to bob or not to bob - YouLookFab Forum

Category

General

Welcome! Read about what to wear and how to wear it on the YLF Blog. Join the YLF Forum to ask specific questions or just chat about fashion and personal style. Or check out the curated list of things we love in YLF Finds.

Outfits Ensembles Trends Advice

to bob or not to bob

Kate

Veteran

I have a haircut scheduled for tomorrow afternoon, and am probably just going to get a trim. My hair right now looks like this: http://i299.photobucket.com/al.....3-10-6.jpg

Over the past decade, I've gone through a cycle of growing my hair long, cutting it short and donating it, repeat. I get trims along the way, but I don't keep it at one length for very long. So given how long it is, I've been considering cutting 10" off once again. However, I haven't been 100% happy with the short haircuts I've had before. The last one looked like this: http://photos-f.ak.fbcdn.net/p.....4_9276.jpg and this: http://photos-d.ak.fbcdn.net/p.....5_9523.jpg. The time before that (one of my senior pics from high school): http://photos-h.ak.fbcdn.net/p.....0_9688.jpg I've made progress - I no longer part my hair in the middle, I now have bangs that I think add a bit of style, and my face is a tiny bit less round

So, my question: should I cut my hair short again? And more specifically, should I go for the (inverted) bob with side bangs?

I was able to clip my hair up into a mock-bob, so here's an album of pictures to help visualize the bob: http://s299.photobucket.com/al.....the%20bob/

Ideally, my haircut won't make my neck look shorter and won't make me look younger than I already look. I would LOVE your opinions!

General

20 replies

Latest reply was from

Maya

Veteran

As someone who is currently growing out a bob, I found it a little boring after a while. It looked just fine and was easy to style, I just missed being able to play around with it and try new things. Something to consider.

I think you look great with short hair. But there are bobs and there are bobs. I used to have a very Anna Wintour bob which I really hate in retrospect. I know her hair is a constant subject of discussion but I just don't like it. I needed texture, layers, and spunk...not a triangle of hair boxing my face in.

There are so many ways to cut a bob it makes my head spin just thinking about it, so if your haircut is tomorrow, I might hold off and do some research on styles.

By the way: I actually think long hair is making you look younger, so if that's a concern to you, go short in the future.

Queen Mum

Veteran

oh, definitely go for a short cut, bob or not....
that first pic in your "bob" album is fabulous

Kate

Veteran

Maya, I've been researching for a while - I want it a bit shorter in the back than the front, with some layering for movement, and keeping my bangs similar to what they are like now. Certainly no helmet look for me. Thanks for saying the long hair is making me look younger! I've been trying to decide if going shorter will help me look more my age (almost 23), but the pictures of me with shorter hair from when I was younger haven't helped much.

Thanks Queenie!

Dusty

(website)

I think what was missing in your previous short cuts was the bangs, so I'd totally go for the bob (or at least something shorter - if you trust your stylist tell him/her that you want to donate and see what they recommend as far as cut goes.)

Maya

Veteran

I find that the 20's are a particularly ambiguous time agewise! I am going to be 26 in a few weeks but I could easily pass (and easily do pass) for 20. Even younger if I tried. Perhaps it's because there aren't really any signs of aging between 20-29 (and because I am short and small). Oh well, isn't it funny how we try our darndest to look older when we're in our 20's and look younger when we are in our 40's. I just let people assume whatever they want to about my age.

marianna

Veteran

I may be biased, but I vote bob! I'm a fan. Super easy to style too, which I love.

chewyspaghetti

Veteran

Looks adorable- go for it!

Lana

I love the mock-bob pictures! The bangs really complete the look on you. I'd go for it.

Tricia

Veteran

I'd go for it. Love the mock bob with the bangs. That's exactly what I want mine to grow into!

Theresa

(website)

Veteran

Oooh I love your mock-bob - I agree that the fringe (is that what you guys call bangs?) really makes it!

Boof

You have beautiful hair! How lovely of you to share that with others! It seems like you're feeling the bob, so I would go for it! An inverted bob with the side swept bangs is a little edgier than you past looks. Your "pretend bob" pictures look great!

Kristine

Veteran

Another idea is to lose a few inches (so it's just brushing your shoulders) and have some long (razored?) layers put in to frame your face. Right now you have pretty length, but there's not a lot of movement or fullness. This is kind of what I was picturing, a little fuller...(forgive me for pulling it from "wig salon" :D)

http://www.wigsalon.com/img/fu.....on2-rw.jpg

I'm growing my hair now and it takes a long time! So I'd give it some thought and be sure you love the idea of a bob. I think a bob would look great, but there are lots of other options in between the two also. Do you have a good stylist you trust? He or she might have some good ideas for your hair texture too!

bella

(website)

Veteran

I really the bob pictures, well done with the fake bob. This style definitely suits you. I agree with Kristine that you can also consider a more layered style. It would give your hair more movement and volume.
I am thinking something along these lines:
http://hairstyleschat.com/tag/.....s-pictures
http://hairstyleschat.com/tag/.....d-haircuts
http://images.google.com/imgre.....s%3Disch:1
This is how what my hair looks like right now so I'm biased.

MNsara

Veteran

Your faux bob pics are very cute on you. I like the idea of going at it gradually, though. You can always get more cut off at your next cut if you feel you want it still shorter.

That said, I really like Kristine's wigsalon picture for the length and layers. You would get a lot of movement with a cut like that.

Whatever you get tomorrow, enjoy

Anonymous

http://hairstyleschat.com/addi.....rcuts.html
You're so pretty and so young and delicate. I'm sorry to say this possibly horrible thing but the hair you have now is holding you WAAAAY back. You're too good for it, get rid of it. Go for something cute and spunky like you are, like the girl in this picture. You're too cute to waste your time with boring hair!! And speaking of bob's? Who wants a bob, why would anyone want a bob? A bob looks exactly the same on everyone. Get something unique!
There I've had my say and you'll probably never speak to me again! (Sorry) I'm sure you'll look gorgeous in any hairdo.

Lena

Kate, I'm no expert at all, I just wanted to chime in that long hair weighs you down a bit. You look so much more spunky and sassy with your mock bob and there's more focus on your terrific smile. And I adore your fringe/bangs and hair color.

Maya

Veteran

Yikes, that's an awful lot of hostility towards the bob San! Kari, Marianna, and I all have bobs and I don't think we look the same. Bobs can be anywhere from cheekbone length to shoulder length, layered in a variety of ways, angled, choppy or sleek, wavy or straight. There is a lot of versatility to the bob. I would not write it off so hastily.

Kari

Veteran

Just wanted to jump in to say that I've had a bob for many years - mostly due to necessity, since my hair looks flat and shapeless when it's much beyond my chin, and shorter hair styles like Angie's are cute, but require more frequent maintenance. However, I love that even though I'm staying with the same length of hair, I can still change up my bob by adding bangs, more choppy or shaggy layers, making it much shorter in the back... I sure hope it doesn't make me boring, because I feel different and fresher when my hair stylist tweaks my cut every time even if the overall length stays pretty much the same. Kate, I know I'm biased, but I'd definitely consider trying it - I think you look adorable with your shorter hair!

Kate

Veteran

Thanks for all of the feedback!!!!!! Along with the supportive comments here, my sister, mom, boyfriend, and boyfriend's mom have all given the bob a thumbs up! Tomorrow will be bob day!

For those in favor staying long and adding more layers, I've had them in the past, but my hair is so straight that they end up just making my hair look thinner than it really is instead of adding body and movement. My hair doesn't hold any kind of curl, and trying to do an "edgy" look with pieces that stick out a bit just makes my hair look dirty, crunchy, and/or greasy depending on the product I use because the pieces won't stay separate from the rest of my hair (if that makes any sense). It used to frustrate me at first, but I've accepted that my hair will be straight and I won't have too many layers.

San, thanks for the honest opinion - I'll still talk to you! I'm certainly not ready to go that short, but I'll keep it in mind for the future.

Anonymous

I'm so, so, so sorry for my rant on the bob hair style. Many of you ladies wear it with pizzaz and look beautiful. I was speaking about my own experience with telling my hairstylists over the years that I didn't want a bob and yet everytime I walked out of the salon it was indeed another bob. So I am biased, but I should not have brought other people into my personal reality, and I apologize profusely. I have met several women on this forum who have a bob hair style and are nothing short of gorgeous. It is more in the polish one puts on everyday than the hair cut one has, and you all are polished and beautiful.
Kate, your new bob looks great.
Hugs!
Sandy