Long bob haircuts are the slightly safer, forever chic siblings of the shorter bob. Often shortened to the silly sounding ‘lob’, a long bob is actually a very sophisticated hairstyle that saves the hassle of long hair but flatters in the exact same way. You cannot go wrong with a lob haircut, so why not take the plunge and opt for the chop?
To get you ready for the change, we explain exactly what lobs are and how they differ from other bob haircuts. Then we’ll help you figure out which lob haircut is right for you based on your face shape and hair type. To finish things off, we have 63 examples of chic long bob haircuts that will get you excited for the big change!
In this article:
- What Makes Lob Haircuts Different from Other Bobs?
- How to Choose the Best Long Bob for Your Face Shape
- Choosing Long Bob Haircuts for Your Hair Type
- 63 Creative Long Bob Haircuts to Consider Trying
What Makes Lob Haircuts Different from Other Bobs?
A lob is a portmanteau of the words ‘long’ and ‘bob’. Whereas regular bobs usually end somewhere between the ears and just beneath the jaw, long bob haircuts are a little longer, starting a few inches below the chain and going down as low as right under the shoulders. Lob hairstyles are especially popular haircuts for women wanting to ease their way into shorter hairstyles.
How to Choose the Best Long Bob for Your Face Shape
When compared to short ones, long bobs are usually much easier to style on different face shapes, since differences of inches don’t make as big of an impact. The main difference is how the cut is shaped near the front of the face.
Long Bob Haircuts for Oval-Shaped Faces
An oval face shape is probably the most common face shape, where the face is slightly elongated and both chin and forehead are a bit more pinched, while the cheeks are the widest part of the face.
Since an oval face shape is so balanced, you should focus more on your hair type and personal preferences when choosing a long bob. Nearly all long bobs will have a flattering impact on your face!
Long Bob Haircuts for Round-Shaped Faces
A rounded face is easy to recognize, since the features are soft, and the width and length of the face are about the same. With this kind of face shape, a long bob can really help to sharpen your features a little.
First things first, opt for a deep side part in order to lengthen your features, especially if you’re going for a shoulder-length lob or shorter. For lobs that hang just below the shoulders, a middle part can have a lengthening effect as well.
Depending on your preference, you can stick to a blunt lob or opt for subtle layering. Avoid having very short layers around the face, or too many short layers parallel to the ears even if they are a little far from the face, since these can make your features look wider. Choppy under layers can work well, however.
When it comes to styling your lob, stick to straight hair, beachy blowouts, or brushed out waves. Stay away from large curls or waves, especially if your hair isn’t naturally curly.
Long Bob Haircuts for Square-Shaped Faces
A square face is all angles, with a powerful jawline and squared off forehead. Keira Knightley is a great example of a woman who knows how to rock a very flattering long bob, sometimes in a way that softens her features and other times in a way that highlights their power.
For a softer effect, keep your long bob parted to the side so that it covers some of your forehead, and ensure that the strands at the front of your face hang over your ears rather than tucked behind them, so they can cover the sharpest angles of your jaw. Keep it styled in either tousled waves or a soft blowout.
On the other hand, you can rely on your lob to highlight your features by styling it straight, layering the front to show off your jaw, and sticking to a middle part. You can also opt for a blended and balanced look that combines a few softening elements and a few emphasizing elements.
Long Bob Haircuts for Heart-Shaped Faces
Those with heart-shaped faces have slightly larger foreheads, with narrow jawlines and chin, and perhaps with sharper cheekbones. The key when choosing a long bob that will flatter your heart face shape is to find something that will balance out the wider parts and narrower parts.
Side bangs and straight-across bangs alike are great for obscuring the hairline, while having a lot of volumizing layers at around chin length helps to balance out the narrow jawline. Focus on long bob haircuts that have added texture at the bottom half, as they will look best, and style the hair accordingly, staying away from pin-straight looks and going for waves instead.
Long Bob Haircuts for Diamond-Shaped Faces
Those with a diamond face shape usually have very sharp features, with a narrow forehead and jawline. It’s a delicate face shape that can be easily overwhelmed by extremely volumized lob hairstyles.
Fortunately, your face shape is most suited for the intense, pin-straight blunt bob, because there is no roundness in your features for it to clash with, but they are also delicate enough that nothing looks severe. The best styling for you would be loosely wavy or straight.
Choosing Long Bob Haircuts for Your Hair Type
Your hair type also matters when it comes to choosing the right long bob for you. It doesn’t impact length as much, but it certainly affects the way you will want to layer and style your lob.
Long Bob Hairstyles for Curly Hair
Long bobs are much easier to rock than short bobs when your hair is curly, because your curls are less likely to bunch up into weird square or triangular shapes. Curls are often a little heavy, so the best long bob would be styled with careful shaping and layering, so that your hair naturally falls into a comfortable place.
Since the difference between good layering and bad layering is often just a few millimeters of hair, it’s important that you visit a hair stylist who specializes in cutting curly hair.
Long Bob Hairstyles for Wavy Hair
Long bobs and wavy hair are a match made in heaven. There is something so soft yet modern about a wavy long bob, which is why it is the most popular styling choice these days.
The key with your hair type is to stay away from overly short layers near the front of the face, though razoring elsewhere can look great, especially if your hair is very thick. Blunt bobs can also look great with wavy hair, so don’t feel like you must be a slave to layers.
Long Bob Hairstyles for Straight Hair
When you have straight hair, the kind of long bob you end up choosing should depend a lot on how thick or thin your hair is. With thinner straight hair, opt for lots of layers in order to increase the look of volume. On the other hand, if your hair is thick and straight you can rock any type of long bob that you like, since you’ll have volume naturally.
Long Bob Hairstyles for Thick Hair
Razoring is the magical technique that tames thick hair and takes off its weight without taking away from its wonderful natural volume. In particular, razoring from below can make you feel light and cool while avoiding frizz.
If your hair is naturally straight, you can also rock a blunt bob, since the weight of the hair will keep it from getting frizzy, and the effect can be very striking.
Long Bob Hairstyles for Thin Hair
When you have thin hair, a more top-layered lob haircut can go a long way towards amping up your volume and making your hair appear denser. However, it’s more important to style the hair in a way that will make it appear more voluminous.
Blowouts from below are great for volumizing, as are all kinds of waves. By parting your hair to the side you can also increase the amount of volume on top of the head. Lastly, texturizing sprays and volumizing conditioners are great for increasing the volume of your hair and making it look more piecey.
63 Creative Long Bob Haircuts to Consider Trying
We’ve given you quite a bit of advice so far, but a picture tells a thousand words. These are our favorite long bob haircuts from all over the Internet, to get you inspired and intrigued.
1. Beachy Long Bob
There is no beachier dye job than a blonde balayage, of course, since the darker roots add texture. When you have a long bob, whether longer than the shoulders or shorter, all it takes is styling it into waves to achieve this kind of breezy and summer-ready look.
2. Textured Golden Lob Haircut
A textured lob is an extremely modern haircut choice, like today’s answer to Rachel Green’s layered lob in Friends. The texture comes from piecey layering all throughout the long hair near the face. Styling it into waves makes it extra textured and makes the golden locks look very soft and lush.
3. Voluminous Curled Lob
Don’t be confused by the angle of the photo and styling here, as this is definitely a long bob hairstyle. The voluminous curls shorten it a bit, but styled more straight the hair will surely fall just below the shoulders. The extreme side part and styling prove that long bob haircuts can be extremely seductive.
4. Honey Swirl Long Bob Haircut
This is one of those simple long bob haircuts with hair that falls just a bit below the shoulders, and mostly cut evenly all across. Wavy styling gives it more volume and texture, as does the gentle honey balayage over light brown locks.
5. Gold-Touched Long Bob
A hint of balayaging can have a really big impact on long bob hairstyles. The chocolate brown hair was cut to be nearly parallel with the shoulders, and then styled into soft waves. The light gold touches give it a punch of brightness.
6. Razored Bronde Lob
This is one of those longer lob haircuts that might even reach long hair category if styled straight. The brown-blonde coloring is rich and sumptuous in a very flattering way. The hair is curled away from the face in a way that frames the features beautifully, and the ends were razored for maximum texture.
7. Pink and Violet Layered Lob
You can absolutely rock layers with long bob haircuts. The layers are both in the back and at the front to frame the features and lighten the load. This would look great with any color, but we’re big fans of these violet and pink hair colors.
8. Power Blonde Lob
If you like to feel like it’s summer all year round, a textured power blonde lob is the way to go. The hair here was cut with the ends very straight, but then styled into beachy waves. Dark roots are a healthy choice even with such a light color.
9. Brunette Long Bob
Blonde has been over-represented here so far, but brunettes can also enjoy long bob hairstyles! This straightforward cut hits the shoulders, with slightly textured ends and classy waves. The middle part is very in these days, and works even better with lobs than it does with bobs!
10. Extra Wavy Peachy Lob
This super wavy haircut is on the longer end of long bob hairstyles, but we love it anyway. The super wavy styling is super chic, while the complex blend of peach, gold, and brown tones is easy to get lost in.
11. Bombshell Layered Long Bob Haircut
This is one of the sexiest ways to layer a long bob haircut. The layers are from above in a way that gives the hair a very volumized shape that, combined with the side part, is extremely mysterious and seductive. The darker roots only add to the effect.
12. Toasted Coconut Lob
This is one of the most innovative color creations we’ve seen on long bob hairstyles! The toasted coconut effect comes from the mix of cool white ends and brown and blonde colors on top, and it is truly astounding. It looks extra soft thanks to smooth waves and healthy shine.
13. Biscuit Blonde Lob Hairstyle
Layered long bob haircuts like this one are cute and easy to maintain! The touch of lighter blonde over a biscuity dirty blonde will grow out elegantly, while the layered lob itself requires minimal styling to look chic and breezy.
14. Silvery Long Bob Haircut
This might be our favorite strategy for going white – just add silvery platinum babylights to highlight the natural grays! This lob haircut includes a few shorter strands to frame the face, and was styled into flattering piecey waves.
15. Pinned Blonde Lob
It’s not possible to get sick of beachy bombshell waves. This shoulder-length lob was given feathery waves, and then parted to the side for a bit of drama. The sassy hair pins are some of the trendiest hair accessories around, and they add a bit of glamour to the look.
16. Powder Blonde Lob
When we say this blonde long bob is cool we’re not just talking about how chic it is. The shade of powder blonde it’s been dyed doesn’t even have a hint of brassiness, with the front locks looking so white they are nearly blue. Styling it into tousled waves, however, makes the creation look almost natural.
17. Sun-Kissed Long Bob
Balayaged long bob hairstyles are the ultimate way to enjoy the best of all worlds! It’s that brunette elegance combined with sun-kissed blonde, as well as the ease of shorter hair without the sacrifice of going super short. The hair is razored at the ends in this look, which adds a bit of an edge as well.
18. Sleek Straight Lob
This hand-painted long bob is our first straightened example of the look. It is super sleek and impactful, for when you want to feel like a boss. The hair was hand-painted with some blonde streaks that add a touch of brightness.
19. Luminized Long Bob Hairstyle
The high shine of a bit of hair oil and a few blonde strands is all it takes to give your long bob haircut a luminescent look. This lob falls just above the shoulders, so it’s on the border of being a bob. A styling technique that gives it a rounded volume makes this hairstyle glamorous and alluring.
20. Summer Long Bob Blowout
Taking off layers and layers of hair to achieve a flirty long bob is easiest to do in summer, when long hair is nothing but a hassle. This long bob features a blonde balayage that feels cheerful and beachy, with a wavy blowout that has a bit of a beachy ‘70s feel.
21. Flirty Long Bob
These tight, intense waves border on being curls, and they are oh-so-cute and flirty. They are a truly lovely way of styling long bob hairstyles, and we gotta say the sunny color only adds to their cuteness.
22. Blunt Ginger Lob
Not everyone can pull of such blunt, sleek hair, but if you can, you will feel unstoppable. A blunt long bob is a powerful haircut, and in this instance, it is made all the more striking by the complex ginger streaking and ultra-straight styling.
23. Tousled Retro Lob
This lob has a glamorous retro feel, thanks to lush, tight waves, and a deep, sexy side part. The brunette locks touched with a hint of rose gold hair color add to the overall effect. With a looser style, the hair would probably reach the shoulders, showing the versatility of the lob length.
24. Blunt Peach Long Bob
In this look, the severity of a straight, blunt lob is tempered by the peach and blonde colormelt. The final look is modern yet sweet, with a few shorter strands that frame the face to add some whimsy.
25. Layered Wavy Lob
This gorgeous long bob haircut relies on flawless blonde coloring and clever layering to achieve its modern, volumized effect. The shorter layers around the face add a tousled vibe and help soften the features, while loose, brushed out waves are a style easy to achieve.
26. Silver and Gold Piecey Lob
Such a simple, wavy long bob is totally elevated by the addition of a little silver strand near the front. The gold and silver blend is unique, while waves in alternating directions are textured without being too big.
27. High-Shine Long Bob
This long bob hairstyle gleams so brightly thanks to golden coloring that it’s almost hard to look directly at it. The one direction curls really remind us of a modern Marcel, but because of the side part it’s something just a little different.
28. Lux Blonde Lob
Expert blonde highlighting is the secret to the magic of this long bob. The hair just looks extra textured and healthy, while the soft, wavy blowout is a flattering choice for anyone, especially with a bit of playful tousling.
29. Wheat Blonde Long Bob Hairstyle
This simple lob is clean and timeless, with soft waves that ensure it just barely skims the shoulder (it’ll be longer if straightened), and an elegant wheat blonde balayage over dark chocolate roots.
30. Curtain Bangs Lob Hairstyle
This super lush and voluminous lob will draw a lot of attention. The dark brown hair was balayaged with a warm blonde, which is a great look for fall, but the standout feature in it is curtain bangs that help mask the forehead while lengthening the face.
31. Wispy Summer Lob
This wispy lob will put you in the mood for a tropical vacation. It is light and sunny, with a mixture of platinum and wheat blonde streaks. The wispy cutting, sleek styling, and small layers ensure that it’ll feel light and bouncy.
32. Graduated Lob with Blunt Bangs
This platinum long bob is an interesting one. It’s a graduated style that is shorter in the back, but it was kept piecey with ends that were razored for a choppy, edgy look. In contrast, the bangs are extra blunt and straight across.
33. Mustard Yellow Long Bob Haircut
If you are the quirky type then you will love this mustard baby doll lob. While the color is eccentric, the cut itself is very girlish, with straight-across bangs countered by super soft and feminine waves.
34. Romantic Side-Swept Lob
All it takes is a sweep of the hand to get a blown out long bob hairstyle to look just a bit more dramatic. This shiny blonde hairstyle skims the shoulders, but it has the same attitude and glamour as much longer hair.
35. Finely Layered Long Bob
While the golden balayage was clearly expertly applied, we gotta say that the most impressive thing about this lob haircut is the layering on the ends. They were cut in such a way as to help thick hair look a bit more balanced, with a longer inner layer of strands and a slightly shorter outer one.
36. Cookies and Cream Lob
This is another one of those long bob haircuts that might make your tummy rumble. The dark brown roots are just the shade as a certain chocolate wafer, while the rest of the hair was dyed the same creamy shade as the center. This hairstyle is mostly smooth, with a bit of choppiness at the ends for texture.
37. Vanilla Latte Lob
This glamorous lob was dyed a balayage that reminds us of a vanilla latte, with light brown roots and touches of vanilla blonde on the ends. It was cut to just barely reach the shoulders, with a few shorter strands to frame the face.
38. Natural Wave Lob Hairstyle
So, of course, the waves in this lob were achieved via heat styling, but they were brushed out and left without too much product, which gives them a softer and more natural look. This lob hangs just a bit past the shoulder, and was dyed in layers of brown and blonde for a unique effect that goes well with the waves.
39. Shiny Gold Lob Haircut
The flawless way this lob was styled proves that long bob hairstyles can be glamorous enough for every super fancy occasion. The shiny gold hair was styled into sleek waves that go in alternating directions, while a bit of hair oil ensured max reflectiveness.
40. Sunshine Balayage Lob
Wavy blonde hair like this is cheerful and sunny, while the balayage technique helps to keep the roots healthy. The cut itself is quite blunt, but wavy styling helps to soften the harsh lines.
41. Icy Blonde Sleek Long Bob
Icy blondes are dramatic and impactful, but pin-straight styling makes them doubly so. Note that this look is actually a balayage, but the front strands are dyed more thoroughly. If you’re in the mood for something intense, a straight, blunt lob is the way to go.
42. Caramel Framed Wavy Lob
This fun and tousled wavy lob has a lot of presence, since the model has naturally thick hair. The dark locks are lightly highlighted with a hint of caramel, but the same color really softens the features thanks to more heavily dyed face-framing strands.
43. Pumpkin and Chocolate Graduated Lob
We haven’t seen a ton of graduated long bob haircuts on the list so far, but they do deserve a mention. They give you the added lightness of a bob, because they’re short in the back, but the front is all length and drama, especially when waved and tousled. The pumpkin and chocolate balayage is appetizing and autumnal.
44. Sleek Chocolate Honey Lob
Sleek long bob hairstyles often bring to mind Victoria Beckham, and this one certainly does. Even though it’s a blunt cut rather than a graduated one, the chocolate and honey sombre and straight heat styling definitely bring to mind the chic British designer.
45. Piecey Blonde Lob Haircut
This look is sexy, bright, and summer-ready! This slightly textured blonde long bob haircut was styled in thick, piecey waves that are glamorous but not overdone, and dyed a perfect blonde balayage that is always flattering.
46. Chocolate Caramel Long Bob
Some dye jobs make us hungry, and this chocolate caramel balayage is definitely one of those. The streaks of caramel start high, making this long bob hairstyle bright and complex. The look was styled into soft waves, with a lot of sexy volume.
47. Thinly Balayaged Lob Hairstyle
This long bob hangs just past the shoulders, to offer a bit of comfort to those nervous about going short. It’s been dyed a complex balayage that consists of very thin blonde streaks over brown hair, with a concentration of blonde in the front. Wavy styling obscures the fact that it’s a fairly blunt cut.
48. Butter Blonde Lob
This long bob hairstyle is soft, rustic, and smooth as butter. It was dyed a soft and creamy blonde, and then styled into gentle waves, in a look that is classy and gentle. Slightly razored ends are the only source of edge in this look.
49. Lob with Wispy Bangs
If you’d like to significantly lighten your lob without going too short, this extra wispy long bob is a great choice. The platinum blonde hair was thinned out and razored at the edges, to give it a modern, playful appearance. The bangs got the same treatment, for a cute but chic look.
50. Sleek Shoulder-Skimming Lob
This shoulder-skimming long bob hairstyle is sleek and classy, with just a touch of sex appeal. Blonde locks and dark roots are a classic, while subtle layering makes the hair naturally fall into a rounded shape that easily flatters.
51. Blonde at a Glance Lob Hairstyle
This is the way to balayage long bob haircuts when you’d like to seem like a blonde at a first glance, while keeping the bulk of your hair a natural brown. Simply add some blonde streaks near the face! The cut itself is pretty solid all across, with just a bit of a razoring effect at the ends to complement the tousled styling.
52. Tousled Platinum Lob
There is more to long bob haircuts than just wavy or tousled styling, believe us! This platinum lob has darker roots for natural volume, and it was styled in a playful and tousled way that is exceptionally modern.
53. Side-Swept Long Bob
When you can’t decide if you’d like to have bangs with your long bob haircut, longer side-swept bangs are a great compromise. They help frame the face, but you can push them behind your ear if you’d like more clearance. They also tend to look better in combination with balayage coloring.
54. Balayaged Lob with Swooping Side Bangs
This balayaged lob hairstyle is elegant but with a bit of mystery. The golden balayage over deep brown locks is a classic, while the graduated side bang swoops sideways to give balance to the face.
55. Gunmetal and Silver Long Bob
Who could guess that gunmetal and silver hair colors would look so romantic? The secret is in the small, piecey waves that curve just so near the face, to soften the features. Slight layering in the back lightens the load, while the darker roots make the hair look healthy and voluminous.
56. Ash and Silver Lob
Ash and silver are a winning combination, assuming you’re willing to let your hair process under so much bleach. The combination of colors is made gentler by the wavy styling, while the cut itself is layered subtly for a bit of lightness.
57. Piecey Graduated Long Bob Haircut
This gorgeous ginger lob has so much texture and attitude! The hair was cut into a graduated lob that is a little longer in the front, with the ends layered for maximal texture only enhanced by the wavy styling.
58. Textured Ash Lob
This flawless long bob hairstyle features a daring middle part and a shiny brown to ash sombre. The waves are thick and piecey, which looks very textured but also soft and streamlined. It’s a sophisticated look for those who dare.
59. Metallic Pink Lob
This metallic long bob is fascinating to look at. It was dyed in such a way so that the roots and ends are similarly dark, but the bulk of the center is a light, metallic pink that makes the hair look shiny and full. It was cut into a nearly blunt lob, with a few longer strands here and there making things interesting.
60. Ice and Fire Long Bob Hairstyle
Blunt long bob haircuts are a great canvas for truly unique ombres. This funky shoulder-length lob looks super piecey thanks to an ice and gunmetal streaked top half, while the fiery orange bottom half is seriously striking.
61. Black Coffee and Honey Lob
This simple lob is a comfortable, shoulder-skimming creation with slightly razored edges for just a bit of texture. The dark black hair was touched with a honey gold balayage, for an elegant look that is great across seasons.
62. Layered Cotton Candy Lob
This super textured lob with bangs is just on the verge of being a fashion mullet, thanks to intense layering at the front, which happens to continue all around to emphasize texture and volume. This look was dyed a mixture of pink and peach hair tones, for a cotton candy effect.
63. Space Blonde Long Bob
There is something ethereal about perfectly cool-toned blonde hair! This long bob haircut plays it up with choppy ends and lots of tousled brushed out waves. Note that the roots were left dark, for ease and volume.
Photos via Instagram
