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What is an Inverted Bob?

Tricia Christensen
Tricia Christensen
Tricia Christensen
Tricia Christensen

The inverted bob is a hairstyle for women that is a relatively new take on the bob. Bob haircuts are usually short, about chin length or a little longer, that taper inward, providing a curl of the hair ends toward the face and neck. Sometimes this curl is a little difficult to achieve if you have stubborn hair and it requires a few extra minutes of styling, good blow-drying techniques and/or a curling iron to achieve the inward curl.

The way the inverted bob is cut makes styling a great deal easier. At the back of the head, the hair is trimmed extremely close to the nape of the neck. The hair may be stacked with several layers on top that create a rounded look to the back of the head. The sides of the hair are allowed to angle downward, continuing with the inward taper. The result is the inverted bob, where hair looks much shorter in the back, and gradually longer in the front, approximately chin length or a little longer.

A hairstylist cutting an inverted bob.
A hairstylist cutting an inverted bob.

Due to the way the hair is cut, the inward curl may be easier to achieve, but the hair may just hang straight too, and may be textured slightly to give greater fullness or a more “messy” look. There is dispute about whether bangs are really part of the inverted bob. In most examples, bangs are either worn very long, or the hair in front is all one length. Never fear though, if you look better with bangs, you can definitely get a hair dresser to artfully blend in bangs or even some layering and texturing of the upper part of the hair so you have more fullness or a slightly different look, but still have the fashionable inverted bob cut.

The longer ends of the hair in front of the inverted bob are usually just long enough to be pulled back out of the face. Parts may be in the middle, though side parts appear more common. The style is definitely a short cut, and it may be hard to achieve any type of updos without adding additional hair. It is, however, a trendy style that many are turning to, as the latest in fashionable hair.

Tricia Christensen
Tricia Christensen

Tricia has a Literature degree from Sonoma State University and has been a frequent WiseGEEK contributor for many years. She is especially passionate about reading and writing, although her other interests include medicine, art, film, history, politics, ethics, and religion. Tricia lives in Northern California and is currently working on her first novel.

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Tricia Christensen
Tricia Christensen

Tricia has a Literature degree from Sonoma State University and has been a frequent WiseGEEK contributor for many years. She is especially passionate about reading and writing, although her other interests include medicine, art, film, history, politics, ethics, and religion. Tricia lives in Northern California and is currently working on her first novel.

Learn more...

Discussion Comments

SimpleByte

@Ceptorbi - yes, curly hair looks great in an inverted bob. This style is versatile and can be worn with or without bangs, straight or curly, and in a variety of lengths. It flatters just about every facial shape, too, so I encourage you to give it a try.

Ceptorbi

@SimpleByte, I'd like to try an inverted bob, but I have naturally curly hair, and the celebrities I see pictured with this style don't. Is there such a thing as a curly inverted bob?

SimpleByte

I've seen a lot of celebrity inverted bob photos. Victoria Beckham, Katie Holmes, Keira Knightley, Vanessa Simmons, and many others have sported this hairstyle recently. The style's popularity has inspired me to get one myself.

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    • A hairstylist cutting an inverted bob.
      By: Rido
      A hairstylist cutting an inverted bob.