Messy bobs are the perfect mix of carefree and chic.
These stylishly undone short cuts allow you to roll out of bed and still look fabulously fashionable.
A messy bob effortlessly combines the ease of short hair with the soft femininity of longer locks.
The slightly unkempt look also adds loads of texture and movement.
There are many ways to style a messy bob for dramatic bedhead texture and tousled waves.
A messy bob is incredibly versatile and can be tailored to complement any face shape or hair type.
Today I’ll provide in-depth details on how to cut and style each look.
You’ll also find tips, tricks, and advice for recreating these sexy, imperfectly perfect messy bobs at home!
Choppy Razored Bob
This racy razored bob has loads of choppy layers cut throughout to create incredible texture. The shortest layers hit just under the chin, with longer pieces falling around the collarbone.
This gives it a slightly rounded shape that elegantly frames the face.
Ask your stylist to point cut the ends all over the head to get that perfectly imperfect messy finish. This removes weight and creates pieces that flip out haphazardly.
Use a texturizing sea salt spray when hair is damp and scrunch it in for sexy, beachy waves. Once dry, mess it up even more with your fingers.
This cut works well on medium to thick hair with some natural wave or curl.
The shattered ends enhance natural texture and movement. It’s great for oval, heart or diamond face shapes. Avoid this style if you have very fine or limp hair, as the layers may not hold well.
Angled Bob with Flipped Ends
This medium length messy bob is chopped into short angled layers in the back and left longer in the front. The angled shape is very flattering and creates the illusion of cheekbones.
Have your stylist point cut the back into short, shattered layers. Then leave the front and sides long enough to tuck behind the ears.
This contrast of lengths gives you the versatility to style it sleek one day and messy the next.
Use a volumizing mousse and blow dry the back up and under to flip out the ends.
Style the front tucked behind the ears or flipped out as well for an all-over lived-in look. This cut works best on medium to thick hair with a loose wave. It flatters oval and heart shaped faces.
Wavy Shag Bob
This wavy shag bob has an irresistible cool girl vibe.
It’s layered from top to bottom in short, shattered razored edges. The layers create loads of movement through the ends for an undone texture.
Have your stylist cut wispy bangs to frame the face.
Keep them longer than typical bangs and cut into the length for seamless blending. Have the shortest layers cut to the jawline and keep the front barely touching the collarbone.
Point cut the ends and don’t be afraid to really break up the hemline.
Finger style and scrunch in mousse for perfectly imperfect messy texture. Add volume at the roots with velcro rollers if your hair tends flat.
Let it air dry for amplified waves. This cut can work on most hair types and is ideal for oval or heart shaped faces.
Curly Shag Bob
This curly shag bob was made for naturally curly manes. The sliced layers remove weight and create shape while enhancing those luscious curls. Keep the perimeter longer in the front and angle it down to the jawline in the back.
Ask your stylist to razor cut shattered layers throughout, making sure the shortest layers hit at the cheekbone. This prevents the dreaded triangle hair shape!
Have them point cut the ends to encourage the curls to pop.
Apply a curl enhancing creme when hair is soaking wet.
Diffuse upside down to build volume at the roots or air dry for a more relaxed shape. Scrunch in some serum once dry and finger curl any pieces that need help.
Let those curly locks run free! This cut is great for all curl types and flatters round or square face shapes.
Angled Choppy Lob
The angled choppy lob is equal parts edgy and elegant. It’s a medium length cut ending just past the collarbone in the front, angling down to the shoulders in the back.
The perimeter is chopped into short shattered layers all throughout the hemline for added texture.
Have your stylist point cut the layers in throughout the interior of the hair as well. This removes bulk and creates softness around the face. Ask for lighter wispy layers around the hairline to prevent heaviness.
Add waves with a curling iron by wrapping random sections of hair around the barrel.
Vary the directions for a messy finish. Finish with a lightweight flexible hold hairspray to lock in the waves without crunch. This style flatters oval and heart shaped faces. It’s great for thick hair that can hold a wave.
Curly Windblown Bob
This curly windblown bob was made for naturally wavy and curly locks. The textured choppy layers remove weight and create shape while enhancing curls.
The perimeter is left longer in the front, curving down to sit on the collarbone. In the back, it angles down to the nape of the neck.
Ask your stylist for long wispy bangs swept to one side.
Have them razored to create softness around the face. Throughout the interior of the hair, have short shattered layers point cut to encourage volume and enhance texture.
Apply a curl cream and scrunch rigorously when hair is soaking wet.
Air dry or diffuse for amplified curls and volume. Once dry, shake out the curls and finger rake them into place. This breezy curly bob flatters heart, oval and diamond face shapes.
Angled Platinum Bob
This edgy angled platinum bob has tons of texture and attitude. It’s longer in the front, swooping down to graze the collarbone. In the back it angles sharply to the nape of the neck.
The back is stacked with short, shattered choppy layers pointing in different directions.
Have your colorist foil in fine slices of pale platinum blonde throughout the head for a multi-tonal look. Ask for a shadow root to break up the bold color. Add wispy side-swept bangs to soften the face.
Rough dry with your fingers or a wide-tooth comb for undone texture. Add volume at the roots with velcro rollers if needed and lock in the style with a strong hold hairspray.
This cut and color is edgy yet feminine. It flatters diamond and oval face shapes. Best for naturally straight or wavy medium to thick hair.
Tousled Angled Bob
This tousled angled bob has medium length layers cut longer at the front and angling down to the shoulders at the back. The layers are texturized throughout with point cutting to create height and movement.
Ask your stylist for shattered tips cut in a U-shape to frame the face softly. Style the bangs forward and tucked behind one ear for a flirty touch.
Have the back perimeter chopped shorter than the front in an inverted bob shape.
Blow dry with a round brush to flip ends out all over. Finish with a medium hold flexible hairspray. For more texture, scrunch in a styling creme like Kenra Working Spray Wax when hair is damp and air dry.
Finger rake and tousle the waves into place. This cut is great for thick, straight hair. It flatters oval and heart shaped faces.
Wavy Chin Length Bob
This wavy chin length bob has shattered point cut layers throughout to encourage soft waves and movement. The perimeter hits right at the chin in a blunt cut, with shorter layers building up to it.
Add long side swept bangs cut to graze the cheekbones for dimension.
Ask your colorist for an all-over dark chocolate brown with warm caramel babylights weaved throughout to add luminance. The rich color enhances this messy bob beautifully.
Apply a wave enhancing mist to damp hair and scrunch.
Let air dry or diffuse at the roots for volume.
Shake out the waves and run fingers through the ends to break up the texture. This cut and color combo flatters oval, diamond and heart face shapes. It’s perfect for fine to medium density hair.
Chin Length Curly Bob
This chin length curly bob was designed to bring out the best in naturally curly hair. The blunt cut perimeter grazing the chin removes weight while side swept bangs soften the face.
Short layers cut throughout the interior build volume and shape.
Ask your stylist to point cut the layers so the edges fluff up when dry. Have them razor a few longer face framing layers as well to prevent the dreaded triangle shape. Keep the chin length perimeter heavy to encourage the curls to pop outward.
Apply a moisturizing curl cream to soaking wet hair and scrunch it in.
Diffuse or air dry upside down until fully dry. Shake out the curls and piecey pin curl any areas needing more definition. This bob rocks on all curl types and flatters heart and oval face shapes beautifully.
Angled Blonde Bob with Bangs
This angled blonde bob has tons of shattered texture and movement. The front hits at the collarbone, curving back sharply to hit the shoulder in the back. The heavy side fringe bangs grace the cheekbones for a flirty effect.
Have your colorist paint on buttery streaks of golden blonde through the ends for luminosity. Ask for darker lowlights through the interior and at the regrowth to create depth and dimension.
Rough dry forward with your fingers or a wide-tooth comb. Use a 1 1/4 inch barrel curling iron to flip out the ends all over.
Spray lightly with hairspray for hold. Finish by tousling the waves with your fingers. This cut and color enhances oval, heart and round face shapes. It’s great for straight to wavy medium density hair.
Uneven Curly Bob
This uneven curly bob was designed to maximize texture and volume.
One side is cut shorter to hit at the jawline while the other side angles down to hit at the collarbone. Short shattered layers throughout remove bulk and shape the curls.
Ask your stylist to razor in longer face framing layers around the front to prevent the dreaded triangle shape. Have them texture point cut the ends all over as well for movement.
Keep the perimeter heavier on both sides to hold the shape of the curl pattern.
Apply gel to soaking wet hair and diffuse upside down until fully dry.
Once dry, rake your fingers through and piecey pin curl any areas needing more definition. The uneven shape is edgy yet feminine! It flatters heart and oval face shapes and rocks on all curl types.
Tousled Bronde Lob
This tousled bronde lob has texture and dimension galore. The collarbone length cut has textured layers throughout to encourage movement and flow. The color is rich and multi-dimensional as well.
Have your colorist paint on ribbons of golden and caramel blonde starting mid-length through the ends. Keep the regrowth a dark neutral brown for contrast. Have them mix in warm bronze lowlights as well for added depth.
Blow dry with a paddle brush smoothing the top flat first.
Then lift sections and winds them vertically around a 1 1/4 inch barrel iron. Spray lightly with flexible hold hairspray and break up the waves with your fingers for an imperfect finish.
This cut and color complements oval and heart face shapes. It’s ideal for wavy to straight medium density hair.
Messy bobs are sexy, sophisticated and crazy simple to style.
These chic short cuts allow you to roll out of bed and still look salon fabulous.
Not only do these tousled bobs look amazing, they’re also low maintenance. Bobs are easy to wash, dry and style at home.
You can air dry for effortless texture or amplify the volume and waves with some simple hot tools.
The right messy bob can enhance your natural texture while framing your features beautifully. Use the tips and tricks provided to find your perfect messy bob haircut.
Then style it with confidence to turn heads for all the right reasons. Strut your stuff and have fun flaunting those fabulously undone, messy bob locks!
