The bob is here to stay. From Paris Jackson's neon green, choppy cut, to Emily Ratajkowski's 1920s-inspired flapper hairdo, the bob is proving to be 2023's most versatile haircut. Last night's SAG Awards red carpet further cemented the bob's timeless appeal with a party-ready take on the look as seen on the evening's biggest stars including Aubrey Plaza, Zendaya, Viola Davis, Simona Tabasco and Jenna Ortega (to name just a few...).
As the name suggests, the 'party bob' is a swishier, bouncier, glossier version of the bob hair cut. Thanks to the side parting (also set to be a huge trend this year), there's a 1950s retro vibe to this style that's giving strong dinner party hostess with the mostess vibes. Think Don't Worry Darling but make it Hollywood glamour.
Zendaya first debuted her take on the trend at the NAACP Awards on Saturday, sending Google searches for 'Zendaya bob' spiking by 164%, while 'bob hairstyles' saw a huge 250% uptick according to retailer Lookfantastic.
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Hairstylist Marcus Francis, who partnered with Nexxus haircare, looked to Italian screen sirens when creating the 'party bob' for White Lotus actress, Simona Tabasco, noting on his Instagram: 'Channeling major Sophia Loren energy at the SAG Awards today'. Francis kept Tabasco's signature flippy ends and focused on achieving plenty of volume on the roots by evenly sectioning the hair and using generous amounts of Nexxus Unbreakable Care Root Thickening Spray. It's currently unavailable in the UK but Oribe Maximista Thickening Spray is ELLE's alternative of choice.
For Zendaya, her baby pink, rosette-embellished Valentino gown no doubt informed the wavy, face-framing bob. Hairstylist Tai Simon shared with New Beauty that the inspiration was 'something romantic, but also a bit playful…an ultimate bombshell blowout.' The curls were achieved by blow-drying damp hair and applying plenty of mousse to create bouncy volume and enhance Zendaya's natural curl pattern.
Also on the glam blowout train was Aubrey Plaza, whose hair is channeling serious main character energy of late, going from dark brunette to platinum blonde and back again. To achieve the tighter curls on Plaza, hairstylist Mark Townsend reached for old school rollers after blowdrying with ghd Helios and using ghd Classic Curl Tong to add in extra lift and curl definition. Sol de Janeiro's Nourishing Hair Oil keeps the finish frizz-free and restores reflective shine.
According to hair wiz Hollie Rose Clarke, pin setting hair in rollers is the best way to create lasting waves. 'Once the hair is set and cool to the touch - usually 20 minutes is enough time - unpin and brush the curls to create that soft playful texture,' she tells ELLE, namecheking Virtue Volumizing Mousse for adding body and Living Proof Full Dry Volume & Texture Spray for maximum height.
SAG Awards 2024 - The Best Hair And Make-Up Looks Direct From The Red Carpet
If you've ever needed a sign to embrace shorter hair, the 'party bob' is it.
Medina Azaldin is the beauty editor of ELLE and Harper's Bazaar UK, working across print and digital features. She has more than seven years journalism experience and has previously written for Red and Good Hoousekeeping. When she's not demystifying the latest skincare ingredient, sniffing out the next big perfume trend or uncovering the science behind wellness practices, you'll most likely find her in Hatchards Piccadilly or watching a crime series with her cats. Oh, and she's a competitive cheerleader, too.
