The Sliced Bob Is Having a Moment

This It-girl haircut will have you going in for the chop.

Updated on December 21, 2022 @ 08:36AM

How many different ways can you wear a bob? Let us count: asymmetrical, wavy, straight, with bangs, choppy, blunt, or shaggy — you get the idea. The versatility of the bob, along with the fact that it can be tailored to every face shape and hair texture, is why it remains one of the most-requested cuts at salons. And just when you thought that every type of bob imaginable had already been invented, another iteration pops up: the sliced bob.

Kerry Washington sliced bob; Aimee Song blunt bob — kerrywashington/Instagram, aimeesong/Instagram

"A sliced bob creates internal movement by taking the weight out," explains celebrity hairstylist Anh Co Tran. "It's great for clients with thick, bulky, and coarse hair. It also helps keep the shape and prolong the cut." While this bob appears to be blunt, it's actually slightly tapered, which works to cut down on styling time — if you have straight or wavy hair, that is.

When going for this look, keep your unique hair makeup in mind, notes Adriana Papaleo, advanced stylist at Rob Peetoom Williamsburg. "If you have a massive amount of hair, you may need to incorporate other forms of weight removal to get the shape to sit as desired," she says. "If you have a lot of curl, make sure you look at imagery that reflects your hair and talk about the different options with your stylist."

Before heading to the salon, screenshot the following celebrity takes on the sliced bob to inspire your own cut.

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Super-Sleek

This classic version of the sliced bob on Kerry Washington by Kim Kimble includes a super-sleek finish with flipped-under ends. The deep side part adds a soft touch to the style.

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Lived-In

Customizing the sliced bob to make the style your own is as easy as partially tucking the front section of your hair behind your ear like Lucy Hale. Co Tran suggests using a curling iron from his ANHxSULTRA Collection Curling Irons to add lived-in waves. "Apply Milbon Dry Texturizing Spray to roots through ends for body and texture," he adds.

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'90s-Inspired

This straight cut with a precise center part by Anh Co Tran is a nod to the '90s and brings out the highlights in Aimee Song's dark brown hair. To get her super chic finish, work in a small amount of hair oil throughout strands.

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Oh-So-Chic

The subtle texture of Kourtney Kardashian's sliced bob shows off her cut's slight asymmetrical shape. Papaleo recommends using a texture-inducing product, such as Davines Texturizing Serum, on wet hair to create a similar effect. "This will help show off the separation and texture the slicing gives to the haircut," she says.

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Air-Dried

Laura Harrier's sliced bob is visually — and literally — effortless. Post-wash, air-dry this style, and go. It doesn't get more low-maintenance than that.