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Bob cut

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A bob is a short or medium haircut that changed how people look.

Shingle bob, Louise Brooks
Shingle bob, Louise Brooks

It is usually cut straight around the head. The hair stays near the jaw or above the shoulders. Many people also wear a fringe, which is hair that hangs over the forehead. This style exposes the back of the neck. It became a way for people to show they were modern. For many, it was a way to express independence.

There are many ways to style a bob. One version is called a shingle cut. In this style, the hair at the nape of the neck is cut very short.

Polaire1910Closeup
Polaire1910Closeup

Some women wear the hair with a side-parting. They might also use curls or waves to change the shape. Another version is the A-line bob. In an A-line bob, the hair is shorter in the back. It gets longer toward the front of the face. This style was used by ice dancer Kristina Lenko.

Long hair was the normal choice for women in the West for a long time. Some people wore short hair even before World War I. The French actress Polaire had short, dark hair in 1910. During the war, short hair was very helpful for women doing hard work. It was more comfortable for girls driving ambulances in Romania. A Polish hairdresser named Antoine de Paris helped make the bob a big fashion. He said the style was inspired by the story of Joan of Arc.

Many famous people have worn this haircut through history.

Lady Diana Cooper on TIME Magazine, February 15, 1926
Lady Diana Cooper on TIME Magazine, February 15, 1926

In the 1920s, the "shingle cut" was popular with flappers. Famous clients included Coco Chanel and Eleanor Roosevelt. The dancer Irene Castle introduced the "Castle bob" in 1915. In the 1960s, the style came back with help from Vidal Sassoon. Many singers like Diana Ross and The Supremes wore it then. Even today, people like Anna Wintour keep their hair trimmed in a bob.

Anna Wintour 2009 crop
Anna Wintour 2009 crop

The bob connects to many different parts of life. It changed how hairdressers worked in the 1920s. Some women even had to go to barbers to get it. It also linked to new fashion, like close-fitting cloche hats. These hats were hard to wear with long hair. In the 2000s, Victoria Beckham helped make the style popular again. Some people even called it a "Pob" after her nickname, Posh Spice. The bob remains a way to change a look quickly.

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🖼️ Images & Media (4)
File:Shingle bob, Louise Brooks.jpg
Shingle bob, Louise Brooks.jpg
File:Polaire1910Closeup.jpg
Polaire1910Closeup.jpg
File:Lady Diana Cooper on TIME Magazine, February 15, 1926.jpg
Lady Diana Cooper on TIME Magazine,...
File:Anna Wintour 2009 crop.jpg
Anna Wintour 2009 crop.jpg
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