16 Best Lob Haircuts to Upgrade Your Hair for the New Year

Season after season, the lob is considered one of the hottest mid-length haircuts because it can suit all hair types and textures. There are many ways you can tailor the style to suit your preferences whether that be with a wavy lob, a shag lob or an asymmetrical lob. Plus, if you’ve never sported a cropped ‘do before, it’s a great entry point into a shorter hairstyle without having to commit to something drastic like a pixie cut. 

If there’s any haircut that will convince you to make the chop, there is a good chance it’s going to be the lob. Check out 16 of our favorite long bob haircuts to upgrade your look for the new year.

1. Bouncy Lob

Think of the bouncy lob as a shortened take on the ‘90s blowout and this season’s buzzy butterfly haircut. Ask your stylist for shorter face-framing layers that start at the chin with longer layers throughout the rest of your shoulder-skimming cut.

To help your lob maintain that bouncy, full look, introduce a plumping hair system into your routine, like the L’Oréal Paris Elvive Hyaluron + Plump Hydrating Shampoo, Paraben-Free, the L’Oreal Paris Elvive Hyaluron + Plump Hydrating Conditioner, Paraben-Free and the L’Oréal Paris Elvive Hyaluron + Plump Moisture Plump Serum, Paraben-Free. 

This nourishing, three-part hair system is infused with hyaluronic acid to replump dry, dehydrated strands for bouncier, shinier and fuller hair. Use the shampoo and conditioner every time you wash your hair and the serum to refresh and re-moisturize your hair on the non-wash days

2. Layered Lob

A layered lob is a great way to give your shoulder-length strands some texture and movement. Layers are suitable for all hair types except those with fine, thin hair because they help to remove bulk. The upside is that with a layered lob, routine hair maintenance can be kept to a minimum because the layers help to maintain the shape of your style as your hair grows. 

3. Asymmetrical Lob

The Y2K resurgence is not going away anytime soon so lean into the trend by sporting an asymmetrical lob. With shorter length on one side and longer length on the other, this edgy version of the long bob was sported by many of your favorite R&B artists in the 2000s. 

4. Curly Layered Lob

Cutting your curly tresses into a layered lob is a great way to remove bulk from your hair while enhancing the shape of your curls. Ask your stylist for internal layers — this will help your lob maintain its style and volume without appearing boxy or heavy. In the end, all your curls will look the same length but your hair will feel much lighter. 

5. Jellyfish Lob

For a statement-making ‘do that highlights your experimental personal style, try the jellyfish haircut and keep the underneath layers short and sweet. This haircut combines two styles in one so with the shorter under length, it’ll wear like a round, short bob and the longer layers will wear like a lob. 

6. Lob With Curtain Bangs

Curtain bangs are one of this season’s hottest forms of face-framing layers and they make a charming addition to any haircut, lobs included. The shorter front strands will frame your face, creating natural contouring and slimming your features.  

7. Lob With Micro Bangs

Micro bangs are an extremist, ultra-short take on bangs and they instantly overhaul your style with a grungy twist. Whether you rock a layered lob or prefer blunt ends, they are a stellar and bold addition to your haircut that will only modernize your look.

Since micro bangs sit on your forehead, they’re bound to get greasy faster than the rest of your hair thanks to your skin’s natural oils. Keep them fresh with a tinted dry shampoo like the L’Oréal Paris EverPure Sulfate-Free Tinted Dry Shampoo for Blonde Hair for light hair or the L’Oréal Paris EverPure Sulfate-Free Tinted Dry Shampoo for Brown Hair for dark hair. 

8. Lob With Long Layers

The lob is a versatile, classic style but don’t mistake that for boring. Ask your stylist for a lob with long layers to help your ends appear light and bouncy. With long layers, you’ll be able to style your lob in tons of different ways like with beach waves, straight hair or flipped-out ends just like you would with a longer style. 

Editor’s tip: Give your mid-length strands the ultimate nostalgic makeover with a rainbow skunk stripe and flipped-out ends. Use a flat iron to flip the ends of your hair outwards and upwards. For the rainbow skunk stripe, head to the drugstore and snag the L’Oréal Paris Hair Makeup Temporary 1-Day Hair Color Spray in a few shades of choice. This semi-permanent hair color sprays onto the hair for easy, quick application and lasts until your next shampoo. 

9. Sleek Lob

The sleek lob is a great style for those with naturally straight hair and it keeps maintenance to a minimum. Ask your stylist for a shoulder-length bob with minimal layers to keep the ends a bit softer than a traditional blunt cut. 

If you do use heat to maintain your sleek style, always reach for a heat protectant like the L’Oréal Paris Elvive Dream Lengths Frizz Killer Serum Leave-In. The bonus: It also helps to tame frizz and flyaways.

10. Blunt Lob

For those with fine, thin hair, a blunt bob is a great way to fake the appearance of denser strands because the ends of your hair are all the same length. While those with thick or coarse hair may want to skip this style, blunt ends will boost fullness, making your hair appear thicker than it actually is. Ask your stylist for a blunt cut lob with no layers.

11. Curly Shag Bob With Bangs

The short layers that make up the modern shag cut are great for curls because they help to remove bulk while shaping your coils and making the hair look like it’s all the same length. To keep your curls looking bouncy, plush and moisturized, reach for a curl-enhancing leave-in like the L’Oréal Paris Elvive Dream Lengths Curls Non-Stop Dream Curls Leave-in Conditioner. Powered by nourishing hyaluronic acid and castor oil, this treatment is great for banishing frizz and shaping your curls without weighing them down. 

12. Lob With Chin Bangs

If you want face-framing layers without the maintenance that comes with curtain bangs, ask your stylist for chin bangs to go alongside your lob haircut. As the name suggests, these bangs hit around chin length, like out-grown curtain bangs so you can tuck them behind your ears or pull them back into a ponytail when you don’t feel like styling them. They’re a chic addition to your lob, plus, the chin-length layers help contour and soften square or oblong face shapes. 

The best way to style face-framing layers is with a blow dryer and a round brush so don’t forget to prime your strands with a heat protectant like the L’Oréal Paris EverPure Sulfate-Free Weightless Blow Dry Primer, Heat Protectant. Not only will it offer heat protection up to 450 degrees, but it will keep your blowout smooth and shiny without weighing down the hair. 

13. Inverted Lob

The inverted lob features a slightly shorter back length with longer front pieces that help to keep the hair from appearing heavy or boxy. This is especially helpful with a mid-length haircut that sits on the shoulders. While the variance in length is subtle, it allows your hair to hold its shape as it grows, making it ideal for low-maintenance upkeep. 

14. A-Line Lob

The A-line lob is a more obvious take on the inverted lob and spotlights a short back length with mid-length front pieces. The front pieces are great for elongating round face shapes and the varying layers help to keep the hair feeling light and bouncy. 

15. Shag Lob

Tailor the modern shag haircut to an effortless, lob length. This multi-layer cut, reminiscent of this season’s wolf haircut, is a great way to lighten the hair while prioritizing texture and volume. Ask your stylist for short, choppy layers that cascade around the face with short layers through the rest of your shoulder-length hair. 

16. Wavy Lob

Whether it’s achieved with natural waves and the help of the aforementioned L’Oréal Paris Elvive Dream Lengths Curls Non-Stop Dream Curls Leave-in Conditioner or your curling iron, a wavy bob looks good with many different hair types and textures. For a cut that prioritizes your hair’s natural texture and movement, ask for a long bob haircut with shorter layers. If you have thin hair, try a blunt cut and use a wide barrel curling iron or overnight braids to add a natural-looking wave.

Next: The 20 Best Haircuts and Hairstyles for Heart-Shaped Faces

Written by: Reece Andavolgyi, Photo Credit: IG @/thebangsbabe, Design Credit: Sarah Duviver