Messy bob hairstyles exude a chic and contemporary vibe, captivating the hearts of hair enthusiasts and sparking a rising demand. Known for their versatility, these styles are perfect for a wide range of occasions. Whether you’re aiming for an edgy look with choppy layers or a softer, romantic appeal with curly textures, there’s something for everyone. Below, we’ve curated 50 stunning variations to inspire your next transformation. Take a look and find your perfect match!
1. Vintage Rounded-End Bob
Keira Knightley has long been a trendsetter when it comes to iconic bob hairstyles, and this vintage-inspired look is no exception. The style features an ear-length bob with softly twisted and curled ends, giving it a timeless, retro charm. While this hairstyle could easily be the centerpiece of a retro-themed event, its versatility allows it to transition seamlessly into everyday life. Whether you’re heading out for a casual day in town or looking to add a touch of old-school glamour to your routine, this chic bob is a perfect choice. The soft curls add movement and texture, making it both sophisticated and effortlessly wearable.
2. Top Knot On Wavy Blunt Bob
Yes, a sharp, blunt bob can effortlessly transition from edgy to soft and casual with a simple styling tweak like a top knot. The structured precision of a blunt bob creates a bold, modern look, especially when styled with a slightly messy texture. However, if you’re aiming for a more approachable, girl-next-door vibe, gathering your hair into a top knot is an easy and effective solution.
To achieve this:
- Tease the roots slightly for added volume and a softer texture.
- Gather your hair into a high ponytail, leaving out a few face-framing strands to enhance the casual feel.
- Twist the ponytail into a loose bun or top knot, securing it with a scrunchie or bobby pins.
- Gently pull apart sections of the knot for a relaxed, effortless finish.
This combination of the edgy bob and the playful top knot strikes a perfect balance between chic and approachable, making it versatile for various occasions. Plus, it highlights your natural texture while keeping the look fresh and fun!
3. Sharp Wavy Bob With Baby Bangs
Baby bangs are undeniably one of the hottest trends taking the hair world by storm. Regardless of hair length, countless influencers and celebrities are boldly embracing this daring style by chopping their bangs into short, playful baby bangs. This trend adds an edgy yet chic touch to any look, making it incredibly versatile. Whether you’re sporting sleek straight strands, bouncy curls, or effortless waves, baby bangs seamlessly blend with every texture and style. The key to pulling off this trend lies in its ability to balance boldness with a laid-back vibe—making it a perfect choice for those looking to experiment with their hairstyle while maintaining a cool, modern aesthetic.
4. Tousled Blunt Bob With Neat Side-Part
If there’s one defining feature of Dua Lipa’s iconic bob hairstyles, it’s her impeccable clean parting. In this particular look, while her bob has a slightly tousled, effortless texture, the sharp side-parting remains flawlessly precise. This combination of polished detailing and undone waves creates a perfect balance between sleek sophistication and modern edge. The neat parting adds structure and definition to the style, ensuring it looks intentional and chic, even when the rest of the hair appears relaxed and carefree. It’s a testament to how small details can elevate a hairstyle, making it both timeless and contemporary.
5. Soft Messy Waves With A Middle-Part
Margot Robbie’s effortlessly chic middle-parted messy bob perfectly illustrates how the balance between neat and undone elements can create a stunning hairstyle. The soft, tousled waves frame the face beautifully, adding a dreamy, romantic touch to the overall look. This style is particularly flattering for those with wider face shapes, as the cascading waves and strategic volume help elongate the face, creating a slimming effect. The contrast between the structured middle part and the relaxed texture of the bob adds dimension and modern appeal, making it a versatile choice for both casual and formal settings. It’s a prime example of how a little structure paired with intentional messiness can elevate your entire aesthetic.
6. Shaggy Bob
Rosie Huntington-Whiteley truly embodies timeless elegance, and this shaggy bob takes her beauty to the next level. The hairstyle features layered cuts that create a textured, effortless look, perfectly complemented by blonde highlights. These highlights not only enhance the dimension of the shaggy layers but also add a radiant glow to her overall appearance. To style it like Rosie, part your hair on one side and incorporate a slight lift at the roots to boost volume. This simple yet striking technique adds movement and fullness, making the style even more flattering and dynamic. It’s a chic, modern take on the classic bob that works beautifully for various occasions!
7. Messy Teased Bob
Kat Dennings absolutely nails the messy bob with this effortlessly chic look. Her natural curls are backcombed to amplify volume, giving the style a bold and lively appearance. When recreating this hairstyle, it’s important to balance the intentional messiness with a touch of refinement. To achieve this, gently comb the top layer of your hair to smooth it out slightly, ensuring the overall look remains polished yet carefree. This combination of volume and neatness adds dimension and keeps the style from appearing overly unkempt, making it both stylish and approachable.
8. Brown To Blonde Ombre
If you’re looking to add a fresh twist to your brown hair, incorporating blonde tones is a fantastic option. One stylish choice is a blonde ombre, where your natural brown roots seamlessly transition into lighter blonde shades toward the ends. This technique not only adds dimension and depth but also creates a chic, modern look that’s easy to maintain.
To further enhance the style, consider a middle parting, which beautifully complements the ombre by drawing attention to your jawline and facial structure. The contrast between the darker roots and lighter ends adds movement and texture, making this hairstyle versatile for both casual and formal settings. It’s a subtle yet impactful way to jazz up your look while keeping it sophisticated and trendy!
9. Deep Brown Ombre
A deep brown ombre is just what you need this autumn. It will blend in well with the earthy theme of fall. I love how the very ends are slightly lighter. This is a great way to spice up your brunette hair.
10. Fluffy Messy Bob
Does your hair get fluffy when it is humid? This fluffy messy bob is a brilliant way to use it to your advantage. The sharp side-swept bangs go perfectly with this shoulder-length bob.
11. Sculpted Messy Bob
If you love planning things to a T, this hairstyle is for you. Sculpt your hair into curves on one side with the help of a round brush and a blow dryer. Pin back your bangs on the same side. The dark roots help in framing your face. They also give your hair a thicker appearance.
12. Windswept Crimped Curls
This crimped bob looks stunning. You can achieve this look with the help of a straightening iron and some mousse. Wrap your hair around the straightener to give it the crimped curl look. Tousle your hair with your hands to give it that windswept and naturally messy look.
13. Messy Layered Bob
This look can best be described as a beautiful mess. This bob with a messy texture brings out Dianna’s eyes beautifully. The dark roots make her hair look fuller at the top. The thinned-out ends enhance the volume further.
14. Faux Sidecut Messy Bob
If you have a bob cut, one edgy way to style it is with a faux sidecut. You can either weave one side in thin braids or simply pin it up to achieve a faux sidecut look. Leave the rest of your bob messy and loose.
15. Short Red Wavy Bob
Did you know that Emma Stone is a natural blonde? It’s true! But red hair suits her better, and even Emma loves it! By styling her hair wavy, she adds texture and volume to it. I love the short layers at the front of this angled bob. Very stylish!
16. Messy Wavy Lob
Rosamund Pike looks like an angel with this messy lob. If your bob is growing out, leave it be! Style it in some subtle waves and let the compliments flood in.
17. Feather-Ended Lob
Cara Delevingne’s blonde hair and red lip color make for a stellar combination. They also bring out her gray eyes. If you have a lob cut, feather out the ends. This will give your lob more volume and make it look thicker.
18. Curly Blonde Bob
Ashley Benson brings us this stunning curly bob. I love how messy yet elegant this hairstyle looks. Place medium sections of hair around the barrel of your curling iron to get those perfect curls. Keep the ends of your hair wispy to give it a thicker appearance.
19. Sharp Layered Bob
The layers of this bob are accentuated by the crisp waves. Use a straightening iron to achieve this look. This messy hairstyle really suits Lana Condor’s black hair. I also love the sleek middle parting.
20. Side-Swept Bangs With Messy Bob
Olivia Wilde has stunning hair that she flaunts perfectly with this messy bob. Side-swept bangs are a great way to jazz up this bob. Love how the layers add to the messy vibe of this look!
21. Heavily Layered Bob
If you have a bob, flaunt it with layers. Start the layers from midway down. This will help frame your face and add dimension to your locks. Use the point-cut method to feather out the ends of the layers.
22. Slick Messy Bob
Uneven bangs add to the messy vibe of this slick bob. I love how it is neat at the top, but from midway down, you can see a few stray strands break away from the bob. This messy look is great for the workplace.
23. Messy Curly Ended Bob
Got a bob cut recently but your bangs are growing out fast? This is a great way to embrace grown-out bangs. The longer the bangs, the messier the bob looks. Add a nice swivel at the end of the bob to accentuate its messy texture.
24. Messy Blunt Lob
Sometimes, the best tools for taming your hair are your fingers. Use your fingers to give your blunt lob a messy look. Make sure your parting is not very neat as it adds to the messiness of the look.
25. Blonde Textured Messy Lob
If you have a lob cut, play around with it. If your natural parting lies at the center, part your hair on the side. It will give your messy lob a nice lift. This adds height to your hair and helps in framing your face. It also adds texture to your tresses.
26. Sharp Choppy Layered Bob
Jenna Dewan stunned all of us with this short bob cut. The ends are cut choppy and blunt, which enhances the messy vibe of her look. Don’t give your hairstyle a definitive parting, but keep shifting your hair from one side to the other. This will make it look beautifully messy.
27. Blonde Lowlighted Messy Bob
If you have light blonde hair, add some lowlights to it. Part your hair deeply on one side and let your bangs fall naturally. The light blonde color will give your messy bob a soft look, which makes it perfect for any occasion.
28. Brown Balayage Messy Lob
So your bob is growing out fast. This is the best time to get that balayage you have always wanted! A lob is a great way to showcase a new hair color. Keep the look messy with center-parted bangs.
29. Messy Short Bob
There is no hairstyle that Emilia Clarke cannot rock! And when it comes to short and messy hair, she absolutely nails it. This messy bob looks perfect with the long hair at the top and short hair at the back. The dimensional blonde color adds texture to her hair and frames her face beautifully.
30. Naturally Messy Bob
When you wake up, where does your hair naturally part? Embrace this natural parting to give yourself the perfect “just got out of bed” look. That’s the best thing about having a bob cut – you get to leave your hair messy, but it still looks great!
31. Voluminous Messy Bob
If you have a heart-shaped face that is the widest at the forehead, this hairstyle is for you. By teasing your hair from the midway down, you can draw attention to your jawline. Part your hair down the middle to cover up the width of your forehead.
32. Partially Highlighted Bob
So you have perfected the messy bob look, but now, you want to spice it up? Look no further than Demi Lovato. Take a cue from her and add in some partial highlights. They can be used for framing your face or to add color or contrast to your hair.
33. Messy Short Curly Bob
Carey Mulligan looks utterly adorable with this messy girl-next-door girl bob. Style your hair in curls with velcro rollers and arrange them with your fingers. This hairstyle looks even better when your hair is cut in layers.
American actress from the silent film era, Mary Thurman, is known to have popularized the short bob cut in the first half of the 1920s.
34. Messy Soft Lob
This hairstyle proves that Emily Blunt was the right choice to play Miranda Priestly’s right-hand woman in The Devil Wears Prada. This soft lob is just the right amount of messy and not shabby. The brown ombre accentuates the lower layers of her hair.
35. Sculpted Curly Messy Bob
Have an event to get to, but you can’t get your hair looking the perfect amount of messy? No worries. Here’s a stunning messy hairdo you can sport to your prom or wedding! Sculpt your hair in waves using a round brush, blow dryer, mousse, and hair clips. Once it is in place, spritz on some hairspray and leave it be.
36. Highlighted and Grown Out Pixie
This is a short ash brown pixie with golden brown and natural blonde highlights. Being a grown out one with the visibly unkempt layers, it can be a good choice for you as a messy short bob.
37. Highlighted Curly Bob with Long Bang
This is a very short boyish bob on dark brown silky smooth hair with light brown highlights. The large messy curls all over the head and a long spiral side bang have given it a distinct look.
38. Full Head Highlighted Bob With Wispy Ends
Get a full-head bob cut on your ash brown wavy hair with natural golden blonde highlights. Add volume to it and give the ends of the waves a beautiful wispy effect for a true messy look.
39. Reverse Stacked Bob With Uneven Front Fringes
This is a very short jet-black bob with reverse stacks. The wispy ends of layers and the irregular front fringes are two unique features of this hairstyle.
40. Chin-Length Wavy Bob With Frail Ends
Side-part your chin-length black bob with random waves. Make sure that their ends are frail enough and add a messy flair to the whole look. Set the style with pomade or hair wax.
41. Curly Rounded Bob With Highlights
In this rounded bob, the layers are curled up intensely for a cute and adorable look. The light brown highlights on ash brown locks, the coils swinging over the forehead and the overall tangled finish are the biggest features of the style.
42. Side-Parted Bob With Messy Textured Layers
The long layers and the dark roots have given this short blonde bob an exclusive appearance. The layers are textured and messed up slightly, while the front section is swept over the forehead for a neat look.
43. Neck-Length Layered Bob With Volume and Curls
A layered neck-length bob can look awesome if the ends of the layers are curled up nicely in the outward direction. Let the sides and the top remain wavy and a bit messy and sweep the front section over the forehead for a trendy look.
44. Wavy Jaw-Length Bob With Rounded Back
A jaw-length bob goes excellent with almost all face shapes. Here, the side-parted bob is rounded at the back, while the side locks are waved up and allowed to frame the face in a tangled way.
45. Super Wavy Inverted Bob With Highlights
Ditch your straight inverted bob and go for this tapered style by giving it a super wavy look with wispy ends. Dark brown highlights, side part and an untidy effect will make you look truly different.
46. Side-Parted Bob With Messy Waves
Part your neck-length bob hair to one side. Now, take the locks in thin sections, create waves on them and give a tangled finish. That’s all.
47. Blonde Curly Bob With Side-Swept Bang
This sexy natural golden blonde bob will give you a refreshing look in no time. Just part it to one side, curl up the messy locks randomly and add pretty long side-swept bangs to them.
48. Highlighted Asymmetric Curly Bob With Long Curvy Fringes
If you want to get something edgy, an asymmetrical bob will never disappoint you! You can get this cut on your jet-black hair with dark brown highlights. Create curves on the long front fringes and let them swing over your eyes, while the rest of the hair should be curled up subtly.
49. Golden Blonde Curly Bob With Layered Side-Swept
Dark roots, layered side-swept bangs and a touch of pink are the USPs of this golden blonde bob. Curl up the locks in thin sections and texturize them for a better look.
50. Smart Bob With Graduated Fringes and Highlights
This sleek and smart bob draws inspiration from the classic boy cut, featuring graduated fringes that softly drape over the forehead for a touch of sophistication. To elevate the style, you can add volume by teasing up the crown, creating a fuller and more dynamic look. For an extra twist, incorporate golden brown highlights to bring warmth and dimension to the overall appearance. This subtle yet striking combination not only modernizes the traditional bob but also adds a unique flair that sets it apart. Perfect for those who want a polished yet edgy aesthetic, this hairstyle strikes the ideal balance between simplicity and boldness.
