Brooks bob, Rihanna dons a top-heavy pageboy bob, and Jenny McCarthy wears the ever-popular angled bob. Which contemporary bob do you favor?

30 Comments

3 years 42 weeks

love kate's bob, i think christina's is too kiddish, rihanna rocks in her bob, jenny's is average so i think that rihanna's and kate's are the best!

afdfd 3 years 52 weeks

They all look great! It's a refreshing spin on a classic look!

sugarrr 5 years 20 weeks

I love kates bob! she's too cute! I love rihannas, but everyone has that angled bob now. Its everywhere!

sweetnluvly07 5 years 20 weeks

Thank you Jesus that it never crossed my mind to cut my hair like this. Ya'll dont know how many girls here in Texas decided to cut their hair like this and now they cry that they want their long hair back! lucky me..I love my hair!

bailaoragaditana 5 years 20 weeks

Kate's is the best, I think, but I'm much more a fan of long hair...

GradGrl75 5 years 20 weeks

I just recently cut off 9 inches of my hair and dontated it to Pantene Beautiful Lengths. I got the A-line angled bob and it looks fab! I wish it looked more like Jenny's, which I think is the best out of the bunch. I will more than likely grow it out again to donate, but for now I feel sexy!

cbgmick 5 years 20 weeks

Christina's looks amazing. I don't think it makes her look childish at all... but rather sexy!

BabydollJustina 5 years 20 weeks

I have a layerd bob and bangs. And yes..it makes you look young. I'm 19 and when I was getting a pedicure the woman next to me thought I was 14 or 15 LOL. Its growing out now.

--Natalie-- 5 years 20 weeks

love rhianna ..she has an amazig face and the bob generally is so stilish..like it !

leanneluvsu 5 years 20 weeks

I'm getting sick of the Bob. Its time for a new hairdo to come into style. Plus, the Bob is hard to take care of.

jakidoodle 5 years 20 weeks

i really like kate's hair

alsoto_mulhall 5 years 20 weeks

I had long hair forever and ever and then in June I got a bob. I had Kate Bosworth's bob for a month or two. I have thick hair and the blunt cut made it flare out, so I had to layer it. Now my bob is like Jenny McCarthy with sideswept bangs. I like it much more!

mildred 5 years 20 weeks

LOVE Jenny's - she looks great!

emalina 5 years 20 weeks

As much as I love Kate Bosworth, I have to say Rihanna rocked that haircut so well this year. It was gorgeous!

veronicaraye 5 years 20 weeks

Kate's is gorgeous!

Spectra 5 years 20 weeks

I like Jenny McCarthy's bob the best. I WISH I could pull off having a bob...my hair is too curly to make it look right.

biochemlovely 5 years 20 weeks

I love Jenny's hair in the angled bob - it looks fantastic on her!

AmberHoney 5 years 20 weeks

I'm a no-go on the bobs. Don't like it on anyone - sorry.

AucuneRancune 5 years 20 weeks

I love the bob on Christina Ricci - few can pull that style off. I used to have a bob that was more like Jenny McCarthy's, but a little shorter and with sideswept bangs. Let me tell you, the maintenance for that style is no fun if you have wavy hair!

wytang627 5 years 20 weeks

Love Jennys, but I currently have Rihanna's (without the bangs) I have had long for for a long long time....got it all cut off a few months ago (and donated it to "locks of love") and loved it ever since...dont think i will growing it out anytime soon