The 50 Best Bob Hairstyles for 2023

Dec 30, 2023

We give you 50 different versions for inspiration.

No, you aren’t imagining it—hot girls are cutting off their hair.

We’re seeing bob haircuts everywhere: Zendaya, Hailey Bieber, and Aubrey Plaza are just some of the celebrities giving us major hairspiration right now. “Anyone can rock a bob,” says Bobby Michael, co-owner of Manhattan’s Maverick House salon and Randco global educator. Yes, we talked to a hairstylist named Bobby about bobs. “It comes down to suitability. Face shape plays a major part in deciding length, and we can play with this to showcase a person’s most striking features.”

We’ve both taken the shears to our strands recently and can confirm—it’s freeing. And with so many ways to style them, there is literally a bob for everyone. “The most popular version of the bob right now is the ‘Italian bob,’” Bobby Michael adds. “Say goodbye to matte, beachy waves and hello to sophisticated bounce and shine.” Our advice before going all-in is to find photos of cuts you love and bring them to your hairstylist. Whether you want super-layered shag like Jenna Ortega, a tight single-shear like Lori Harvey, or something else—your vision will be clearly communicated.

So, whether you’re looking for inspo for a fresh new look or thinking of ways to spice up your current style, we’ve gathered our favorite bob looks from ELLE readers and celebs to assist you on your journey. Happy clipping!

Zendaya’s “Italian bob” is so romantic and windswept—move over Tom Holland, we’re coming in! Celebrity hairstylist Ursula Stephen has been credited with this chop, and you can book an appointment at her eponymous Brooklyn-based salon to get the exact same cut.

Everything Selena Gomez does makes waves—like this lob she wore on the red carpet. Styled sleek with the ends flipped in, it feels distinctly ’90s with the Rachel-like face framing pieces.

Yes, this is very wolfy bob that inspired ELLE reader Ailin Lu to chop off her hair. To get Jenna Ortega’s look, ask for a super-shaggy and piecey cut (almost like a relaxed, grown-out mullet), plus curtain bangs.

“This hair style was inspired by Jenna Ortega’s wolf cut on The Tonight Show. My incredible hairstylist Frankie cuts it so I can get away with very minimal styling. All I need to do is keep up with a nice hair conditioner after I shower.” ~ ELLE Reader, Ailin Lu, Kansas City, MO

Taylor Swift’s chin length bob, which had her signature lash-skimming bangs, was a signature look in her 1989 era. And while it’s a bit of a mystery who cuts Swift’s hair (Gareth Bromell, is that you?), that’s okay because you can easily have it, too.

“The women around me always inspire my looks. My big sister, Joya, has been rocking long bobs for a minute! She’s an OG, so she’s definitely one of the reasons I went for it.” ~ ELLE Reader, Keyaira Kelly, Brooklyn, NY

Debuted on her TikTok, Hailey Bieber’s blunt bob was cut by her longtime stylist Amanda Lee Capomaccio right before the 2023 Oscars. This isn’t the first time she’s chopped it all off (maybe craving a fresh start with all the drama that's been going on?) but since she’s a trendsetter in the beauty world, we know plenty of people will be following suit.

Hairstylist Kiyah Wright got the Old Hollywood memo for Laverne Cox’s voluminous curls on the Golden Globes red carpet. (If you want to try the look with hot rollers, DIY tips here.)

Bones and All actress Taylor Russell’s debut red carpet season made waves in all the right ways. Not only were the sartorial choices incredible (Alexander McQueen! Schiaparelli! Loads of couture vintage!), but her micro blunt bob was, too. This glossy look was created by Gigi and Bella Hadid-approved stylist Evanie Frausto.

“This January was the first time I had ever done a knotless braid bob style and you will 100 percent see me with it again in the near future. My knotless braid bob style was inspired by a cross between Coi Leray and Lori Harvey’s hairstyles to the Tom Ford show during fashion week in New York last September. I loved this style because it is super low maintenance, workout friendly, and provided the flexibility of styling. Sometimes I wore it half up-half down, in two space buns, a ponytail—the list goes on.” ~ ELLE Reader, Yemi Kolawole, Brooklyn, NY

The star of Netflix’s Squid Game, HoYeon Jung, is known for changing up her hair (Kathleen Hou reports she was known as the “model on fire” after a bit of a mixup at the salon). And while this lady-like bob at the Emmy Awards was just a faux hairstyle fete by Jenny Cho, we think she should brave the shears and go all in.

“I can’t argue with a haircut that requires little time to style and is chic with no makeup, full cat eye, errands, or evening wear. It’s one way I get to be effortless. Because my daily wardrobe goes anywhere from vintage slips and Converses to some kind of controversial all-black look.” ~ ELLE Reader, Kayla Marmillion, Austin, TX

Look familiar? That’s because this is the very haircut Reberta Charles referenced for their bob inspiration. Rihanna’s version, done by Ursula Stephen (who also cuts Zendaya’s hair!) this was a sexy change for the singer that lives on as one of her best looks.

Actress Reese Witherspoon’s sunshine-y demeanor carries on to her red carpet vibe, too. Her gorgeous blonde hair was styled with a large barrel curling iron for this 2020 red carpet.

“My bob haircut was inspired by my move from Los Angeles to Philadelphia to pursue my career in fashion. Being born and raised in Los Angeles, coming out of a 6-year relationship, and graduating college, I was ready for change (and a chop!). With this new energy unlocked, my bob has since lived many gorgeous lives (black, red with red eyebrows, and brown with bleached eyebrows).” ~ ELLE Reader, Sophia Valenzuela, Philadelphia, PA

If balletcore was a bob, it’d be this elegant cut on actress Maya Hawke. It’s rumored that the nepo baby (mom is Uma Thurman, dad is Ethan Hawke) has a pretty famous hairstylist—her mom.

The year is 2016, and actress and rapper Teyana Taylor has just wowed the world in K*nye West’s “Fade”music video—with a wet-look bob that she continues to wear on the red carpet. If you’re a fan of the wet look, shorter hair makes it easier to pull off.

The star of Barbie and former Chanel fashion girlie, Margot Robbie, rocked this slightly asymmetrical bob for a full year post-Wolf of Wall Street and we loved it.

“I literally walked into the salon and showed my hairstylist a picture of (the goat) Rihanna and told her this is exactly what I wanted. I think having a bob is just fun and stylish! It really speaks on my character of being a fashionista and having an eclectic one-of-a-kind style.” ~ ELLE Reader, Reberta Charles, Atlanta, GA

An OG adopter of the bob, actress Elizabeth Taylor rocked a few different versions during her career, all with that breezy romantic style of the ’50s.

As ELLE’s beauty editor, Margaux wants to try it all and do it all…and she does. She's not afraid to chop, slather, dye, swipe, inject, and more—and if it's worth your time and money, she’ll rave about it here.

Tasha Nicole Smith is ELLE Magazine's beauty assistant. She loves all things hair, makeup, and skincare so you’ll find her talking about it here. She enjoys Marvel movies, a good pair of heels, and lemon drop martinis and also shares a birthday with Beyoncé, which is her go to fun fact.

Danielle James is the Digital Beauty Director of ELLE.com. Previously, she was the Fashion and Beauty Director of HelloBeautiful.com and MadameNoire.com. She’s bylined for The Cut, InStyle, Allure, Business of Fashion, Nylon, Essence, Good Housekeeping, The Grio, and Huffington Post. Danielle enjoys sailing, thrifting, Japanese whiskey, Naomi Campbell’s runway walk, and Rihanna in the comment section.

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