These 38 Bob Haircuts for Mature Women Will Inspire You to Chop It All Off

Reviewed by Sky Kim

Bobs are back, baby! Though, if you ask us, the elegant sophistication of a French bob or sassy nature of an Italian bob have—and will—never go out of style. That said, the short, sculpted lengths aren't relegated only to a solely international crowd. And there's certainly no age requirement to rocking one. The bob can take on many different vibes—so you're sure to find a great match for your personality and lifestyle. "There are many variations on bobs, which are always in style and can look great on all face shapes," says Stephen Thomas, hairstylist at Oscar Blandi Salon in New York City.

We asked Thomas and hairstylist Cher'e Nichole for their favorite bob haircuts and styling tips for older women. Ahead, 38 variations of the bob hairstyle on different textures and lengths to inspire your next haircut.

Meet the Expert

• Stephen Thomas is a New York-based hairstylist at Oscar Blandi Salon.

• Cher'e Nichole is a Portland, Oregon–based hairstylist, healthy hair expert, and certified stylist for Mayvenn, an all-inclusive virtual hair salon.

Natural Bob

A look like actor Viola Davis's is all about embracing your natural texture. Use a combination of curl cream, hair oil, and styling gel to define and enhance your curl pattern.

Transitional Lob

If you currently have longer hair and are looking to tip-toe into the short hair trend, start with a lob that hits just above or below your shoulders. Longer than a traditional bob cut, the aptly named "lob" haircut is a favorite for its versatility. Long enough to pull back if needed, yet short enough to classify as short, the mid-length lob means you won't be tied down to any single style. Hair this length looks just as good when you let it air-dry naturally (like model Lauren Hutton's style shown here) as when you style it with a blow-dryer or flat iron.

Sleek, Layered Bob

This sleek, rounded bob with a few minimal layers proves that a simple hairstyle can still be bold and not at all boring, as evidenced by actor Glenn Close. "For this look, blunt cuts make your hair appear fuller," says Nichole. "One side is tucked behind her ear and wispy. This allows her face to be seen but still adds a little mystery with the long side bang."

Byrdie Tip

For a finish this smooth, straight, and shiny, use ultra-thin sections of hair when flat-ironing it to straighten each strand evenly. Then, warm a little bit of oil between your palms and run it through the ends of your hair to finish the look.

Part Pixie, Part Bob

Not quite a pixie cut but not a bob, this hybrid hairstyle has all the edginess of a super-short crop but with a little more softness. If your hair has a natural wave, scrunch it to style. If you have straighter hair, use a styling wand to give your strands a bend like Tilda Swinton's.

Blown-Out Layered Bob

We're all about a blown-out bob that shows off layers. "Shorter cuts can sometimes take more effort to maintain and style but can also look very chic," notes Thomas. Create piece-y texture with a wax pomade for a more lived-in look, or wear it freshly blown out with face-framing pieces for a softer finish like Alfre Woodard.

Classic Bob

A classic bob such as fashion designer Eileen Fisher's is perfect for creating volume in finer hair textures that get easily weighed down by longer lengths. Keep in mind that to maintain the shape of a classic bob, you'll likely need trims every six to eight weeks. If you're not looking to commit much time or money to your hair routine, you might want to consider a more textured look that grows out nicely.

Cool Shag

Possibly the coolest bob style to ever exist, the shaggy bob with choppy layers has a rocker vibe to it—which is why it's perfect for those who find the classic bob a bit too simple. Tina Turner's version is loose but still looks sophisticated.

A-Line Bob

Yolanda Hadid's cut is slightly shorter in the back than the front, which allows for great movement and an angle that can be seen from the side. Whether you know it as the graduated bob, inverted bob, or A-line bob, this asymmetrical take on the classic cut has a youthful, edgy vibe. To give your hair body and height at the crown, ask your stylist for stacks of layers that are shorter in the back and longer in the front.

Classic Bob With Blunt Bangs

Anna Wintour's iconic blunt bob with matching blunt bangs is a bold look that proves the short crop is anything but boring. The length of a classic bob tends to be one to two inches below the chin but work with your stylist to find the length that suits your features best. The key here is reducing flyaways and ensuring plenty of volume and shape throughout the style.

Rounded Bob

Not all bobs have to have layers or be blunt—sometimes, something in between can take your look to the next level. Try a simple cut with rounded body, like Loretta Devine. It's an excellent way to put the focus on your hair color and shine.

Middle-Part Bob

Angela Bassett's sleek, middle-parted bob is proof that the look can be incredibly sophisticated. Nichole says it's "a great low-maintenance style that accentuates and elongates the jawbone and neck." Better yet, it's easy to achieve by using "a 1.5-inch flatiron, some serum, and some shine spray."

Bob With Subtle Layers

If you have straight hair, consider this bob. Although it might appear to be cut all one length, the subtle layering throughout and a slightly shorter length in the back keep the finished look from feeling heavy and weighed down.

A Sleek, Slicked Bob

The ultimate cool-girl style, a sleek wet look—seen here on model Maye Musk—can be pulled off by any hair type and at any age. If your bob is too short to wear in an updo, but you'd like your hair pulled back to keep the focus on your outfit, this is one super-cool way to achieve that.

Curly Bob

Who says curly bobs can't have bangs? Have your stylist break up the length of your cut with a few shorter curls around your eyes to frame your face, à la Gayle King.

Bob With Sideswept Bangs

Iman's sleek, stylish bob feels both trendy and timeless. The shape perfectly frames Iman's face and brings extra attention to her eyes with her side-swept bangs.

Asymmetric Bob

Shorter on one side, longer on the other—the angle of this haircut (seen on fashion icon Linda Fargo) adds interest to the otherwise simple style. Though it would look equally great worn wavy and textured, the straight edge emphasizes the asymmetry in the best way.

Curly Bixie

If you're a pixie-cut devotee, growing out your hair might seem intimidating. But as Halle Berry—the most iconic pixie wearer of the 1990s and 2000s—proves here, a bixie is a great way to add a little length without massively upping the time it takes to get ready. The cross between a pixie and a bob, the style looks beautiful on any hair texture.

Smooth Bob

Lots of layers don't necessarily make it a choppy haircut—take this smooth, voluminous bob on Mary Berry, for instance. Having your stylist cut in many layers adds volume to thinner hair that might lay a little flat. To blow-dry a sleek lob, start by using a volumizing shampoo and mousse if you have fine hair. Use a large paddle brush rather than a rounded brush to get the ends to curl under.

Sleek Bob With Blunt Bangs

Model Naomi Campbell's bob is a bit on the lob side, but the cut with blunt bangs frames her face and requires little in the way of styling—a smoothing cream and light misting of hairspray should do the trick.

Tousled Bob

Michelle Obama's hair works for any occasion, from a day at the office to date night. A wide barrel curling iron and a light mist of hairspray will help to achieve this look. For a beachier take, leave the ends of your hair out of the iron when curling.

Bouncy Blowout Lob

We can't get enough of the volume in Meredith Vieira's classic lob. (Or that beautiful root smudging.) To get the look, blow-dry your hair with a round brush or opt for velcro rollers.

Side-Parted Bob

Regina King's cropped cut is low maintenance with plenty of styling options. The side part makes it all the more sleek when blown out.

Messy Bob

J.Lo's messy bob can be dressed up or dressed down, but one product is crucial: texture spray. We love Oribe Dry Texturizing Spray ($52) for a voluminous yet natural-looking finish when going for the mussed-up look.

Art Deco Bob

Helen Mirren's perfectly coiffed, classic curly bob is the epitome of elegance, and a favorite style we see often from the actor.

Sleek Undercut Bob

With a classic French bob on one side and an edgy undercut on the other, this Tamron Hall hairstyle proves that provocative and sophisticated can go hand in hand.

Choppy Bob

If you're going for an effortlessly chic look, turn to Cate Blanchett's choppy and wavy bob. Here, she keeps it short (well above the shoulders) for a style that can be achieved with product on damp hair or a few minutes with the curling iron. Either way, we're here for it.

Soft Glam Bob

While a sleek, blunt bob on natural hair can be tricky, as Lynn Whitfield proves, it can be totally worth it. Be sure to wrap your hair at night, and use plenty of heat protectant on silk press days.

Silver Ringlet Bob

Rita Moreno's gray ringlets have an almost ombré effect, giving the hairstyle tons of dimension. To keep your silver strands striking (and shiny), consider a hair glaze treatment.

Finger Waved Bob

Finger waves and bobs might be the two most powerful Jazz Age beauty signifiers. If you're looking to channel your inner Josephine Baker, be sure to stock up on mousse. We like the Curl Enhancing Mousse from Design Essentials ($17).

Sultry Beach Wave Bob

To get this naturally wavy and touseled bob, loosely wrap hair around a 1.5- to 2-inch curling iron. The slight bend will bring out the dimension of highlighted strands, as seen here on Jessica Lange.

Sleek Voluminous Bob

A sleek bob needn't always be so slick. Alina Cho's take on soft volume elevates the blunt bob to new hights.

Windswept Bob

Effortless waves truly shine at this length, just take Michelle Satter's word for it. The undone texture and airy, windswept volume would have otherwise been weighed down by longer tresses.

Bob-Length Locs

Whoopi Goldberg is proof that locs look amazing at every age, stage, and length. We especially love how the natural silver roots provide extra dimension to the style.

Feathered Bob

Jane Fonda has been known to rock many a short hair style, but this feathered bob might rank highest of them all. The graduated, wispy layers add volume and frame the face so beautifully without weighing down her features.

Glam Bob

Leave it to Vivica A. Fox to turn up the heat on a bob. Those va-va-voom curls and ultra-deep side part came to serve.

Teased Bob

Carole Bayer Sager's bob is plentiful in layers and shape. The short layers are shaped and styled to maintain a rounded appearance, concentrating most of the volume toward the top for added height.

Sculpted Bob

Structure is the name of the game when it comes to Patti LaBelle's undulated 'do. Maximum hold is going to be your best friend in recreating this elegant style, so be sure to build with mousse and set with hairspray.

Sexy Asymmetric Bob

No one could ever call Patti LaBelle a one-trick pony. This voluminous asymmetric bob proves the singer and actor has style to spare.

Frequently Asked Questions

Should bob haircuts be layered?

A bob with layers can give the illusion of fuller, more voluminous hair. Be careful of overdoing it if your hair leans fine or thin as this may accentuate the lack of density.

What's the difference between a regular bob and an inverted bob?

A bob refers to a haircut that doesn't extend past chin-length while an inverted bob features stacked layers in the back and more curvy lines as you get to the front.

What face shape suits a bob?

Bobs suit a variety of face shapes, but the style specifically flatters those with an oval face shape.

Up Next: 30 Long Bob Haircuts We Can't Stop Screenshotting

Read the original article on Byrdie.