Hair trends come, hair trends go, but this year, one hairstyle has dominated the world over: the bob. This “bob renaissance,” if you would, spans many sub-genres of the cut. There was the Italian bob that first bubbled up in the beginning of the year. Then came the bedhead bob, the flippy “malt shop” bob, the French bob, the bubble bob, and many more.
All these short hairstyles found their way to the heads of the coolest It Girls. Zendaya hopped on the trend, as did Megan Fox, Cara Delevigne, Emma Stone, Kim Kardashian, and Doja Cat. Quite literally everyone tried out some variation of the look at some point of 2023.
However, at the tail-end of the year, a new It haircut may be emerging, and it’s a little longer than what we’ve been seeing. Enter: the stretched lob. Read on for everything you need to know.
The Trend
Lobs—otherwise known as long bobs—are obviously nothing new. As long as there have been bobs, there have been lobs, since the only way to break out of bob status is to grow it out. The cut has also been a popular choice since it’s easier to style than an ultra-short bob, plus is a less-initmidating way to transition to shorter hair.
However, nowadays, the lob isn’t a transitional look—it is the look. And according to celebrity hairstylist and Creative Director of Evo Hair, Tom Smith, the stretched lob is the newest take on the classic style.
In the video, Smith calls the look a “skinny lob,” which he describes as “really head-hugging, stretched out—almost a long hair cut.” Expanding that, it’s “pretty much as long as a bob can get before it turns into a long shape.”
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Smith tells Byrdie that “the beauty of a long bob has been getting steadily more popular throughout this year, and the final evolution of this shape for 2023 is a slimmer shape, which is undeniably a lob but with straighter sides and softer ends.”
He adds that what makes this look distinct is that it blurs the lines between a long short haircut and a short long haircut, thanks to the lack of blunt lines. Smith says that “layers are nowhere to be seen,” and it is “an ideal length for the cozy ‘tucked-into-a-large-overcoat’ look which pairs nicely with this season’s trending puffer jackets and oversized scarves.”
How to Get the Look
Part of the look’s appeal is that it’s pretty easy to achieve, and is perfect for anyone who wants to experiment with going short without jumping into a full-on bob. So, if you’re looking for exactly what to tell your favorite hairstylist, look no further.
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Ask for a lob that sits right below your shoulders, Smith suggests much more than an inch. Be sure to ask for a cut with soft ends but without any layering—however if you have thicker hair, he says to “cleverly cut underneath the top length if silhouette management is required.” Basically, it means that it’s okay to create invisible layers underneath your hair to give the cut a stretched, slim appearance.
Smith says that once complete, the “shape will elongate the neck and cast shadows under the cheekbone, which can be great for those whose faces benefit from angles and contour.” This is great for anyone, but he says its also a nice benefit for those with “wider, rounded or heart-shaped faces.”