Since last year, trend forecasters have been talking about all the ways the bob is going to be big in 2024. And they’ve been proven right, with stars like Ayo Edebiri, Carey Mulligan and Zendaya all living their best bob lives lately. 

Bobs are, of course, nothing new. But seeing so many people on and off the red carpet rocking similar haircuts – from the short 90s bob to the Italian variety – is still striking. It’s understandable, though; bobs are chic and fun. 

But a trend this big raises the question: why are so many of us chopping our hair off right now? After all, our hair carries a lot of emotional significance, and cutting it off is a big decision with big feelings attached. So when the bob dominates, is there something deeper going on?

Sian Wood, art director at Shoreditch salon Taylor Taylor London, tells Stylist that the resurgence of the bob is “partly down to the trend cycles. We saw lots of long, 70s boho hair and mid-length shags booming a few years ago. Now the world has moved onto 90s styles: shorter, glossy or choppy bobs are back in.” 

She adds that the bob’s prevalence among A-listers has also had an impact. “Huge numbers of celebrities have gone for the chop, so bobs are being seen everywhere on social media, on red carpets and on catwalks at fashion weeks, which naturally makes the cut feel aspirational.”

Wood also points out that the coming of spring often tends to lead to a boost in people wanting to get rid of a bit of length for a spring refresh, regardless of trend cycles. She adds: “The bob suits every face shape and style, so lots of people see it as an ideal option when switching up their hair.”

The after-effects of the pandemic could be playing a part here too. “We have settled back into normal life now, so lots of people are feeling ready for a big change and want a fresh start, which manifests and reflects in their personal style and beauty choices,” Wood explains. 

Philipp Haug, of Haug London Haus, agrees, saying: “I think we’re still shaking off the effect of lockdown and getting back to going out more. Especially as we come into spring, it feels quite freeing to chop off a few inches of hair.” 

While a bob might feel like a radical change, it’s still a “safe style” in the sense that there’s a bob to suit everyone, so “it’s kind of a no-risk statement cut that makes us feel reinvigorated and refreshed”, Haug says. “There’s definitely strength in numbers too – when we see more people going shorter, it feels easier to embrace.”

Haug sees braving the chop as a way for people to claw back a sense of control, regardless of how in charge we really feel about the things in our lives or in the wider world at the moment.

He explains: “The bob has a new softness that makes it easier to style and wear, plus there are so many amazing tools and products that give you control over how you want to wear it no matter what your hair texture is. 

“I think to a certain extent that’s also what people are craving with this cut – an element of control in what feels like an increasingly chaotic world, and the ability to make a change.”

Image: Getty