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Hair inspiration: Trendy short bob haircuts

Bob hairstyles & haircuts for every faceThe short bob haircut, whether chin-skimming or collarbone-grazing, is the favorite short hairstyle in Tinseltown. And it’s just as desirable in the real world, since you can wear it tousled, textured, curly or straight—and vary the length to flatter your face shape and features. Click through a bunch of the best bob haircuts and find the look that's per

Bob hairstyles & haircuts for every face
The short bob haircut, whether chin-skimming or collarbone-grazing, is the favorite short hairstyle in Tinseltown. And it’s just as desirable in the real world, since you can wear it tousled, textured, curly or straight—and vary the length to flatter your face shape and features. Click through a bunch of the best bob haircuts and find the look that's perfect for you.

Reese Witherspoon
Sleek and polished—but not stick-straight, Reese Witherspoon's glossy bob epitomizes modern elegance. To get the look, give freshly blow-dried hair a deep side part and run a flatiron through small sections, gently curling strands inward at the ends. Finish with a misting of shine spray.

Kate Mara
It's usually her sister Rooney who sports the edgy hairstyles, but Kate Mara shows she also has a taste for the avant-garde with this blunt bob. For a similar dramatic 'do, treat damp hair with firm-hold gel and dry with a blow-dryer, using a small nozzle attachment to focus strands downward and smooth flyaways. Make a deep side part and finish with a flatiron, turning ends outward.

Ciara
Ciara's of-the-moment bob combines sexy volume with edgy ombre. Try it for yourself by freshening second-day hair with dry shampoo, then wrapping front sections around a curling iron at the mid-shaft.

Naomi Watts
Talk about old Hollywood glamour! Naomi Watts channels the screen sirens of yesteryear with a bob of barrel curls. Use hot rollers to achieve the same effect, smoothing curls with a paddle brush and misting lightly with hairspray for a touchably soft finish.

Natalie Portman
Natalie Portman isn't one to shy away from edgy roles—or hairstyles. This pin-straight bob shows off her killer bone structure and smoky eye makeup, and can be easily recreated at home by blowing out hair with a flat vent brush, and carefully flat-ironing away any residual wave.

January Jones
Sexy waves like these on January Jones take a classic blunt bob into sultry new territory. Curl strands section by section, wrapping hair in the same direction each time around a small-barrel iron. Once hair cools, brush through and mist with hairspray.

Nicole Richie
Perfecting a super-sleek bob like Nicole Richie's comes down to choosing the right products and tools. First, mist hair with a heat-protective spray. After blow drying hair while using a paddle brush, divide as you go into 1-in. sections and use a ceramic flatiron from roots to tips, twisting a touch inward when you reach the ends.

Jennifer Lawrence
Jennifer Lawrence’s beachy bob is also red-carpet ready. She opts for sunny ombré highlights and controlled texture that shines with a glossy finish. Use a dry shampoo on ends first, twisting strands into loose ringlets, and finish the style with a misting of satin hair spray.

Christina Hendricks
Mad Men screen siren Christina Hendricks’ bob is one of the most flattering options around, thanks to its delicate side-swept bangs and face-framing waves. To get the look, curl front sections around a large-barrel iron, wrapping strands in the direction away from your face.

Karlie Kloss
Model Karlie Kloss keeps it classic with her timelessly chic blunt bob. She modernizes the look by giving her bangs a soft sweep and creating a deep side part. For the same bounce and body, apply some light volumizing serum on roots before drying with a round brush, curling under at the ends.

Nikki Reed
Imperfect curls give actress Nikki Reed’s chin-length chop some sexy texture. Wrap two-inch sections of mid-shaft hair around a curling iron, keeping ends loose so they fall straight. Finish the look with dry shampoo and tousle ends with your fingers.

Emma Watson
Glam ringlets on Emma Watson transform her bob into a red carpet-ready coif. Start with a deep side part and curl hair with a two-inch iron from mid-length to ends, tucking one side section behind your ear.

Alicia Keys
Songstress Alicia Keys keeps her bob super sleek. A flat iron's a must with this blunt cut, which is a bit longer in front to frame her face.

Julianne Hough
This razor cut bob gives Julianne Hough’s shoulder-grazing hair some sophisticated edge. For the same dimension, stick to long layers and a deep side part—at home, style strands with your fingers and some texturizing spray for an undone finish.

Brandi
Brandi swept her hair into a faux bob to get the look without the commitment. For soft waves, use a large barrel iron on three-inch sections of hair. Gather strands and tuck the length under at the nape of your neck and secure with hidden bobby pins.

Rose Byrne
Rose Byrne’s sexy bob gets texture from loose, beachy curls. For waves and extra volume at your crown, mist hair with dry shampoo and twist small sections into loose ringlets.

Kerry Washington
Side-swept bangs and natural curls bring softness to Kerry Washington’s bob. Create a side part and blow dry just your bangs straight. Use a curling iron to blend some defined ringlets within your natural curls.

Christina Aguilera
This platinum blonde bob rocked by Christina Aguilera makes a classic statement with blunt bangs. Style the look with a center part and be prepared to maintain your fringe with trims every three weeks.

Rachael Taylor
This chin-length bob suits Rachael Taylor’s straight, fine hair. Blow dry hair straight with a paddle brush, then smooth some styling balm through strands with your fingers, combing one side behind your ear for a slick finish.


A version of this story originally appeared on iVillage.