23 Curly Bob Ideas That Will Convince You to Go Short

Yara Shahidi with her curly bob. — @yarashahidi / Instagram

Bobs have become the go-to haircut as of late. The beauty of the short 'do is that it works for all textures and can be styled in so many ways. Curly bobs serve as the perfect example. Many celebrities with textured hair—ranging from Tia Mowry to Zendaya—have been spotted sporting curly bobs, and we're obsessed.

If you're considering giving this look a go, we've got you covered. Ahead, take a glimpse of some stunning examples of curly bobs, along with some tips to help you style yours.

Meet the Experts

Larry Sims is a celebrity hairstylist and co-founder of Flawless by Gabrielle Union.
Sharley Butcher is the lead educator at Curlsmith.

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Voluminous Curly Bob

Ayo Edebiri wearing her hair in a curly bob — Getty Images

Ayo Edebiri's super voluminous curls are the perfect style for the summer. Even if you get a little frizz from the humidity, it's still going to look fabulous.

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Full Fringe Curly Bob

tia mowry wearing curly bob with bangs — @tiamowry / instagram

Adding fringe to your curly bob is the perfect way to add a playful, fresh touch to your haircut. To achieve the most precise bangs, paying attention to the length of your forehead is essential. "Those with longer foreheads should end the bangs right above the eyebrow," says Sims.

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Half-Afro Bob

Issa Rae wearing a half-braided afro hairstyle — Getty Images

Type 4 baddies step to the front and take note from Issa Rae. You too can rock a bob. If you want to add in a little razzle dazzle, you can do a braided crown, too. It's an easy way to keep your hair out of your face.

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Beachy Curly Bob

beyonce wearing a curly bob — Getty Images

Beyonce's textured French bob is ultra-chic. From the ombré color to the beachy loose curls, it's such a stunning, low-maintenance look. The key to achieving Bey's look is to lightly curl and tease the hair.

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Defined Curly Bob

meagan good wearing curly bob — @meagangood / instagram

We love how this super-defined, curly bob looks on Meagan Good. Sims says that it's a great option for those with finer curly hair. "Keeping the hair short gives the illusion of more volume," he adds. To give your curls even more volume, use a diffuser like the Curlsmith Defrizzion Dryer and XXL Diffuser.

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Curly Fro Bob

Kerry Washington wearing a curly bob hairstyle with bangs — Getty Images

Kerry Washington's face-framing curly fro bob is absolute perfection. Getting tons of volume at the root is easy. After your hair is completely dry, take an afro pick and gently lift up the hair from the root.

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Asymmetrical Curly Bob

Halle Berry’s asymmetrical curly side bob is an edgy twist on the classic symmetrical bob. The defined wand curls cascading across one side of her face make this the perfect face-framing style.

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Fluffy Curly Bob

nazanin mandy wearing a curly bob — Getty Images

Curly bobs have been one of Nazanin Mandi’s signature looks through the years. If you want a bob as voluminous as hers, you’ll need an ½ inch curling wand, a one-inch curling wand, and a heat protectant.

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Faux Neck-Length Curly Bob

Janelle Monae wearing a curly bob hairstyle — Getty Images

Sometimes, a hair cut, especially when you have curly hair, is a bit too much of an ask. That's when you channel your inner Janelle Monaé and opt for a faux bob. Take a couple of bobby pins and tuck the ends under themselves and voila, you have a brand new hairstyle.

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Bold and Bouncy Curly Bob

sophia roe wearing a curly bob — Getty Images

A super short bang and chin-length bob may seem like a drastic look, but Sophia Roe's unique take proves the combination is incredibly chic. "This look is best suited to those with thick hair," Sims says.

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Tousled Curly Bob

model mica arganaraz wearing a curly bob — Getty Images

Although Mica Arganaz's tousled curly bob feels very effortless, the layers and light brown highlights elevate the look. "This look can give those with finer hair the appearance of increased volume due to the layers, and it can give thicker hair types some weight relief," Sims says. Those with coilier hair types can use a cream to achieve the look, while those with wavier textures should use a lightweight serum.

12 of 23

Faux Bang Curly Bob

This simple yet sophisticated bob is one of our favorite styles Yara Shahidi has worn. If you don’t want full-coverage bangs, take some inspiration from the actress and part your hair to the side to create a faux fringe instead. For added bounce and definition, use a conditioning curl spray.

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Short Bob with Bangs

If you've ever done a big chop, then you're well aware of the chaos of the between a bob and a lob stage. But Ruth Negga has it all figured out—just add in some bangs!

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Wet Look Curly Bob

Willow Smith's asymmetric bob features uneven lengths, creating a look that is super stylish and edgy. If you plan to recreate the look on your natural hair, you'll need a cream, gel, and serum to create the perfect glossy, wet look finish.

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Chic Curly Bob

janelle monae wearing a curly bob — Getty Images

Janelle Monae's contemporary take on the classic French bob is perfect for those with Type 4 hair. "The soft graduation towards the ends creates a softer finish which flatters tighter coils," Butcher says. You can achieve this look by first doing two-strand twists on your hair. Once your hair has fully dried, apply a serum and then use a bamboo pick to create a fuller, more voluminous shape.

16 of 23

Soft Curls

Laura Harrier wearing her hair in a curly bob hair style — Getty Images

Laura Harrier's curly bob is super soft and touchable—and we love the casual hair-behind-the-ear moment. To keep your curls voluminous and frizz free, use a lightweight mousse like The Doux Mousse Def Texture Foam to avoid weighing your hair down.

17 of 23

Sleek Curly Bob

rihanna wearing wet look curly bob — Getty Images

A mid-length, wet-look bob like Rihanna's is such a sleek, sexy style. The key to achieving (and maintaining) the hairdo is to apply mousse to your damp hair.

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Copper Curly Bob

We love Zendaya's colorful take on a blunt, curly bob. Her hair's fiery copper hue adds an exciting touch to the short look.

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Soft and Silky Curly Bob

viola davis wearing wand curl bob — Getty Images

Here, Viola Davis wears gorgeous loose curls. The key to achieving these uniform curls is to use a shine-enhancing heat protection spray before curling it with an ½ inch curling wand. Gently comb through the ends of the hair to give them a softer look.

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Curly Lob

Lori Harvey's flexi rod lob is what dreams are made of. Don't forget to style your baby hair with an edge styling tool (we like the Pattern Edge Tool) and edge control gel.

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Blow Out Bob

A voluminous, curly blow out is a fantastic style for both formal and casual events. If you're looking to dress your hairstyle up like Tracee Ellis Ross, choose a dramatic eye look and pair it with sparkly statement earrings.

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Blonde Blowout Bob

Curly hair is way more versatile than you think. Case in point is Amandla's blonde blow out bob. It's the best style for those days you want a bit more edge to your look.

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Shaped Curly Bob

Logan Browning wearing her hair in a curly bob style — Getty Images

Do you have super thick, curly hair? Consider a sculptural curly cut that'll hold it's shape no matter how you style it. Just google DevaCut in your city and you'll be able to find a stylist that's up to the task.