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Elle
31-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Elle
Not Sure About a Big Chop? These Long Bobs Make the Case for Going Halfway
With a growing list of celebrities unveiling chic new crops daily, and a flurry of bob trends vying for the title of 'ultimate summer hairstyle,' the itch is very real. The latest to fuel my temptation is Julianne Moore, who recently benched her longer red tresses in favor of a blunt long bob (a.k.a. the lob). And Moore isn't alone in sparking this lob renaissance; A-listers like Camila Cabello, Victoria Beckham, and Saoirse Ronan are just a few influential names embracing the timeless allure of this stylish mid-length cut recently. Ahead, discover ELLE's guide to achieving the look and all our favorite long bob muses to inspire your next haircut. A tempered-down, slightly longer iteration of the classic French bob, the lob haircut is ideal for those who want to go shorter, but not too short. '[A lob] allows the wearer time to understand the emotions that come with short styles,' says Neale Rodger, style director at STIL Salon in London. 'Not all of us are as brave as those fearless people who bound out of the salon with amazing short bobs, crops, and pixies. The lob allows you to experiment and dip your toe in before making the jump.' 'This cut is typically situated between the length of the neck and the top of the shoulder blade,' Rodger explains. 'This length creates separation in the body and also gives more longevity and ultimately more time for the wearer to get comfortable and understand the look.' He continues: 'Ultimately, the most important thing with the lob is the length. It's the main feature of this cut, and if you get this wrong, it can ruin the shape in many ways. Too short and you end up with what can look like an uncommitted bob, and too long you end up with an insipid midi length. My belief with any shape is that you have to enter it with full commitment in order to achieve the maximum results.' In terms of suitability, the long bob haircut is more flexible than the classic bob. In fact, 'it works on every person, and every face and body shape,' Rodger says. 'It's the perfect hairstyle for those who aren't quite ready to take the leap into the short hair world as it retains length around the neck and shoulders and conceals those vulnerable areas.' 'The other amazing thing about this style is it creates the illusion of more length across the body by creating vertical lines which stretch the eye and can elongate the neck, face, and overall look.' Hair type, on the other hand, matters a little more. According to Cos Sakkas, two-time British Hairdresser of the Year, a long bob is most suitable for anyone who has a medium hair density, but the cut can be tailored for finer or thicker hair types. For example, 'if your hair is fine, I would recommend cutting it above the shoulder to increase strength and thickness.' And for thicker hair, add softness with a fringe or curtain bangs, and remove some of the weight from the ends of the hair. '[Kendall Jenner's lob] is very adult and glamorous,' Rodger says. 'The flipped-out blow-dry paired with the beautiful, soft, golden tones of blonde gave her an air of old-school Hollywood glamour.' Camila Cabello's hydro-lob, courtesy of celebrity hairstylist Chris Appleton, uses layers and textured styling to tap into a grungier aesthetic. When it comes to Hailey Bieber's iconic lob, her rich, glossy chocolate hue is all the styling needed. Note how her length comes just below her shoulders to flatter her finer hair density. Singer-songwriter Gracie Abrams has walked the line between the bob and the lob for a while now, but that's the beauty of the long bob: 'it's great if you're in that in-between stage of growing out your hair,' Sakkas adds. We're obsessed with Jenna Ortega's flicked-out lob. Its bell shape frames her neck and shoulders beautifully, and her chic curtain bangs bring a softness to the look, giving it an easy, wearable quality. As Rodger puts it, 'Sydney Sweeney has by far the coolest lob of the moment—a simple, disheveled length paired with lived-in cool blonde.' Need we say more? Subtle, freehand balayage and loose waves elevate Victoria Beckham's lob instantly, adding depth and texture to an otherwise one-dimensional cut. Model and style icon Alexa Chung is endlessly cool. With her hair's length sitting just past her shoulders and the gentle tousle created by lived-in waves, the effect is equal parts cool girl and rock 'n' roll. The side-part is most definitely making a comeback. Team it with a chic, shoulder-grazing lob à la Olivia Palermo.
Elle
25-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Elle
Every Selena Gomez Hair Era, From Teen Waves to the Sleek Platinum Bob
Few can say they skipped past the awkward teen phase of questionable makeup choices and embarrassing hair moments, but Selena Gomez is one of them. Journeying through a decades worth of TV episodes, music videos, red carpet appearances, and Instagram posts is far more inspiring than it is cringe-worthy. The big-bounce curly blow-dry I'm still trying to master? She perfected it back in 2010. Her lived-in caramel balayage and wispy bangs of 2016? I'm taking it to my hairdresser this month. 'Selena has this amazing ability to switch effortlessly from one genre to another,' says Neale Rodger, style director at STIL Salon in London. 'She's mastered retro waves, sleek, center-parted lobs, ashy blondes, retro-inspired updos, supermodel lengths, full-coverage bangs…practically everything.' Though the Rare Beauty founder has never strayed far from her chocolate tresses, she's served up heaps of hairstyle inspiration since she arrived on TV screens in 2007, and each look is as covetable and copy-worthy today as it was then. Whether it's her chest-length natural curls in 2014, her blonde experiments in 2017, or the chic tousled lob she recently debuted, where better to look than the Gomez archives when your brunette lengths are in need of a facelift? Ahead, we've curated a timeline of Gomez's most iconic hair looks from her Wizards of Waverly Place days to now. Congratulations, Sel! We all know how important a crisp, understated mani is when we hear wedding bells, but she also reminded us to remember our hairdo. Her baroque bob is fairly simple: it's a one-length, blunt cut, but it's the styling that sets it apart. Blown-out and flicked-in, its name derives from the elaborate charm of early 17th-century art and architecture. 'Health and wealth signaling are two key themes in hair trends at the moment, and this luxurious yet modern look ticks both boxes very well,' shares hair forecaster Tom Smith. She turned heads with her shoulder-grazing long bob at the world premiere of the new Disney spin-off show, Wizards Beyond Waverly Place. With a singular loose wave, positioned skillfully beside her jaw to enhance and define her face shape, this lob screams elegance and sophistication. Her equestrian-style ponytail was a standout red carpet moment at the Emilia Pérez premiere, which took place at the 77th annual Cannes Film Festival. Neatly slicked and elegantly perched at the crown of her head, this sleek updo is incredibly glamorous and complimented her off-the-shoulder gown perfectly. Looking to put a new-season twist on your monochrome tresses? Feather a honey blonde hue in and around the hair. It adds subtle dimension and feels different enough when you look in the mirror, without completely transforming your look. Gomez demonstrates that perfectly here. The French-girl bob has never looked so chic. It has enough Parisian charm and sultry, just-rolled-out-of-bed texture to last a lifetime. To recreate the look at home, lift the hair away from the face and mist a texturizing spray into the roots. Or, just roll out of bed! At this 2019 meet-and-greet in California, Gomez proved that brunette balayage really can be subtle. Not a blonde strand in sight; instead, her inky roots graduate into a mousy hazel-brown, adding depth without stark demarcation. Who remembers blond Selena? Spotted out and about in London in 2017, the megastar styled her newly buttered lengths into a boho-style wave and with wispy full fringe. Brunettes, take note: incorporating a root smudge is key to masking harsh regrowth if you're considering taking the platinum plunge. The bangs that made us all want bangs. We're still obsessed with her wispy fringe and syrupy caramel balayage era. At Louis Vuitton's cruise 2016 show in California, Gomez subbed her signature chestnut hue for this near-black shade. Loosely crimped to add natural texture? Very 2015. Some may say Gomez was ahead of her time with these copper-brown highlights. Playing to her hair's natural undertone, these ultra-warm strands instantly add depth and dimension without being overwhelming. For the 2011 American Music Awards, Gomez tried an Old Hollywood curl on for size, paired with a swept side part and a finish so glossy it's literally reflecting light. Perhaps my favorite look of all. The 22nd Annual MuchMusic Video Awards in 2011 saw Gomez sport a tighter ringlet-style curl than she'd worn previously. To replicate this look, resist brushing your curls out once cooled and apply hairspray to set them in place. The highly covetable blow-dry in question. Gomez was in her element at the 2010 Wizards of Waverly Place fashion show, where her natural chocolate strands were perfectly coiffed into a voluminous, bouncy curl. Her layers serve this style well, adding body and shape to give the appearance of thicker hair. In 2009, Gomez debuted a rounded bob with a thin side-fringe and fine, golden highlights. This shapely crop would go on to become her go-to hairstyle, experimenting with various fringes, lengths, and textures to boot. The 2008 NCLR Alma Awards saw Gomez gather her glossy espresso tresses into a loose bun, fit with a swooping side-fringe. Asymmetry was all the rage in 2008: think ponytails, fringes, plaits, and buns all worn off-center. Perhaps her most iconic and internet-famous hairstyle of all? This electric blue moment for the 2007 Teen Vogue Party, of course (cue the viral interview clip). A very Alex Russo move, if you ask us.
