Here’s an all too familiar scene: you’re stood staring for far too long in front of a mirror questioning whether today is the day you finally hack your hair into a bob. We’ve all been there, right? By the looks of things, there’s no better time than now—as many hair salons are preparing to re-open and hairstylists have told us that this year they have seen an increased demand for shorter, choppier chops.
While the popular long bob (“lob”) has dominated over the past few years, a bob-and-bangs pairing elevates the shape one step further. The fashionable cut teeters on the line between edgy and classic, and seems to suit so many face shapes. Whether you opt for a blunt cut or a more textured style, full fringe or sweeping side parting, there are many ways to pull off this cut. Of course, committing to a fringe can be a daunting prospect for some (cue flashbacks to lockdown DIY disasters or childhood fringes), however according to hairstylists we spoke to fringes are set to be even more popular in 2021.
“Wearing masks is going to continue to be non-negotiable, and many of my regular clients have been having fringes cut in to complement them,” says Amber Swift, salon director and head technician at Charlie Miller Holy Corner. “Generally easier to maintain in the colder months, as heat can often present styling problems, fringes help to frame and define the face, so I see the logic in wanting one to complement your mask. I’d recommend going for a choppier, more relaxed cut that’s easier to replicate should a more serious lockdown be put in place again.”
Hair stylist to Alexa Chung George Northwood, predicts choppy bobs will be more popular in 2021. “As we are currently in this cycle of going in and out of lockdown, I think more people will be looking for an easy-to-maintain style,” he previously told Who What Wear. “A lot of our clients have been requesting the effortless, undone bob, which is one of my signature styles that originated from working with Alexa Chung. I think that this will continue to be popular going into 2021, as it’s quite a relaxed, messy style, meaning that when it grows out it will still look effortlessly chic.”
Nicole Pembrook, owner of International Beauty Expert, has also seen an increased demand for shorter cuts: “After surviving one lockdown, I’m finding many of my clients are looking to hone their grown-out styles and are instead looking for short, tapered cuts, either in their natural form or relaxed. These looks are timeless, chic, and easy to style. Opt for length at the crown, keeping things shorter at the sides.”
“Shoulder-length bobs will be popular: the shag, the blunt textured bob, the cheekbone-skimming bob,” confirms Rosslyn Orr, salon director and head technician at Charlie Miller South St Andrew Street. “Almost all of my clients are asking me about low-maintenance, choppy, and unstructured styles.”
So why not combine the two, and pair a fringe with a bob? If you’re going to head to the salon once they reopen, bring along some visual inspiration thanks to these images below.
Next up, hairstylists share the cuts they think will be most requested in 2021.
