The curly and wavy bob started as a runway trend and turned into a classic. It's short enough to show off every curl, easy to wear every day, and it works on almost every face. Here's how to find your length, style it and keep it bouncy.
Curly and wavy bob inspiration.
Why the curly and wavy bob keeps winning
It lets your texture lead. For years, bone-straight hair was the default. The curly and wavy bob does the opposite: it's built around your natural pattern, and it looks best when your curls are doing exactly what they want to do.
Shorter hair means bouncier curls. Long hair is heavy, and that weight pulls curls and waves looser. Take off a few inches and the pattern springs back up, so a bob often shows off more definition than the same hair did at shoulder length.
It's low maintenance. Less hair means shorter wash days, faster drying and less product. A good cut does most of the styling for you.
It dresses up or down. Wear it fluffed and free for the weekend, or defined and sleek on one side for an event. The shape stays chic either way.
Bob builder: how long will it really look?
Bundles and wigs are measured with the hair pulled straight, but curls shrink up once they're styled. The curlier the pattern, the shorter it looks. Pick a texture and a length to see roughly where your bob will sit.
Interactive: bob builder
Sits between the jaw and neck: a classic bob.
Shrinkage and where the hair falls vary with your height, your part and how the bob is cut. Use this as a starting point.
Find the best bob for your face shape
The curly and wavy bob is one of the most flattering cuts there is, because you can move the length and volume to balance your features. Pick your face shape.
Round face
- Best length
- Just below the chin to the neck
- Part
- Deep side part
- Put volume
- At the crown, not the cheeks
- Skip
- A chin-length bob that's widest at the cheeks
Three ways to get the look
You don't have to cut your own hair to wear a curly or wavy bob. Choose the route that fits you.
- Book a stylist who specializes in curly hair. Look at their portfolio for curly bobs specifically.
- Ask for the cut to be done dry, or at least checked dry. Curls shrink differently strand by strand, and a dry cut shows exactly where each one will land.
- Ask for internal layers. A one-length curly bob tends to puff out at the bottom into a triangle shape; layers inside the cut remove that weight so the shape stays round.
- Bring a photo of a bob in your texture, not a straight bob, so you're both picturing the same result.
TipGo a little longer than you think. Your curls will spring up once the weight is gone, and you can always take off more.
- Choose your texture: body wave for soft, loose movement, deep wave for defined S-waves, or curly for bouncy ringlets.
- For a full bob, 2 bundles in 10" to 12" plus a closure is usually enough. Add a third bundle if you like extra volume.
- A 4x4 or 5x5 closure gives you a natural-looking part with none of your own hair left out, which protects it from daily heat.
- After the install, have your stylist cut the bob into shape and shape the layers, so it looks like a haircut instead of hair that was simply sewn in short.
TipBuy a little longer than your target. Starting at 12" and cutting to shape gives a cleaner bob than starting at 8".
- Choose a 10" U-part wig in your texture. At that length it sits right in bob territory.
- Leave out a small U-shaped section of your own hair at the part, and braid the rest flat.
- Clip the wig in, then bring your leave-out over the top so your real part shows.
- Blend your leave-out to match: flexi rods, a curling wand or a twist-out for curly and wavy wigs.
TipThis is the lowest-commitment way to try a bob. No big chop, no glue, and you can take it off at night.
How to style it
Pick your starting point for a step-by-step routine.
- Cleanse with a gentle shampoo and follow with a rich conditioner. Detangle with your fingers or a wide-tooth comb while the conditioner is in.
- On soaking-wet hair, apply a leave-in and a curl cream in sections. Water helps the product spread and the curls clump together.
- Define: smooth product down each section with flat palms, then scrunch upward. For tighter curls, twirl small sections around your finger.
- Diffuse on low heat and low speed, or let it air dry. Don't touch it while it dries; that's what causes frizz.
- Once it's fully dry, scrunch out any crunch from the product and lift the roots with a pick for volume.
- Use a lightweight conditioner. Heavy products weigh waves down and pull them straight.
- On wet hair, rake through a light mousse or gel.
- Flip your head over and scrunch the hair up toward your scalp to encourage the wave.
- Diffuse on low, or wrap your hair in a cotton T-shirt for 15 to 20 minutes to soak up extra water without roughing up the waves.
- On day 2, mist with water and scrunch in a little more mousse or a sea salt spray.
- Start with dry hair and spray heat protectant all over.
- Use a 1-inch curling iron or wand. Wrap small sections around the barrel, leaving the last inch of the ends out for a modern, undone look.
- Alternate the direction of each section, one toward your face and the next away, so the waves don't clump into one big curl.
- Let the waves cool completely, then break them up gently with your fingers.
- Finish with a texturizing or sea salt spray for a tousled, beachy bob.
TipThis works on straight human hair wigs and bundles too. Keep the iron on a medium setting to protect the hair.
Keep it bouncy: day-by-day care
Curls change a little each day after wash day. Here's what to do as they do.
Day 1: hands off
Your curls are at their most defined. Leave them alone as much as you can. At night, sleep on a satin pillowcase or in a satin bonnet so they don't flatten or frizz.
The long-term habits: deep condition once a week, get a trim every 8 to 12 weeks to keep the shape and the ends healthy, and go easy on heat. If you're wearing a wig or bundles, give them extra moisture. They don't get the natural oils from your scalp, so they dry out faster than your own hair.
Try before you cut
A bob without the big chop
Not ready to cut? A 10" U-part wig gives you a curly or wavy bob in about an hour, with your own hair at the part for a natural finish. Take it off when you want your length back.
Build your own bob with bundles
Your texture, your shape
The curly and wavy bob works because it's built around the hair you have. Pick a length that flatters your face, let the curls lead, and keep them moisturized.
Not sure which texture or length to choose? Send us a message and we'll help you pick.