Since a particularly savage haircut in my first year of secondary school (my first experience of layers and above-the-shoulders-length hair), I have exercised extreme caution at the hairdressers. I’ve asked for nothing more than a trauma-free trim for over 25 years and have existed with a basic, easy, midi-length haircut that hasn’t changed and has suited me just fine. 

With the meteoric rise of the bob, however, I started seeing inspiration everywhere – from Gigi Hadid’s new beachy bob to Sydney Sweeney’s Hollywood bob – and started to question just how fond I really was of my thin, lacklustre hairstyle that even my hairdresser has been politely suggesting that I should update.

Some of my absolute favourite bobs include Kelly Rutherford’s sleek, preppy bob; Laura Jackson’s undone midi bob; Zendaya’s elegant French bob; Alexis Foreman’s cool, blunt shoulder-length bob; Ambika Mod’s collarbone bob and Ayo Edebiri’s versatile chin-length bob.

So, I decided to make the leap, book an appointment and get the haircut. I chose a hairdresser I respect (and who also cuts Laura Jackson’s hair) at a brilliant salon – I wanted their advice and to feel confident that I could trust in the process. Formerly Luke Hersheson’s assistant, Jordan G at Hershesons Fitzrovia has over 15 years of experience cutting and styling hair in London, LA, San Francisco and New York – he’s well known as the guy that gets you cool-girl hair.

With my inspirations spanning such a vast range of lengths and hair types, I thought it best not to bring photos or references, and instead to ask lots of questions and agree on a length I feel comfortable with after the consultation. 

Jordan goes reasonably easy on me but also stands firm about the length. He explains: “With any haircut, but especially with bobs, the length sets the tone. You can be the coolest chick in the world but if you’ve got a dead-length haircut it just projects the wrong look, so I’ve got this rule: you’ve got great zones and no-go zones and hair touching the shoulder is a no-go zone. You just end up with this weather girl flick thing. It doesn’t look good.”

He urges me to go for a shorter length than I was imagining, adding that “bobs look great with a clear gap between your hair and your shoulders. If you aren’t going as short as that you should go for a collarbone bob.”

While I’m processing his advice he adds something that puts me at ease: “As most people’s hair is thicker closer to the root than the ends, cutting a bob will make your hair look way more dense. You have lots of hair, but individually it’s fine, so I would never put layers in your hair.”

I decide to go above the shoulder. In terms of styling, Jordan keeps it simple: he uses some Kerastase mousse to “make it feel a bit thicker” and then finishes with some Hershesons Almost Everything Cream, advising me to “apply it with your fingers acting like a comb to separate the hair up a bit”.

And that’s it. I now have a bob and it looks much better than I thought it would and nothing at all like the humbling haircut of 2001. It looks much thicker now, too. When I wash it, I leave it to dry naturally and it dries great – the hallmark of a great cut – and it cuts my morning routine in half too. 

Images: Kitty McGee; courtesy of brands

You can book an appointment with Jordan G at Hershesons Fitzrovia here.