What Is a Lob Haircut? | Style Guide & 30 Examples

What is a lob haircut? And who wears it the best? Don’t worry — we’re here to answer these questions and much, much more. Read on to learn all you need to know.

What Exactly Is a Lob Haircut?

The lob, or long bob, is one of the most universally flattering haircuts for women. This shoulder-sweeping style accentuates your features without being weighed down with too much length.

After growing your hair out for a while, you might be realizing that long hair isn’t as low maintenance as you’d hoped. We’re convinced that getting a lob haircut is THE best way to manage your locks without going for The Big Chop. 

Lobs are considered universally flattering, meaning this cut looks amazing on everyone. One thing we love about lobs is that no two lobs are identical. There’s a lot of variation in these haircuts. Lobs can take on completely different looks with:

• Layers
• Bangs
• Different lengths 
• Different hair textures
• Blunt ends

If you’ve been feeling that your long hair is wearing you and not the other way around, it’s probably time to wake up your look with a lob. 

Before you book your appointment, stick around to learn all about the lob haircut – what it is, who looks best in a lob, how to customize a lob to make it flatter your features, and examples of different types of lobs. We’ve got it all in this guide! 

First up: What exactly is a lob?

Defining the Lob Haircut

Lob is short for “long bob.” It’s exactly what it sounds like – a bob, but longer. Instead of hitting somewhere between your ear level and chin (like a traditional bob), the lob can land anywhere from your chin to your shoulders. Usually, it’s somewhere in between. 

There’s no defined length for lobs, but the collarbone is generally the cutoff. Any longer, and the cut is no longer a lob – it’s just a medium-length haircut. 

Shorter cuts that reach the jawline or chin may be considered lobs by some, but are a better fit under the traditional bob category since the hair is too short to pull into a ponytail or bun. 

One of the keys to the lob haircut is the swing-y nature of the style. Since the lob typically hangs freely above your shoulders, your hair won’t perpetually lay on your shoulders or behind your back (#longhairproblems). 

With a lob, your locks will swing with lots of movement when you turn or move your head. This gives this type of cut a dynamic, youthful, and healthy feel. It’s such a flattering look! 

8 Types of Lobs

There’s so much versatility with lobs – layers, bangs, length, etc. That versatility is one reason they can work for absolutely everyone. Your lob might incorporate a few features from different types of lobs. Here are examples of some of the different types of lobs you might consider. 

1. Layered Lob

Layers add dimension, help waves and curls pop if you have them, and keep the ends from being too puffy or weighed down, depending on how thick your hair is. 

2. Blunt Lob

Blunt cut lobs aren’t layered and end in a blunt, precise line. Blunt lobs are great for fine or thin hair that needs to be bulked up a bit, but they can make thick hair look amazingly lush and healthy, too.  

3. Angled Lob

Angled lobs are shorter in the back and longer in the front to create an interesting angle when viewed from the side. You can go as steep or subtle as you want with the angle to make it fit your look. 

4. Lob With Bangs

Bangs and lobs go so perfectly together. Bangs can help tie the whole look together, conceal a large forehead, make your face shape look more oval, and give you more styling options. 

5. Choppy Lob

Not one for precise, sleek looks? Then the choppy, razored lob might be just your style. You can get crazy with the layers here to create a messy-tousled look that adds volume and makes your hair look thicker. 

6. Short Lob

Since lobs can be cut to different lengths, you should check out examples of every length to see which you prefer. Short lobs are borderline traditional bobs, but have a little extra length. 

7. Medium Lob

Medium lobs are slightly longer, usually hitting somewhere on the neck. Medium lobs are great for accentuating your shoulders and collarbones. 

8. Long Lob

Long lobs are bordering on leaving lob territory, but as long as you keep it to the collarbone zone, it’s considered a lob. Long lobs can help slim your face and accentuate your cleavage. 

Who Looks Best in a Lob?

Okay, we know what a lob is, and we’ve seen the different types of lobs. So who should wear a lob? We’re going to look at how you can tweak a lob to suit you in any age range, with any hair type, and for any face shape. 

Age Range

When we say anyone can rock a lob, we mean it. From kids to mature women, this cut can look amazingly flattering on any age range with the right tweaks.

Lobs for Your 20s

When you’re in your 20s, you’re in your decade of experimentation. So get wild if you want to! Choppy layers, vivid colors, cool accessories, asymmetry, blunt bangs, microbangs – there are so many ways to switch up how you rock your lob. 

Lobs for Your 30s

Picking up on the wavy trend with a longer lob and slightly off-center middle part makes this cut a sure thing for any woman in her 30s. Or opt for a deeper side part (take THAT, Gen Z) if you’re not digging the middle part trend. 

Lobs for Your 40s+

In your 40s and beyond, it’s all about softening up the cut to keep harsh lines and angles out of it. Try a lob with layers and big waves or curls to get a youthful vibe. Don’t be afraid to experiment with color and have fun with this cut! 

Hair Type

While any hair type can successfully rock a lob, knowing how to adjust your lob haircut to best fit your hair type is the secret. Here are a few ways to wear a lob on different hair types and textures. 

Straight Layered Lob

Layers keep the bottom from puffing out into that unflattering triangle shape. If you have medium to thick hair, you’ll understand. If you have finer or thinner hair, you can leave the cut blunt to help visually thicken it up! 

Straight Angled Lob

We love a good angled bob, so it makes sense to try an angled lob if you have straight locks that show off the precision in the cut. This is a subtle angle that’s just barely longer in the front.

Lob With Glamour Waves

Yes, honey! Wavy hair doesn’t naturally wave like this, but if you tend to wear your hair in waves a lot, this is such a gorgeous look to try. It’s got a very Old Hollywood glam vibe. 

Ombre Wavy Lob

The ombre hair color trend looks amazing when paired with waves at the lob length! Choose any colors you like, but we love the contrast of brown and blonde here. 

Curly Layered Lob

Sick of seeing only stick-straight and wavy lobs? Curly girls, y’all can rock a lob all day long with the right haircut! Make sure you’re visiting a stylist who knows how to cut curly hair without messing up the pretty curl pattern. 

Curly Balayage Lob

Stack the trends by incorporating balayage color into your lob for a multi-dimensional look that makes the most of your curls. The color hits the light just right at every bend and curve on these curls for the most radiant effect. 

Face Shape

Making a lob work with, not against, your face shape is simple when you know what features to ask for and avoid. Find your face shape below to learn the do’s and don’ts to make a lob perfectly suit you. 

Oval

• Do experiment with different lob lengths to find your favorite – all lengths suit an oval face
• Do try long bangs that graze the cheekbones 
• Don’t go too short with bangs – it can elongate your face
• Don’t skimp on the volume if you opt for a middle part

Round

• Do opt for shoulder to collarbone-length lobs that elongate your face
• Do experiment with blunt or side-swept bangs to slim your face shape
• Don’t go for chin-length lobs that can make your face appear rounder
• Don’t get short layers that add too much volume to the sides of your face

Square

• Do choose a longer than jaw-length lob to soften your strong jawline
• Do try side-swept bangs or a side part to add more softness to your face shape
• Don’t get a lob that stops right at the jawline as it only makes it look more angular
• Don’t get blunt bangs – they can look too boxy on a square face

Heart

• Do opt for a chin-length lob to visually fill out your slender jawline
• Do experiment with bangs to balance out your features
• Don’t avoid waves or curls – these textures complement a pointed chin
• Don’t go for a long lob that can make your chin appear smaller

So, What Is a Lob Haircut?

Let’s hit refresh and sum up what we’ve covered in this guide. Anyone can wear a lob (long bob) with the right tweaks.

It doesn’t matter how old you are, what your hair type or texture is, or what your face shape is. There’s a lob that will perfectly suit you (remember the eight types of lobs we talked about?). 

All you have to do is follow the “rules” for your face shape. Oval faces can basically wear any type of lob. Get wild with it! Just don’t choose super-short bangs. Round faces, square faces, and heart faces have to be a little more careful. 

For round faces, avoid chin-length lobs and try mixing it up with bangs. Square faces need softness, so blunt ends or bangs are a no-no. Heart faces need some extra volume in the chin area, so don’t go much longer than that with your lob. 

Whether you’re thinking of going for a sleek, blunt lob on straight hair, a choppy, layered lob on wavy hair, or something entirely different, we think you’re ready to rock it. Lobs are never going out of style because they’re so universally flattering.

If you’ve been thinking about getting a lob, this is your time! Ditch the dead weight and embrace this dynamic, lightweight style that adds movement and bounce to your hair. You’ll be so glad you did!