Sexy. Conservative. Daring. Demure. Classic. Modern. Business. Casual.

Yes, all of those contradictions can apply to the new twists on the flapper-girl famous bob haircut. No longer a boring hairstyle, the new bob haircuts are fresh and fun and just as eye-catching as long hair. Ranging in length from chin length to just above the shoulder pageboys, bobs can be universally flattering.

Thoughts of the classic bob haircut conjure up images of 1920’s girls in short skirts standing around speakeasies during the Prohibition Era. The cut was simple, blunt lines cut near the chin and cheekbones and worn straight, angled towards the face.

Think of the more modern bob haircuts of today and you’ll be surprised at how many different types you can think of. The classic, rounded shape cut close to the face. Square shaped, for a more modern and youthful look. A more straight, blunt cut, or daringly angled edges. The recently famous inverted bob, where the front is longer than the back, which is cut very close to the nape of the neck. Add in the possibilities of texturizing the ends with a razor, subtle layers (without ruining the overall drastic lines attributed to the bob hairstyle) and bangs v. no bangs and you’ll see why the bob has made a comeback!

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Not to mention how easy it is to style and wear. A quick blow-dry with a round brush (or straightening iron, if you prefer), add some shine serum and your bob will look polished and professional. If you’d rather wear it wavy, just throw in some mousse or styling crème and you’ve got a new look. If you decided on a longer bob cut, you can always pull it back into a low ponytail and add a nice headband.

It’s no surprise that many women walk into a salon today and ask for this haircut. Far from the soccer mom cuts of the past, the bob has evolved into a sleek, sexy, and fun cut that flatters almost every face shape and hair texture.

Layered Hairstyle: Easy Way to Add Movement, Shape

For every woman that prefers blunt, straight edges to her hair, there are two that swear by their layered haircuts. There’s been a lot of change since the badly blended layer haircuts that you can probably picture from the past. Now, you’ll find that adding layers to your cut can drastically reduce the time it takes to style it. Layers can be added to any cut and work with every length and hair texture. For thinner hair, they can add volume and lift and for thicker hair, layers help avoid the dreaded “mushroom effect” by reducing weight at the ends. Very curly hair can get too heavy if left one length, layering that type of hair can help give the springy, bouncy curls.

Adding layers to longer hair, even subtle ones, can create a more professional, mature looking style than a one-length cut all around. Layers will also add shape and movement to a haircut. With short hair, layers add fun and can take a cut from boyish to sexy and feminine. Mid-length hairstyles can especially benefit from layering that will add texture and definition to what could otherwise be a dull haircut. Asking your stylist for “face-framing layers” is always a good choice to help accentuate your features even if you don’t want a fully layered haircut.

Modern layers blend seamlessly into the rest of the hair and complement the shape of the haircut while making it easier to style certain types of hair. Why? Because layered haircuts are less uniform in general, the more imperfect they look, usually the better whereas one-length hair tends to look messy if not styled properly.

You can work layers into almost every type of haircut and they will complement it beautifully. Even haircuts that have typically been very uniform, blunt styles like a bob haircut look fantastic with layers. Choppy layers with textured edges (think razor cut, not scissor cut) work especially well with a bob and can make it look more modern.

It comes down to personal preference when choosing a layered cut or not. Layered haircuts are definitely more manageable but some women still prefer a straight haircut with very defined edges.