It won’t surprise anyone to hear that the bob has secured itself as MVP of the haircut world over the last couple of years. From sharp ‘90s-inspired cuts to bouncy Italian crops, short styles have been dominating as the ultimate cool-girl cut. However, while cropped styles look undeniably chic they do come with a catch—bobs are deceptively high-maintenance. Not only does a shorter cut mean more regular trips to the salon to keep those lengths above the shoulder, but they often require a fair bit of styling prowess to keep them looking exactly right. Thankfully, though, if you’ve been craving a bob haircut but aren’t sure about the commitment then I’ve noticed another short style taking off for spring. Enter: the curtained bob.
Softer, breezier and a whole lot more effortless than the classic bob cut, the curtained bob works with your hair’s natural texture for a more low-maintenance style and pays homage to our collective love affair with Sabrina Carpenter-inspired curtain bangs. It’s easy to style, easier to grow out, and has an inherently lived-in feel that makes it the perfect choice for anyone who wants to try a bob without the traditional upkeep. Intrigued? Keep scrolling as I catch up with hair stylist Luke Hersheson to tell you everything you need to know about the curtained bob, as well as sharing my favourite inspiration shots and product recommendations to help you get the look.
What is the curtained bob?
Essentially a low-maintenance solution to a high-maintenance cut, the curtained bob is designed to enhance your hair’s natural texture by adding movement and shape with softly parted layers and softly blended curtain bangs. “What I love about this look is that it doesn’t try too hard—it feels totally effortless, but still polished” says Luke Hersheson, hair stylist and CEO of Hersheons (and the man behind this Keira Knightley curtained bob look). “The fringe isn’t too blunt or heavy, it just sort of skims the cheekbones and opens up the face in a really flattering way.” The inspiration behind the cut? “There’s a nod to that kind of cool, French-girl vibe, but in a soft way,” explains Hersheson. “It’s that slightly grown-out, undone feel that makes it so modern and wearable.”
The beauty of the curtained bob also lies in the fact that it works for all types and hair textures which, in turn, means less styling required. “If you’ve got thicker hair, I’d recommend building in a few invisible layers to take out some bulk while, for finer hair, the goal is to keep things soft without making it too wispy so it still holds a nice shape,” explains Hersheson. In all cases he suggests being honest with your stylist about how your hair generally looks and feels so they can personalise the cut to work with your hair.
How to style the curtained bob
While a lot of the shorter, more sharply-cut bobs do require investment in terms of both cuts and at-home styling time, the appeal of the curtained bob lies in its more low-maintenance nature. “The great thing about this shape is that it’s not high-maintenance and it’s meant to look relaxed and slightly lived,” says Hersheson. However, he does point out that doesn’t mean you can avoid trims entirely. “ Fringes always need a bit of love, so I’d say pop into the salon every 6–8 weeks for a tidy-up, especially to keep the curtain fringe sitting just right.”
If you do have natural waves or curls then you can likely get away with some air-dry cream with this look, but even if you don’t have a huge amount of natural texture Hersheson is clear that the curtained bob can still work for you. “You don’t need lots of natural waves to pull this look off, in fact, a bit of bend is all you need to make it work,” he explains. Hersheson suggests adding a few loose waves with a curling wand — “don’t overthink it, just twist and tap through random sections” — then mess the whole look up a bit with a texture spray or styling foam like the Zhoosh Foam. “You want to look like you’ve just rolled out of bed, but in a good way,” he says.
Curtained bob haircut ideas
(Image credit: Getty Images / Daniele Venturelli / Contributor)
Keira’s classic bob is softened with subtle micro-layers to frame the face and a tousled finish.
(Image credit: Getty Images / James Devaney / Contributor)
Sydney Sweeney’s bouncy blowout and playful curtain bangs are making me want to chop all my hair off immediately.
(Image credit: Getty Images / Dave Benett / Contributor)
Proving that the curtained bob might just be the haircut of the summer, Rochelle Humes’ easy-breezy style is giving getaway glam.
(Image credit: Getty Images / Dave Benett / Contributor)
If you’re on the fence about the chop, then Daisy Edgar Jones’ slightly longer-length bob might just be the way to go.
(Image credit: Getty Images / Michael Buckner / Contributor)
While the curtained bob might be low-maintenance, it works just as well dressed up for a special occasion as demonstrated by Laura Harrier on the red carpet.
(Image credit: Getty Images / Samir Hussein / Contributor)
Opting for a slightly shorter feathery fringe, Lucy Boynton’s ethereal bob looks so pretty.
Shop the look:
Hershesons
Almost Everything Cream
Hersheson swears by this multi-purpose cream for styling your curtained bob in between washes. “It smooths any fluff, adds a bit of shine, and helps the style settle back into shape with zero faff,” he explains.
Ghd
Creative Curl Wand (28-23mm)
If you want to add natural texture and shape to your hair then this curling wand from Ghd is one of the best on the market.
Living Proof
Full Texturizing Foam
Get that easy-breezy volume and lift with this lightweight, texturising styling foam from Living Proof.
Bumble and Bumble
Seaweed Air Dry Leave-In Conditioner
The curtained bob works so well with your natural hair texture so smooth this through towel-dried hair to add polish to natural curls and waves.