The 'Dad Bob' Is The Perfect Beginner Short Hair Look To Try In 2024

Of all the hairstyles that have graced us with their presence since the dawn of time, the one cut that manages to get reinvented over and over again is the bob. There is, of course, the classic bob that falls just below the chin. Then there's the sleek French bob, Italian bob, fringe bob, hydro bob, midi-bob, power bob, Gigi Hadid's favorite flippy bob, and, naturally, we'd be remiss to not include the lob amongst all these bobs, which is just a fun word for long bob. With so many bobs to choose from, what's a bob-loving person supposed to do? Well, hold on to your pants, because there's a new bob in town.

Lovingly called the "dad bob," this particular cut is longer than a French bob, but doesn't fall any further than the collarbone. It also has this sort of whimsical, relaxed feel to it that doesn't require a lot of fuss. "This is the one-size-fits-all of bobs. It's the beauty equivalent of your favorite go-to pair of jeans," hair stylist Hollie Rose Clarke told Glamour UK. "You know that whatever you pair with it, you've already made the outfit a success. This effortless midi bob will allow you to wake up with ready-to-wear hair."

If you always wanted to try short hair but feared taking such a leap, the dad bob is for you. You just need to figure out how you want to rock it because there's more than just one way. 

A deep side-flip is always fun because it gives volume to the hair without having to spend hours blow-drying life into it. It also showcases your roots which, depending on how you have your hair colored, can add extra dimension to your hair's shape and cut. It's delivering serious "I have better things to do with my time than overly style my hair," which may or may not be the energy you're trying to serve. If it is, then this dad bob iteration is for you. 

In the last year or so, curtain bangs have been everywhere. Not just because they look so great, but because curtain bangs can be easily paired with a lot of different haircuts — dad bobs included. Also, like the dad bob, they're low-maintenance and don't require a lot of upkeep to look good, making curtain bangs and this bob an ideal match and perfect face frame. Combining this cut with minimal makeup but a bright red lip will help you realize why curtain bangs are all the rage. 

Whether your curls are natural or got that way via chemical treatments, curls and bobs always go together. No matter the texture of your curls, from loose and wavy, to tight coils, a dad bob will work because the aim is for a blockier shape than traditional bobs. "This style can be tailored to suit your individual texture, to allow for minimal styling or air drying in the warmer months to come," hair stylist Hollie Rose Clarke told Glamour. "If you have naturally thick or curly hair, weight removal will be the key to avoid a bell shape."

As much as middle parts are great, especially with bob cuts because they really draw attention to your facial features, they're not always the easiest to pull off. After all, if you're doing a middle part, you want it exactly in the middle and not even slightly to the right or left.

"My favorite tip for finding a middle part is to lay a tail comb vertically on the nose and rock it back into the hairline," artistic director for Matrix, Nick Stenson, told Makeup By L'Oréal. "From there, slide the comb back through the hair to create the perfectly centered middle part." Èt voila! Now you have a dad bob and a middle part combo look.

As we've seen, unnatural colors like pinks and blues continue to be in style — and not just for punks. Even Dame Helen Mirren has been spotted with her locks in various shades of unnatural colors, with the purple hair she wore to the Cannes Film Festival in 2023 being one of her most memorable looks.

If you love the idea of a dad bob, but you don't want to stick to natural colors, don't be afraid to explore more vibrant hues and how they look on you. You only come around this way once, so have some fun with your hair color — and cut.