The complete guide to Long Bobs (Lobs) for women over 50

Who it suits

Anyone who wants short hair without committing to short hair. The lob hits anywhere from chin to collarbone and is short enough to feel deliberate, long enough to tuck behind the ears or pull into a small bun on a busy day. It is genuinely flattering on almost every face shape — the only adjustment is where the perimeter lands. Round faces should ask for a lob that finishes below the chin, never at it. Heart-shaped faces look best with a lob that finishes at the jaw, where it can add visual weight to balance a narrower chin. Oblong faces benefit from a lob with waves or curls through the cheekbone area.

For the technical specifics of how this cut is structured, the full stylist's reference on short-hair architecture is a worthwhile companion read.

How to ask for it

The lob has one main variable: where the longest piece sits. Specify the length precisely — "two finger-widths below the chin" or "at the collarbone" or "between collarbone and shoulder." Then specify the perimeter: a blunt lob is the most modern, an A-line lob (longer in front) reads as more classic, and a textured lob (with a razored or point-cut perimeter) reads as more relaxed. Most lobs benefit from light face-framing layers around the chin to break up the line.

What to expect at the salon

Faster than a bob and usually cheaper because the precision tolerance is wider. Expect 45 to 60 minutes, $70 to $140 in most US markets. The lob is a great first short cut for anyone moving from longer hair, because the change is significant but reversible — six months of trim-skipping and you're back to shoulder length.

Salon pricing varies dramatically by region. We keep an updated national salon-pricing guide if you'd like a sense of what to budget in your city.

Maintenance and the grow-out

Trims every 8 to 10 weeks are plenty. The lob can stretch to 12 weeks if you're traveling, especially if your stylist included a soft, point-cut perimeter rather than a sharp blunt one. Grow-out is the gentlest of any cut on this site — within three to four months the lob is shoulder-length hair, no awkwardness in between.

For deeper context on growing this cut out gracefully, our long-form grow-out diary tracks the awkward stages month by month.

Styling at home

Air-dry with a leave-in conditioner and a curl cream, or rough-dry and add a single bend with a 1-inch curling wand for movement. The lob is forgiving — it looks intentional whether tucked behind the ears, half-up, or with a small twist clipped at the back. If you're trying to add volume, blow-dry the underneath layers upside down for 30 seconds at the end.