Return of the bob: Is this the most flattering haircut of all time?
Every year the Golden Globes kicks off awards season and red carpet dressing but this year’s ceremony was unlike any other. With a mixture of classic red carpet appearances - albeit socially distanced - and stars appearing via video links, there was still plenty of style inspiration to be had.
And this was a red carpet different in other ways, too. When it comes to hair and make-up at awards ceremonies, there is usually a tried-and-tested formula that is adopted by a large portion of the talent; tumbling curls (they don’t call it ‘Hollywood waves’ for nothing) swept over one shoulder, a cat-eyed flick of eyeliner and a popping red lipstick. But this year there were more cool-girl bobs on the red carpet than ever before.
But this wasn’t any sort of ordinary bob. This was shorter and sharper, as seen on Rosamund Pike, Renee Zellweger and Margot Robbie, which looked so right for the time. Celebrity hairdresser Luke Hersheson, who tends to the tresses of Sienna Miller and Victoria Beckham, agrees.
‘This shorter bob is really a sign of the times and fitting for the moment we are all in,’ he says. ‘Culturally we are not in the age of glamour anymore. We are in this mindset of being practical, and it’s more like the cuts of the Roaring Twenties we’re seeing rather than the old 1950s post-war old Hollywood glamour.
‘Even before the pandemic we were moving towards more “functional” trends like atleisure, so it really suits our mindset right now to have a shorter, "wash-and-go" feel to your haircut.’ That is certainly true for Rosamund Pike; the actress wore a bright red ballgown by Molly Goddard for the Golden Globes, paired with chunky flat black boots.
For Hersheson, this shorter style is more modern and refreshing. Although each star would have most likely had a hairdresser on standby whether physically attending the awards ceremony or not, ‘a shorter, less “done” hairdo echoes the feeling of having a DIY hairstyle without the usual luxuries at our fingertips,’ he says. This is similar in the way that many stars, including Elle Fanning and Emma Corrin, opted for scraped-back, low maintenance hairstyles for the awards show.
So is the bob the most flattering haircut of all time? ‘Bobs just don’t go away, as there is always a variation on it every year,’ says Hersheson. ‘And there really is a bob for everyone, from Rosamund’s poker-straight hair to Renee’s soft tong that feels very easy and low maintenance. It is just as much what you do with the bob as the cut itself, so if you have a bob avoid heavy blow-dries that can immediately age the style.’ Hersheson's Almost Everything Cream, £10, is a brilliant styling product for shorter hair.
Hersheson is expecting an influx of bob requests when he reopens his London salons on April 12, with the next stage of lifting lockdown. ‘I think people are desperate for a proper hair cut again and if you’re used to a bob already, you know that they need a bit more maintenance than other styles in terms of how often you have the style cut. But I’m expecting lots of people with longer hair to want a big change come April, too.’
How to find the right bob for your face shape, by George Northwood
Longer face shape
Short, choppier bobs are great for longer face shapes as it helps to balance the face and creates width. Those with longer face shapes might prefer a style with a bit more movement.
Oval face shape
A shorter bob that’s been styled in loose waves really compliments oval face shapes, as it gives lots of texture and movement. If you’re going to go for a sleek, straight bob, this style really emphasises the face and your features, so if you have harder features you might want to give it a miss.
Round face shape
Opt for a longer, grown-out fringe with your bob, as this will frame the face nicely. The California cool girl style bob that’s been rough dried and tonged is a modern take on a bob without being too scary. If you’re not ready to commit to a short bob, this is the style for you.
