“The bob continues to evolve, rather than disappear,” hairstylist and Roz founder Mara Roszak tells me with a laugh. The latest version of the cut that’s growing in popularity? The bubble bob.
“The bubble bob is essentially a classic bob with a blunt base to keep the weight with very subtle layering to soften edges,” adds Los Angeles-based Roszak. (It should be noted that the bob’s never-ending popularity is partially her doing—Roszak’s the shears behind Emma Stone’s artful grow out from shaved head to modern waved bob.)
The cut isn’t just a West Coast phenomenon (though Los Angeles denizen Selena Gomez recently joined team bubble bob)—Manhattan-based Carlyn Griscti says women are requesting it in her chair at Beauty Supply, too. “The bubble bob allows clients to create volume and shape in their hair without sacrificing density by being over layered,” Griscti tells me. “The majority of the haircut’s weight lies in the length of the hair.”
It’s that specific shape that creates the haircut witchcraft: Transforming a head of limp or thin hair into fluffy, thicker-looking volumized magic. Inspirations for the cut include Phoebe Dynevor, Beyoncé, Laura Harrier, and Gracie Abrams. Griscti adds a few vintage references to the list: Vidal Sassoon advertisements and iconic British fashion designer Mary Quant.
When it comes to the bob’s enduring popularity, Roszak has a few ideas on why it’s the most in-demand haircut year over year. “The bob haircut can be incredibly nuanced,” she says. “It speaks to a larger desire for cuts that feel intentional and directional. Clients are gravitating toward shapes that make a statement without relying on heavy styling.”
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Courtesy Cervando Maldonado
Amy Sussman