Gigi Hadid's jaw-length bob, with natural waves.
It was the year of the blunt ‘cunty little bob’, thanks to Leslie Bibb and an array of celebrities flirting with a neat, shorter length. If you too gave it a go, but now find yourself ready to go long again in 2026, here’s a quick guide to making it through. It doesn’t have to turn into a months-long identity crisis!
ACCEPT THE LIMINAL SPACE YOU’RE ABOUT TO ENTER
When you decide to grow out a bob, you enter a montage where hair growth often feels even slower than usual. The first important step is to recognise that this phase has an arc. You won't be here forever! Patience is key.
BOOK MICRO-TRIMS
Growing out doesn't mean abandoning scissors. Strategic, feather-light trims every 8-10 weeks keep your ends sharp and your shape deliberate. Ask your stylist about transition layers that help your bob evolve instead of shapeshifting into a mushroom.
Sofia Richie Grainge cut off her long locks earlier this year into a "French bob" - but is letting it grow back, with this shoulder-length.
EMBRACE STYLING
The right tools and tricks can stretch each stage until it feels like a look, not a compromise.
• Round brush blowout: Gives body and movement so your growing bob looks purposefully full, not bulky.
• Soft waves: The universal distraction. Curl away from the face and brush everything out for that easy mid-length bend.
• The half-up-half-down: When you reach the point of growth when you're able to tie it up again.
• Sleek-and-slick: When in doubt, tuck behind both ears and smooth with a light cream.
• The flick: If your bob wants to flip outwards, let it. Tousle it up with a salt spray and call it French.
HAVE FUN WITH IT
When your hair is in a middle-length purgatory, accessories can help bring some order - and fun. A chunky claw clip can create a low-effort updo that still reads intentional, smaller clips can secure chaotic strands, and headbands of all stripes – thin and chic or padded and playful – instantly shift focus and frame the face.
Hailey Bieber's half-up-half-down bob, worn with a bow.
FEED YOUR FUTURE
Sorry to state the obvious, but healthy hair grows better. So while you're fussing over the outside, keep the inside thriving too:
• Use a strengthening shampoo/conditioner duo.
• Add a weekly mask or bond-building treatment.
• Protect from heat – non-negotiable.
• Massage your scalp to stimulate circulation.
Your hair may be short right now, but colleen founder Lauren Gunn's guide to growing your hair long will still be helpful.
WHAT'S THE END GAME?
Growing out a bob is easier when you know where you're going. Collarbone? Lobs? Long layers? Show your stylist your references or inspo so they can sculpt each trim toward the end goal. It will also help you stay committed to the growing out process, without giving up and cutting it all off again (which is ok, too!).
