There's A New Short Haircut Just In Time For Summer: The Chic Prada Bob

There's a new bob in town. The Prada bob is making waves thanks to its chic, controlled structure and unexpected reintroduction of the side part. Yes, Gen Z. Read that again. We first took note of this look on "A Family Affair" star Joey King, who debuted the short cut at the the Cannes Film Festival in May 2024. She secured the simple do with a single bobby pin. The trending cut is evocative of old Hollywood glamour and 1920s Flapper-era styles. To get the full take on this coveted short hair trend, King's stylist, Dimitris Giannetos, spoke with Pop Sugar. "The Prada bob is a short blunt cut, swooping inward right above the jawline," Giannetos explained. "It is asymmetric, but gives the illusion of being a few centimeters longer toward the nape of the neck." One of its defining features is the dramatic side part. 

The bob features a sleeker take on short hair than other trending bobs. We love the bubble bob for its mega volume and rounded shape, but it's certainly bouncier and more playful than the chic Prada bob. The Italian bob is similarly sleek, but it's significantly longer, making it a striking anomaly in the world of short cuts for summer. Meanwhile, if you love a cut that also boasts bangs, the fob, or fringe bob, is a great look to explore. With so many lovely cuts to choose from, we're narrowing in on the Prada bob because of its smooth, polished appeal.

While bobs can occasionally give vibes of being ultra chill and low maintenance, Taraji Henson showed that the Prada bob has what it takes to carry a black-tie look. The dramatic side part adds to the illustrious final effect, and Henson's elegant makeup looks stunning with the polished coif. Celebrity hairstylist Dimitris Giannetos told PopSugar that the bob works well with a finishing oil, and we can see that Henson's hair has a luxurious shine that makes it look healthy and chic. 

The Prada bob works beautifully with another sleek, edgy style: the wet hair trend. It's very simple to achieve this iteration of hydro hair.  Using your fingers or a comb, carve out a sweeping side part into wet hair. Then, run a hair oil through your locks to capture that dampness, even as your hair dries. This will keep your hair looking fresh and healthy. 

We have a feeling that elder Millennials are going to be very excited about the Prada bob. One, it's incredibly elegant. Two, it incorporates a dramatic side part. In case you haven't heard, the 2010s hair look is weaving its way back into trendy hair culture. Pick a place in along your hairline where your hair natural parts, and use that as your guide. Since a side part can visually add lift, aim for the tip of the brow to amplify that stunning effect. 

For those with curly hair, the Prada bob is going to give your hair a renewed summer freshness because it require chopping off quite a bit of length. At the salon opt for a dramatic side part if it works with your facial shape. The best styling direction for curly hair is to apply a curl cream or volumizing mousse to amplify the drama of the bob, and allow your hair to air dry or blow dry to secure its shape. 

The Prada bob is a defining enough haircut that it allows you to go in either direction. If you're in the mood for full glam, the summer cut can easily bend in that direction. However, on chill days — let's say that summer heat is overwhelming — and you want to go makeup free, the Prada bob is also a perfect choice for a low (or no) maintenance look. "The [Prada bob] is strong, unapologetic, clean, and polished-chic," celebrity stylist Rick Wellman told Real Simple. "It's confident while still being feminine." Keep the rest of your look minimal, and let that hair cut shine.