Winter can leave your ends feeling dry, the shape heavy and the style a little tired. However, according to Australian hairstylist Anthony Nader, a bob can fix all that.
When you have a bob, it removes that visual weight, exposes the neck, and immediately brings the face into focus, he tells marie claire. But less hair doesn’t necessarily mean less care. “In fact, the condition becomes more visible, because the perimeter is such an important part of the haircut,” Nader explains.
To properly care for hair post-chop, the hair expert suggests investing in a few key products. Stock your shower with a lightweight shampoo and conditioner, and a weekly protein or hydrating masque. And when it comes to styling your hair, make sure you have a heat protection spray, a flexible styling product and an anti-humidity spray close at hand. “Anti-humidity spray is invaluable during our Australian spring and summer,” says Nader. “It helps protect a sleek finish, but it’s equally useful for keeping natural texture defined and controlled.”
Finding a routine that works with your natural texture is especially important, because it’s something that Nader says he’s seeing in the bob trends surfacing on the runway and red carpet. The hairstylist notes the tousled volume and softness at the Stella McCartney autumn/winter 2026 show, and the calculated messed-up tresses that walked the Louis Vuitton runway. Sandy Liang’s sleek, refined take on natural texture caught our eye too, with hairstylist Dylan Chavles somehow managing to achieve polished, glossy shine without sacrificing movement in the process.
According to Nader, it’s that palpable tactility that makes this season’s shorter cuts look and feel so good. The bobs of yesteryear were often one-size-fits-all, copy-paste versions of celebrity styles that were rarely flattering. But in 2026 you can finally retire “The Rachel”.
Here are Nader’s predictions for this season’s bob.
The top bob trends to try in 2026, according to Anthony Nader
The Boy Bob Is Effortlessly Cool
The boy bob doesn’t care if you think it’s cool or not. It sits around the jaw, has minimal layering and can be tucked absentmindedly behind the ears. “The finish is relaxed and slightly androgynous, but still incredibly sensual because it reveals the face and neck,” explains Nader. “Apply a small amount of cream or mousse, then tuck the hair behind the ears while it dries. Do not overbrush it. This bob needs a little natural imperfection or it loses its cool.” The hairstylist always uses singer Gracie Abrams as a reference for clients wanting to try the style, as “her boy bob feels effortless, rather than overly styled. It’s so versatile and fun.”
The Micro Bob Is Short In Length, Enormous In Attitude
This is a cut for a woman who doesn’t need to announce herself when she walks into a room. The length mostly sits at the jaw, the mouth or even the cheekbone, so there’s nowhere to hide. Need a reference? Think: Leslie Bibb’s “c*nty little bob”. The edgy cut is also surprisingly versatile. Customise it with a delicate razored fringe like Zoë Kravitz or embrace your natural wave pattern like Halle Berry.
When it comes time to style a micro bob, creating a flattering silhouette is everything. Hold a hairdryer close to the head, advises Nader, and use a small iron where you need refinement. A slight bend or flick at the ends is all a micro bob needs to give the shape a bit more personality.
The Cloud Bob Is Airy And Soft
This is all weightless bounce, airy movement and soft texture, but it’s is not a style that’s easy to achieve, warns Nader. It’s a technical cut, and done correctly should look as though your hair woke up in a happy mood, he jokes. “This is particularly beautiful on natural textured waves, because you aren’t trying to iron the personality out of the hair,” he says. “Diffuse on a lower speed and resist touching the hair while it dries.”
The Curved Bob Is Quiet Luxury
The curved bob feels polished against lighter spring tailoring, Nader tells us, referencing the recent runways of Jil Sander and Willy Chavarria for inspiration. “It hugs around the jaw, with the ends softly curving towards the face, creating a precise, expensive-looking silhouette,” he explains. However, too much roll or bevel underneath and you risk looking like you’re on your way to a board meeting in the ’90s, he jokes. To avoid this, the hair expert tells us to use a medium round brush to direct the ends of the hair gently towards the face, while keeping the root area smooth but never flat.
The Lived-In Bob Is Subtly Refined And Never Stiff
This is the bob for the woman who wants polish without looking laminated and stiff. The lived-in bob looks undone, but every piece is considered and intentional. “This length sits between the jaw and shoulder, and has subtle, almost invisible movement through the lengths, which, in my book, is key,” says Nader. “When I saw Emma Stone’s bob at the Golden Globes, I thought, ‘What a strong example of balance and refinement’. She nailed it beautifully.”
It pays to not be too precious; uniform waves can make the style look manufactured, warns Nader. “Place a few irregular movements through the middle lengths and leave some sections untouched,” he says.
The Long Bob Is The Gateway Cut
This length generally falls between the chin and collarbone, so it still feels fresh and directional, but there is enough length to tuck, wave or tie back. “It’s generally the gateway bob,” says Nader. The hairstylist cites Hailey Bieber’s viral “bronde” lengths to showcase the style’s steady mass appeal. We may not have celebrity hairstylists such as Justine Marjan, Irinel de León and Teddy Charles on speed dial like the Rhode founder, but Nader assures us that the lob isn’t complicated to manage. He is wary of a head full of artificial curls, though, as it can look saccharine, rather than sophisticated. “Keep movement through the middle of the hair, and leave the ends slightly straighter,” he advises. “That creates an elongated, luxurious finish.”
marie claire’s Top 3 Essential Haircare Products For Bobs
1. A Lightweight Leave-In Conditioner
Before blow drying, Kevin Murphy’s Smooth.Again Anti-Frizz Treatment is your best friend. It boasts Australian fruit extracts and oils that strengthen, repair and protect, leaving hair silky smooth and easy to style.
2. A Humidity-Fighting Styler
For a sleek finish that stands up to the elements, the Oribe Impermeable Anti-Humidity Spray has been tested in balmy Miami, so it’ll fight frizz while adding weightless texture.
3. A Small But Mighty Hot Tool
Ltn’s Hair Straightener Original Styler has 25mm floating ceramic plates with a germanium and nano ion coating, a round barrel design, an adjustable temperature range, and fast turbo heaters, to style short hair with ease and speed.
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