Lob haircut
A lob haircut, short for long bob, is a bob cut longer: it ends around the shoulders, anywhere from just above them to just below, and the version shown here sits just above them. Mostly one length, it keeps a bob's clean outline but leaves enough hair to tie back, which makes it a gentle way to try shorter hair.
What is a lob haircut?
The lob sits between a bob and long hair. It is usually cut to one length with soft ends, either straight across or with the front a touch longer than the back, and worn straight, tucked behind the ears or with loose waves.
One stylist sees it as a gentler version of the bob; another, when in doubt, keeps it one length and breaks up the line at the ends with a razor rather than adding layers. Long bangs, a little extra length or a few extra layers are the usual ways to adapt it to your face.
Longer bobs go back to the late 1920s, when the decade's short bobs began to grow out into softer, longer shapes.
Who it suits
Often suggested for
Stylists say the lob suits almost anyone, whatever their age or styling skill, and that moving the part changes it more than you would expect. The main exception is very unruly hair, since the cut depends on a fairly smooth, even outline.
Lob haircut vs blunt bob
Collarbone lob
Blunt bob
| Lob haircut | Blunt bob | |
|---|---|---|
| Where it ends | Around the collarbone or shoulders | Around the chin or jaw |
| Tying it back | Usually enough for a short ponytail | Usually too short |
| The edge | Softer; often textured at the ends | Sharp and solid all the way around |
| Growing out | Turns into shoulder-length hair | Passes through a lob on the way |
If your hair is long now, the lob is the lower-risk first cut: it keeps a ponytail and grows out without fuss. Go for the blunt bob when you want the sharper, more graphic change at the jaw.
Lob haircut variations
A-line bobShorter, at the chin, with the hem sloping down toward the front.
Italian bobFuller and a little shorter, with rounded ends and body at the sides from a round-brush blow-dry.
Shoulder-length feathered layersAbout the same length, but with feathered layers that add movement around the face.
Curtain bangsA center-parted fringe that frames the face without taking any length off the lob.
Shag haircutA similar length cut with many short, jagged layers, usually with a fringe.
Upkeep
Low upkeep
It's long enough to tie back and grows out without an awkward stage, since growth just turns it into shoulder-length hair. Trims keep the ends clean. Day to day it can simply air-dry; a few loose waves give it more shape when you want it.
How to ask your stylist
- Say exactly where it should end: at the collarbone, just above it, or touching the shoulders. Hair that sits on the shoulders tends to flip out; just above them, it hangs straighter.
- Ask them to check the length dry. Wet hair stretches, so a length that looks right wet often sits shorter once dry, especially on wavy hair.
- Say whether you want a level hem or a front that's slightly longer than the back, and whether the ends should be blunt or broken up with a razor.
- On thick hair, ask for some weight taken out underneath, or the ends can look heavy and square. On fine hair, keep the ends blunt; it will look fuller than shoulder-length hair with layers.
- If you want to keep tying it up, say so; they'll keep the back long enough for a short ponytail.
How to style it
Keep styling light: let it air-dry most of the way, rough-dry the rest and blow-dry only the front pieces into shape. For loose waves, wrap random sections around a curling wand and leave the ends out so they stay straight. A big round brush gives more bounce, and a little sea-salt spray before air-drying adds texture.
Questions
How can I see what I'd look like with a lob haircut?
Upload one clear, front-facing photo to Styloom and pick Collarbone lob. You get an AI preview of your own photo with the cut in about 20–30 seconds.
Is a lob the same as shoulder-length hair?
Nearly, in length. The difference is the shape: a lob keeps a bob's clean, mostly one-length outline, while shoulder-length cuts are often layered.
Does a lob suit a round face?
It's often suggested for round faces: a hem below the chin pulls the eye downward, and a slightly longer front adds a vertical line. A part that isn't dead center helps too.
Can you tie up a lob?
A collarbone lob usually goes into a short ponytail or a low knot. Shorter lobs may leave pieces loose at the nape. Pins or a claw clip catch the shorter pieces.
How often should you trim a lob?
There's no fixed rule. One stylist suggests a cut about every four months; go sooner if the ends split or the shape starts to flip out on your shoulders.
Sources
Written in our own words from common salon and barber advice. The example photos are AI-generated and show the style from the front. Updated November 6, 2026.