Should you lob or bob? A guide to help you pick the best cut based on your face shape… And other practical advantages to going shorter this season…
More and more celebrities are snipping off their locks and favoring the trendy variations of the bob/lob haircuts. The bob has been, and will forever remain, a sleek and classic look. The lob is the newer trending version of the bob, and is currently the most-requested cut. It is slightly longer than the bob, and rests somewhere between the chin and collarbone. This cut can be adopted to be worn on any face shape. The lob cut has a variety of styles that can be adjusted to flatter your face shape best. I created a guide below to help you pick the lob cut that will best suit you.
There’s a common misconception that round faces should stay away from lob haircuts. But if you have a rounder, fuller face, you can still rock the lob! Just be sure to keep the length a bit on the longer side; a collarbone-grazing cut is the perfect length for you and will elongate a rounder face. Stay away from cropped bobs, as they tend to emphasize the roundness in one’s face and come off looking harsh. Additionally, to counteract more of the roundness in one’s face, cut face-framing angles in the front, and be sure to add alot of texture to the hair.
Square faces have wider cheekbones and strong jaw lines. To balance out this angular-shaped face, and soften some of the harsher lines, those with square faces should also choose a longer lob. Keep in mind that the more volume your hair has, the more elongated your face will look, so be sure to strategically add some volume to the top of your head, even if its just at the very front root. Even a small amount will create the illusion of length in your face.
If your face is wider at the forehead and cheekbones and narrower around the jaw and chin, then you have a heart-shaped face. You can wear any length lob, from your chin to your collarbone. If you have a very pointy chin, a bob that is chin length will balance out your look best. Make sure the cut has light, long layering, to soften the look and provide the hair with lots of movement.
Those with oval face shapes have longer, narrower faces, which allows them to go as short as they would like with their hair. Adding height to one-s hair or wig with a root-lifting spray or volumizing mousse will differentiate your bob from the rest. All lob (long bob) haircuts will definitely flatter any one of the longer face shapes, since the long layers help to frame the face. This look can be styled both voluminous and wavy or straight and smooth. Both looks can be styled in a way that will accentuate the flattering layering.
Not only is shorter hair more flattering as one matures, it is also much easier to take care of. For sheital wearers, those that opt for a shorter look now will avoid all the frustration of having the dreaded knots that occur to wigs at the nape of the neck, especially during the fall and winter months, when wearing bulky winter coats. In addition, with the recent increased pricing of raw hair (especially the longer hair), opting to buy a shorter wig will not only give you a more current look, but will also be much more cost efficient!
If we had to choose one universal hairstyle, it would have to be the lob/bob. No matter what your shape face is, or the texture of your hair, there is a lob/bob cut and style that will work for you. Whether it be super short, cut cropped to the chin, long enough to reach just past the shoulders or any length in between, a professional hairstylist will help you to find a lob cut and style that will look best for you.
Sari Friedbauer is the owner of Sari’s Wigs in Teaneck, New Jersey. She is a certified wig maker and licensed cosmetologist. She is available for consults and can be reached via text or call at 201-694-5319.
