My hair has recently reached that awkward in-between length. It’s no longer the mid-length lob that I visited the hairdressers for last year, but it can’t quite be considered a long hairstyle yet. Instead, it’s sitting rather uninspiringly on my shoulders, causing me to seriously consider going for the chop. I’ve experimented with shorter hairstyles over the years but have never taken the plunge into a full-on bob.
However, with my Instagram feed starting to fill up with dramatic, post-lockdown haircuts, I have to admit that I’m seriously tempted to forgo my lengths in favor of something shorter, choppier, and infinitely cooler. And a quick look online confirmed that the bob just might be the hairstyle of 2021. From Fearne Cotton to Lily James, so many celebrities have undergone major short-hair transformations over the last year, and their styles look seriously amazing.
Keep scrolling for 38 celebrities and fashion girls who are stepping out in the best bob hairstyles right now. Trust me—these are the looks to copy if you’re considering going for the chop.
Grece Ghanem has opted for a jaw-skimming bob that perfectly complements her beautiful silver shade.
Aïda Badji Sané has the cool-girl summer wave down to a T. Just add a white dress and straw hat.
Keira Knightley’s heart-shaped face is an ideal match for this choppy bob style.
Ambrosia Malbrough is giving us all the summer bob vibes with her stunning chop.
Lily James’s blunt blonde bob was one of my favorite celebrity hair transformations of the last 12 months.
Miss Enocha makes a very good case for a ’20s-style bob plus sleek styling.
Proof that a dramatic cut can instantly elevate a simple knit.
For a retro finish, make like Chloe Miles and add a fringe to your bob hairstyle.
The highlights! The texture! The waves! We are so into Jourdan Dunn’s look.
A wavy bob in a vibrant shade of creamy blonde is never a bad idea.
Kaia Gerber’s side part and tousled waves lend her bob hairstyle some serious French-girl vibes.
I think that Fearne Cotton’s new short hair looks amazing. Use a texture spray through the ends to give your cut a similarly choppy feel.
Ada Oguntodu’s bob-length braids are given a cool color makeover with a cool silver balayage effect.
The queen of the bob, Anna Wintour has a classic chin-length hairstyle that is totally timeless. Pair it with a blunt, full fringe for extra power points.
My hair is naturally wavy, so I’ve never been sure if I could pull off a super-short bob. Angee Garicia, however, is proving that curly girls look amazing with super-short hair too.
It’s not just Rachel Stevens’s style that we’ve unexpectedly found ourselves wanting to copy; it’s her hair too. Stevens opts for tonged curls to style her long bob for a polished finish.
A headband plus natural curls make for the cutest combination, as worn by Sade.
Sophia Rosemary follows the French-girl formula for the most stylish hair: a center part that separates her fringe into two sections.
If I could achieve even a fraction of the shine coming off of Dua Lipa’s black bob, then I’d be one happy beauty editor.
María Bernad’s micro bob isn’t for the fainthearted, but it looks so damn amazing with her feathered fringe.
Take a low-maintenance approach to bobs by leaving yours to air-dry like Tanya Burr’s blonde one.
Freddie Harrel’s paprika-hued bob (it’s going to be one of this season’s hottest hair colors, FYI) is perfect for the summer months.
You don’t have to wrestle with the hair tools to step out with a bob. Leave it to dry naturally like Simone did so that your natural hair texture can add personality to your short style.
Hair clips and side parts are the most elegant additions to a bob. Thanks for the inspo, Kerry.
Before Bella Hadid went over to the blonde side, the supermodel could be spotted with this retro-inspired bob as her hairstyle of choice.
I’m totally obsessed with Jourdan’s chin-length, wavy ‘do. She might even have persuaded me to wave goodbye to my trademark bangs.
Carey Mulligan is serving up a triple dose of hair inspiration here with her perfect-length bob, that choppy fringe, and her beachy waves.
It’s not just the fashion that it’s worth looking to the ’60s for; it’s the beauty, too. Laura Harrier’s beehive-inspired bob is created by adding plenty of volume at the back of the style and keeping things sleek at the front.
Think of ASOS Lotte’s long bob as the perfect entry point to the hairstyle.
Tessa Thompson’s razor-sharp ends are so cool.
Not only do I love the cut of Charlize Theron’s style here, but I’m head over heels for that rich, chocolate-brown color.
Another fashion girl who took the plunge into short-hair territory this year is Lizzy Hadfield, and I adore it.
A relaxed fringe looks so good with ASOS Lesley’s bob-length curls here.
Stylists advise using a hair straightener to re-create the cool, relaxed L.A. waves that Emma Roberts is modeling here.
A dramatic side sweep and retro waves deliver red carpet glamour in abundance for Lucy Boynton.
A one-length cut looks incredible on curly hair, as Syana Laniyan proves.
Let’s be honest: Margot Robbie always looks amazing, but I have a soft spot for this sharp, short bob that she wore to the Oscars last year.
If I were going to take the plunge for any bob, then it would most likely be a low-maintenance wavy style like Alyssa Coscarelli’s.
