If there's one term that defines the beauty zeitgeist right now it's the bob haircut. Shedding its hard-to-style former self and rebranding as the ultimate cool-girl hairstyle, it's been modernised through a Gen Z lens thanks to the likes of Zendaya and Sydney Sweeney, with new iterations cropping up by the day, from the boyfriend bob to the french bob, the old money bob and the lob haircut.
Now Margot Robbie and Hailey Bieber have just proved that the 'baroque bob' is set to dominate this season, both donning the covetable hair trend in the last week. Defined by an elevated, more elaborate blunt cut, the pair have both been spotted out and about with new baroque-style bobs. And while it might not be the first time that Bieber has jumped on the bob bandwagon, it's certainly Robbie's shortest hairstyle to date.
Historically loyal to her trademark, beachy lengths, Robbie surprised us all when she unveiled her new baroque lob cut over the weekend. Attending the 10th Annual Breakthrough Prize Ceremony in California, celebrity stylist Christopher Farmer paired the new cut with golden, syrupy highlights (which give the appearance of being naturally lightened under the sun) and soft, bouncy tips. Along with her radiant complexion and just-pinched cheeks, courtesy of make-up artist Pati Dubroff, Robbie is the picture of summer.
Portraying the cool, grungy alter-ego of Robbie’s bob, Bieber seized the much-anticipated Coachella Weekend One to debut her new do. Bouncy and wispy at the tips, the model and entrepreneur paired her cut with a smoky, winged-out liner and boxy leather jacket.
While some celebrities seem to have hung their boots on extravagant Coachella costumes, now opting for a more casual style (see Kendall Jenner, Taylor Swift), Bieber gave us something to talk about. Having grown out the boyfriend bob she sported in 2023, her new style shows how much impact a minimal cut and colour can make. Earlier this year, hair forecaster Tom Smith told us that '2024 will hero brunette shades in the same way 2023 did for coppers', and we’re backing that statement. Rich and warm in colour, her chocolate hue reflects the light beautifully, and has that ‘expensive’ appearance you’ll have heard hair experts talking about. Thank you, Amanda Lee (her colourist and stylist).
As for the baroque bob, the cut is actually quite simple favouring one length and a blunt finish. It's the styling that sets it apart. Blown-out and flicked-in, its name derives from the elaborate charm of early 17th century art and architecture. 'Health and wealth signalling are two key themes in hair trends (and beauty) at the moment, and this luxurious yet modern look ticks both boxes very well,' adds Smith.
Thinking about taking the plunge? Before you do, discuss face shape and feature placement with your stylist. They will be able to tailor the cut to suit you best. 'I look for strong bone structure in my clients, and keep in mind that the length I cut to will determine where attention is drawn to,' says Mia Dellicompagni, managing director of Francesco hair salons. For a cut like Bieber’s and Robbie’s, 'this bell-shaped style is great for those with well-balanced features, because the lower volume draws attention to the lips and lower face,' says Smith.
If recent trends are anything to go by, we’ll be expecting another A-Lister to drop their new, spring-ready bob any day now.
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