NOT READY FOR A BOB? HERE’S WHY THE LOB IS THE ULTIMATE SUMMER HAIRCUT FOR YOU

My back was the first thing I noticed. I may have just been to the salon to cut off five inches of hair into a long bob, but it was the skin on my back that was getting my attention in the mirror. It felt so bare, so bobbly, in that wintery, vitamin D-deficient way. But it also felt overwhelmingly good. Outside, the first hint of summer had arrived (Ice coffee! Pedicured toes! Gingham!) and my back was ready for it. The midi-bob, or lob, was exposing more than I had expected, and the timing couldn’t have been better.

I recently came to peace with the idea that I will never suit an actual bob. ‘You have too much hair!’ my trustworthy stylist Irantzu Urrutia at Nicole Clarke tells me every time I ask, thinking (perversely hoping) that some ageing, post-pregnancy hair loss might have occurred since my last visit. I love the ‘don’t mess’ look a bob gives off; the chin-skimming cut that Hailey Bieber has since outgrown; Florence Pugh’s glamorous side-swept vintage bob; Ayo Edebiri razor sharp look. But it isn’t for me.

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And that’s OK, because as much as people may think the lob is the ‘meh’ cut for the non-committed, they couldn’t be more wrong, especially for summer. ‘The lob haircut is a popular choice in summer months as it’s very versatile,’ Irantzu tells ELLE UK. ‘It works really well for most face shapes and different types of textured hair, from polished and sleek to choppy and layered.’

My own hair has a natural volume to it that a longer length pulls down and flattens. Cut it too short and I would get the triangle look, which is why the lob really is the sweet spot. It’s easy to maintain too. ‘You can wear it straight, wavy, in a ponytail with clips…’ says Irantzu who has noticed clients coming in referencing celebrities such as Viola Davis, Selena Gomez and Lily Collins.

For styling tips, she recommends using the Virtue Smooth shampoo and conditioner, then the Virtue 6-in-1 styler ‘for the sleek lob look’. Alternatively, ‘the Sam McKnight Cool Girl Barely There Texture Mist is great for styling the choppy layered look.’ And for something you can travel with and use post-beach, the handy travel sized Sam McKnight Sundaze Seaspray.

Hair stylist Tom Smith says the lob is 'the ultimate transitional haircut'. 'It offers the freshness and shape of a bob while retaining enough length to feel versatile and low-commitment,' he tells ELLE UK. 'It’s that midi length that without too much time can grow back out into long hair.'

For him, it works well in summer because 'it lifts the overall silhouette, encourages healthier ends, and air-dries well with natural texture for various hair types.' But, he does warn that, much like it's shorter rival, the lob is not for everyone: 'It can sometimes feel "neither here nor there" if the cut isn’t precisely tailored to the individual’s hair type, face shape, and styling habits. Specific angles (like making it slightly longer towards the front) keep it looking modern and not traditional looking. The key is in the detail, tapering the silhouette, considering where on the shoulders or collarbone the length hits and how to style it can make or break this deceptively simple style.'

I like how the lob still demands style and skill but with slightly less fanfare than a bob. But most of all I love how changing a hair style, in my case going from long to short, has the potential to influence everything from your fashion choices to your make-up and even how you hold yourself. I feel a lightness with my lob, a summery spring in my step and I’m sitting up a little straighter, holding my neck an inch longer. As for my previously-bobbly back, it’s finally seen some sun.

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2025-05-02T11:09:39Z