Let's face it, bobs come with a whole lot of stereotypical baggage. (They're kind of like bangs in that department.) From a rebellious statement of women's liberation to the ultimate mom look, bobs are experiencing a bit of a renaissance as they've proven to be a red-carpet mainstay of late. Which is great news, given that this short haircut is ideal for amping up thin strands, beefing up low-density tresses, and rehabbing damaged hair. But a chop is a chop and a commitment that requires some forethought, especially since no two bobs are alike.
Before breaking out the shears, we tapped stylists Gretchen Friese and Joanna Zee for their insights into the most flattering bobs for those with fine tresses, including which hair types and face shapes they complement best. While some of these examples feature hair that's on the thicker side, the styles themselves are perfectly suited for fine hair. With that in mind, we rounded up our favorite bob haircuts and styles to create fuller, denser, and more voluminous hair. Keep reading for 52 super-chic bob options for fine hair.
Meet the Expert
- Gretchen Friese is BosleyMD's trichologist and stylist. She is also a hairstylist and salon director at Foushee SalonSpa in Denver.
- Joanna Zee is a hair stylist with more than 20 years of experience in the hair industry.
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Curly Bob
Proof that a bob can work with any texture, it’s all about the curly fringe for us. Always a natural beauty, Yara Shahidi breathes new life into the cut. Pump up the texture on fine strands with a mousse, working it evenly through hair.
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Sculpted Edges
Lori Harvey is no stranger to a bob. Her chic blunt cut is enhanced by her signature, defined edges—a great way to tactfully disguise thinning temples or an uneven hairline if need be.
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Soft Volume
Consider this evidence that Chrissy Teigen is truly the reigning queen of the lob (in case you didn’t know, that’s a long bob). Fine-hair folks will want to copy her volume at the roots for that va-va-voom factor.
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Sassy Bixie
Lizzo is always switching up her look, but this bixie-bob is one of our favorite styles. Just look at those cheekbones pop! Skirting the line between pixie and bob, a bixie is ideal for those growing out a shorter crop.
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Rounded Lob
Zoe Saldana is proof you can't go wrong with a rounded lob. Her hair remains both sleek and soft with those rounded ends creating the illusion of weight at the bottom.
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Sleek Body Waves
Adding some loose waves to your bob will give it a bit of volume and texture without forgoing a sleek vibe. Cara Delevingne's contemporary bob shows waves don't always have to be stiff.
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Air-Dried Texture
Emma Chamberlain's cut is the perfect example of how cool air-dried, tousled hair can look. So go on, skip the over-styling and settle into your natural texture, whatever it may be.
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Curly Shag
Shags and wolf cuts come in all shapes and sizes, but this stunning lob length is ideal for getting the most out of natural spirals. Indya Moore's shattered layers amplify the bounce in her curls for an exceptionally luscious look.
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Brushed-Out Curls
Whether you're blessed with natural curls or gifted with the skill to create them yourself, consider teasing them out to create the illusion of greater volume and density. Cleo Wade's soft 70's vibe is all the convincing we need.
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Layered Bob
Kourtney Kardashian is in her bob era. Her icy blonde, center-parted, layered cut is definitely worth recreating.
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Feathered Bob
Farrah Fawcett, but make it a bob. From the bouncy layers to the wispy ends, Billie Eilish's bob has tons of feathered flair.
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Shullet Lob
Yes, it's a shullet—but it's also a lob. Winnie Harlow's epic 'do illustrates just how you can flaunt a pixie, shullet, and lob all in one ultra-cool style.
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Two-Tone Layers
Karen Pittman's bob is the poster child for contrast and dimension. The chic haircut features perfectly placed highlights to beef up the illusion of greater density.
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Full, Rounded Bangs
Kelly Rowland is the queen of short cuts—and this bob is yet another shining example of why. The chunky bangs and rounded ends are the perfect finishing touches for fullness.
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Honey Highlights
Put a fresh spin on your bob by playing around with color. Here, Ella Mai added a veil of warmth by dispersing honey-brown highlights throughout.
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Barely There Waves
It’s very obvious why Hailey Bieber’s chop inspired a zillion bobs. Consider her version the latest cool-girl haircut. We wouldn’t expect anything less from Mrs. Bieber.
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The Italian Bob
Ever the trendsetter, Zendaya’s Italian bob manages to look simultaneously fresh and glamorous. Take a cue from her stylist and go with big, bouncy curls, which will make even the finest hair look full and fabulous.
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Deep Bangs
When it comes to hair, Ciara can do no wrong. A deep bang draws attention to the fullness and density of hair at her crown while her loose half-up style favors volume. This style is a perfect option for those with thicker roots and thinner ends, often a struggle of rehabilitating damaged strands.
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Mod Tuck
It's safe to say, we’re partial to Rose Byrne with a blonde bob. Simple yet elegant, she has worn it both straight and textured, illustrating its versatility.
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Playful Curls
Just the right amount of texture gives this bob a touch of movement and playfulness. Go for a side part like Gemma Chan and give it lift at the roots for volume to take it up a notch. A sea salt spray will deliver the texture fine-haired types crave.
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Piecey Blunt Bob
Though she’s experimented over the years, Natalie Portman sprung into the scene as a child actor with a great blunt bob—and she’s still rocking one today. This version is piecey to perfection, but we’ve loved seeing all the variations over the years.
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Retro Curves
Don’t worry, darling—this bob reminds us of the timelessness of this length. Florence Pugh is the unofficial ambassador of cool, short haircuts and this retro spin is certainly amongst them.
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Mussed-Up Bob
A textured, tousled bob does wonders for fine hair and can also be adapted to your face shape. "Say for a round face shape, I can create a look that will make the face appear oval," comments Zee.Here, Condor's face-framing cut with a mussy finish does just that.
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Micro Bob
Sleek AF. That’s truly the only way to describe Kate Mara's minimalistic masterpiece of a bob. Even better, it’s the ideal cut for fine, straight locks.
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Tapered Bob
Jourdan Dunn's hair is always on point, and this modern take on the classic bob is no exception. Side-swept bangs are stylish, easy to maintain, and ideal for fine hair: "It also draws the eye upward toward the crown where the hair has the most density, which helps create an illusion of thicker hair," says Friese.
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Bouncy Bob
Time pretty much stood still (for beauty lovers, at least) when Nina Dobrev took an even deeper plunge and updated her cut to a shorter, choppier look. "She shows how a bob doesn't have to be just a straight style.In fact, it can also be fun, textured, and playful," comments Zee. Just one of Dobrev's many good hair days.
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Edgy Bob
Let's face it: Kristen Stewart is the queen of mastering every edgy hair look we've coveted from afar. However, this wavy take (a great option for hair craving a boost of body) presents a happy medium.
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Cub-Cut Lob
Jenna Ortega's lob-length cub cut combines the signature shattered layers of a punky shag with softer, albeit still playful, texture. Loose waves give the appearance of thicker hair, but applying a moisturizer like As I Am Doublebutter Cream ($15) also lends a hand.
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Stacked Curls
Constance Wu's crisp center part and voluminous curls are the ultimate cure-all for fine, limp strands. Even if your hair is stick-straight, you can still achieve the bouncy waves of your dreams.
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Wispy Fringe
Julianne Hough left us all awestruck when she chopped her usually long, perfectly curled hair for a short, straight bob with fringe. Friese also points out how this 'do is especially "great for fine hair because the fringe directs the eye upward to the crown where most of the hair lives."
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Voluminous Flip
Eva Marcille's chin-grazing bob offers the perfect loose texture with a bit of grit. To add volume to thinner hair, try a deep side part and flip the shortest front pieces over to one side.
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Coiffed Curls
Lily Collins shows some major glam with her perfectly coiffed curls. A simple curl or wave is a quick and easy way to breathe life into flat hair, a common side effect of fine texture.
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Crinkled Blunt Lob
Ella Mai is a vision with her crinkled blunt bob. According to Friese, in addition to their fine-haired counterparts, those with thicker tresses can also rock this look.
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Natural Waves
Need another reminder that curly hair can work a bob, too? This snapshot of supermodel Joan Smalls should do all the convincing for us. Play up your natural texture to steal her look.
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Asymmetric Bob
Do something different with your hair and opt for an asymmetrical style like Nicole Richie's bleached bob. From its platinum color to its face-framing form, this is one hairdo to add to the it-girl lookbook.
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Retro Flip
ThoughWinnie Harlow is something of a hair chameleon, the model's glossy, flippy bob will forever live on in our hearts. Plus, that fringe.
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Universal Center Part
While Hollywood is chock full of bob inspiration, we're particularly fond of this straightforward number (we mean that literally and figuratively) on Yvonne Orji. "It is a classic style that can be parted either in the middle or on the side" and flatters most face shapes, says Friese.
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Slicked-Back Volume
Hollywood is gaga over slicked-back hair. But apart from being super trendy, this style also pairs perfectly with fine tresses. After slicking hair back, simply tease up the roots like Tiffany Haddish for a burst of volume.
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Larger-Than-Life Lob
Gabrielle Union shows off the power of perfectly placed hair accessories and how "clearly textured hair works well for a bob style. It's still long but also has volume," says Zee.Friese agrees: "This cut caters to her very curly natural hair and opens up her face. The layers add wonderful volume and texture to create a balanced style."
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Sculpted Waves
Jessica Chastain's sultry-but-defined waves are at the top of our mood board. We love how the masterfully flipped ends add a flirtatious finish, while also creating volume.
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Tousled Waves
Regina King looks like royalty with this elegant wavy bob. It's clear she knows a thing or two about the benefits of hydration given her waves' softness and shine. We're betting we could find something like the Pantene Gold Series Hydrating Butter Cream ($7) in her haircare routine.
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Classic Rounded Bob
She shocked everyone when she cut inches off her hair, but Lucy Liu absolutely rocks a chic bob. "I think most people hear bob/lob and automatically picture the classic bob," like Liu's says Zee. "You can do a lot with them! No matter your hair type or texture. You just have to customize it to the client."
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Sliced Lob
We might all be after that J.Lo glow, but Jennifer Lopez's mane is equally as envy-inducing. Therefore, it came as no surprise when she launched her own haircare line.
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Lived-In Side-Part
Her eye makeup might be what gets your immediate attention, but it's the side-parted bob that really pulls Lucy Boynton's look together. This is a versatile cut that you can also wear straight, but we're into the lived-in texture that makes it feel modern.
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Pin Straight
Sometimes the best bob is the simplest bob, like this classic one on Kelly Rowland. Her blunt ends lend structure and weight to her hair. "Any cut with a blunt perimeter, such as the bob, will create the illusion of thicker hair. More sothan a cut with more texturized or feathered ends," explains Friese.
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Face-Framing Updo
With one long tendril hanging down her face, Gugu Mbatha-Raw shows us how the bob can be styled. If you're trying to maintain your wave or curl, a few spritzes of medium-hold hairspray like Bumble and Bumble Spray de Mode Flexible Hold Hairspray ($32) will get the job done.
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Side-Swept Bob
Emma Stone utilizes the length of both sides of her bob to create volume—and achieve supreme elegance in the process. Zee also explains how the right cut can work to compliment and even enhance your appearance: "I love how a bob will draw your eye right to the jawline and neck.[Emma Stone's style] doesn't just show off her facial features, but accentuates her neck and shoulders."
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Crisp Side Part
As Michelle Williams demonstrates, sometimes a side part can make your whole look. And according to Friese, if you've got fine hair that is either straight or wavy, you can easily pull off this style. "It gives the illusion of thickness on the heavy side and works well on any face shape," she adds.
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Mermaid Waves
If you thought mermaid waves were only for the long-haired amongst us, think again. Sabrina Quesada's wet-look waves are proof that short-haired sirens do exist.
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French Bob
Flaunting the ultimate French bob, Bella Hadid is making us say “oui” to this in a major way. The choppy cut is ideal for finer hair as it eliminates unnecessary weight for the ultimate volume.
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Tousled Curtain Bangs
Enid Sinclair's tousled, wavy bob looks all the more full thanks to those curtain bangs. We love how softly and effortlessly they fall around her features, framing her eyes beautifully.
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Sleek Bob With Buzzed Sides
Who said bobs had to take the traditional route? Samira Wiley's sleek bob takes inspiration from shorter mohawk fades and undercuts with its buzzed sides.