Stylish Women Are Donning Grown-Out Bobs—Here’s My Approach to Styling My Own Transitional Cut.

Stylish Women Are Donning Grown-Out Bobs—Here’s My Approach to Styling My Own Transitional Cut.

      After being the proud owner of a bob haircut for nearly a year, I have an announcement: I've decided it's time to grow it out. Why? I'm easily swayed, and when I saw a number of celebrities like Elsa Hosk and Gigi Hadid—who were once champions of the bob—switching to longer styles, I realized it was only a matter of time before I joined them. The issue is, anyone who has had short hair and undergone the transition to longer hair knows that it isn’t always an easy process. There’s that awkward in-between phase when you aren’t quite sure how to style it, that moment when it hits your shoulders and decides to bounce in every direction. Not to forget the challenge of choosing your next haircut. I've recently experienced it, and trust me, I understand your struggles. While I can’t provide advice on the latter (though Who What Wear's 2026 hair trend guide is in the works and sure to provide plenty of inspiration), I can help you navigate the tricky grown-out bob stage. Or rather, I've enlisted an expert: Emma May Fordham, Hair Stylist and Founder of SoBob hair salon. Here’s her professional advice on how to style a grown-out bob, alongside plenty of inspiration from celebrities and influencers who inspired me to say farewell to my short cut (at least for the foreseeable future)...

      **How to Style a Grown-Out Bob**

      From personal experience, I've discovered that the best approach to a grown-out bob is not to chase an entirely new style. Instead, work with your hair’s natural texture and tweak your cut to suit your new, slightly longer lengths. "When transitioning from a bob, it's essential to evolve the haircut to suit each person's length," Fordham explained. "There are numerous adjustments you can make to a haircut that can rejuvenate a growing-out bob and make it look deliberate. Even the smallest change in shape or adjustment can enhance your enjoyment of every stage of the grow-out process." If you're unsure where to begin, here are several of Fordham's favorite ways to style a grown-out bob, which I have personally tested...

      1. **The Flick**

      As I mentioned, one of the toughest aspects of growing out your bob is when it enters that awkward, not-quite shoulder-length phase and flicks out in various directions. This style embraces that moment, transforming a subtle outward bend into a defined flick.

       - **GHD Rise Professional Hot Brush**

       “I recommend this hot brush to all bob girls at any stage of their bob,” says Fordham. “Use it on dry hair and watch your ends flick perfectly with just one stroke.”

       - **Color Wow Cult Favorite Firm + Flexible Hairspray**

       Opt for a flexible hairspray for hold without the crunch.

      2. **The Claw Clip Up-do**

      “As your hair grows out, make use of its optimal claw clip length,” Fordham advises. “Your hair will twist up at the back and cascade down the clip perfectly for that in-between pony, not too short and not too long. If you have bangs, let them fall naturally around your face for that ideal profile, achievable only with this perfect length.”

       - **Hair by Sam McKnight Happy Endings Nourishing Balm**

       “Use this to define pieces that naturally fall out of the clip for better control,” says Fordham. You don’t need a large clip for in-between length hair, so feel free to have some fun with a playful style.

      3. **The Faux Wet**

      “For a night out, I love a wet, textured look on between-length hair,” says Fordham. “It’s also a perfect styling trick for day-two hair when your December social calendar is full.”

       - **Tigi Bed Head Wanna Glow Hydrating Jelly Oil**

       Fordham suggests gently twisting Tigi’s hair oil into the ends of your hair for that ideal wet-look finish. A wet-look gel will help maintain your style all day.

      **Grown-Out Bob Inspiration**

      1. **Shoulder Sweeping**

      There was once a time when Elsa’s blonde bob was a staple on every short hair inspiration board; now, she epitomizes the grown-out bob with a blunt shoulder-length cut.

      2. **Get Wavy**

      Selin chose a wavy style to transition her hair from bob length to longer.

      3. **Bend Inwards**

      When your bob reaches that tricky length, turn the ends inwards to prevent an unwelcome flick.

      4. **Flicked Ends**

      Alternatively, fully embrace the flick for a striking look like Sasha.

      5. **Chic Yet Simple**

      Sylvie demonstrates that a grown-out bob can still look incredibly stylish.

      6. **Up and Effortless**

      A claw clip up-do is great for camouflaging bob-length hair between cuts.

Stylish Women Are Donning Grown-Out Bobs—Here’s My Approach to Styling My Own Transitional Cut. Stylish Women Are Donning Grown-Out Bobs—Here’s My Approach to Styling My Own Transitional Cut. Stylish Women Are Donning Grown-Out Bobs—Here’s My Approach to Styling My Own Transitional Cut. Stylish Women Are Donning Grown-Out Bobs—Here’s My Approach to Styling My Own Transitional Cut. Stylish Women Are Donning Grown-Out Bobs—Here’s My Approach to Styling My Own Transitional Cut. Stylish Women Are Donning Grown-Out Bobs—Here’s My Approach to Styling My Own Transitional Cut. Stylish Women Are Donning Grown-Out Bobs—Here’s My Approach to Styling My Own Transitional Cut. Stylish Women Are Donning Grown-Out Bobs—Here’s My Approach to Styling My Own Transitional Cut. Stylish Women Are Donning Grown-Out Bobs—Here’s My Approach to Styling My Own Transitional Cut. Stylish Women Are Donning Grown-Out Bobs—Here’s My Approach to Styling My Own Transitional Cut. Stylish Women Are Donning Grown-Out Bobs—Here’s My Approach to Styling My Own Transitional Cut. Stylish Women Are Donning Grown-Out Bobs—Here’s My Approach to Styling My Own Transitional Cut. Stylish Women Are Donning Grown-Out Bobs—Here’s My Approach to Styling My Own Transitional Cut. Stylish Women Are Donning Grown-Out Bobs—Here’s My Approach to Styling My Own Transitional Cut. Stylish Women Are Donning Grown-Out Bobs—Here’s My Approach to Styling My Own Transitional Cut. Stylish Women Are Donning Grown-Out Bobs—Here’s My Approach to Styling My Own Transitional Cut. Stylish Women Are Donning Grown-Out Bobs—Here’s My Approach to Styling My Own Transitional Cut. Stylish Women Are Donning Grown-Out Bobs—Here’s My Approach to Styling My Own Transitional Cut.

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Stylish Women Are Donning Grown-Out Bobs—Here’s My Approach to Styling My Own Transitional Cut.

Advice from experts and sources of motivation.