25 Messy Bob Haircuts for a Low-Maintenance Refresh

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Celeb stylists share their best tips.

The epitome of effortless beauty, messy bob haircuts deliver on style sans effort. No wonder the hairstyle has become a favorite among Hollywood A-listers and moms on the go alike. Unlike the classic bob which favors a smooth and polished finish, the messy bob's signature tousled style embraces texture. In fact, hair's texture is what makes a messy bob messy, stylist Anthony Hernandez tells us. And with the right haircut, styling tools, and products, any hair type—including stick-straight strands—can pull off a messy bob hairstyle, adds stylist Clayton Hawkins. To find out more, we tapped Hernandez and Hawkins for their best tips and rounded up our favorite messy bob looks, ahead.

Meet Our Expert

• Clayton Hawkins is a celebrity hairstylist and wig master. His A-list clients include Olivia Rodrigo, Ashley Park, and Elizabeth Olsen, among others.
• Anthony Hernandez is a NYC-based hairstylist and men's groomer.

Keep scrolling for 25 messy bob hairstyles to try out, stat.

French Messy Bob

Taylor Lashae is the poster girl for the sophisticated yet low-maintenance French bob. Falling at the jawline and with face-framing bangs, this messy bob hairstyle remains a classic for a reason. “If your hair is straight-to-wavy, try let it air dry and then spray it with SexyHair Big Fun Raiser Volumizing Dry Texture Spray for added texture,” says Hawkins.

Ombré Messy Bob

Curls and an ombré color gradient add dimension to Beyoncé's messy bob. While shorter haircuts can get tricky for those with curls, incorporating long, strategically placed layers into your cut will bring shape to your style. Working in a curl cream to damp strands and drying with a diffuser, also helps.

Chin-Length Messy Bob

“This blunt, chin-length bob works great on straighter textures,” says Hawkins. “If you have naturally straight hair, you can achieve a messy bob by diffusing your hair and applying a product," he says. He recommends a volumizing dry texture spray and a bit of SexyHair Style Matte Clay for definition.

Rounded Messy Bob

To achieve a bob with lots of body, Hawkins suggests blowing out your hair and leaving a little natural texture at the hairline. The effect reads model off-duty with a '90s vibe.

Messy Bob With Deep Side Part

We love these cropped bends on Emma Watson. “This style is soft and effortless,” says Hernandez. “To try this look, ask your stylist for a long bob or lob with long layers and light texture.” Post-wash, blow-dry your hair straight and add loose waves with a flat iron or curling iron, he instructs.

Tips

To figure out your hair part, consider your face shape. A deep side part tends to complement oval, round, and heart-shaped faces.

Beachy Messy Bob

Messy bobs are a great no-fuss style that plays up your hair's natural texture. After washing, Hawkins suggests working a small amount of SexyHair Curling Creme into strands and then air-drying or blow-drying with a diffuser to land Jennifer Lawrence's beachy waves.

Layered Messy Lob

This shoulder-length lob on Olivia Munn is full of movements thanks to choppy layers and a slight wave. "From a cutting perspective, you’ll need to ask your stylist to texturize or remove weight from your hair—this will give it a messy or airy effect,” says Hernandez. A 1.25-inch curling iron will help to create the waves here, adds Hawkins.

Messy Bob With Soft Fringe

Karlie Kloss's short messy bob with blunt ends works wonders on thinner strands by bringing instant volume. "To try out this look, ask your stylist for the shortest bob that your hairline allows, with lots of texturizing and a soft fringe," says Hernandez. To achieve the rounded bends in the hair, blow-dry using a round brush or set your hair in velcro rollers.

"Wet" Messy Bob

If the red carpet is any indication, celebs are still partial to wearing their hair "wet." “To try out this look, ask your stylist for a long, blunt bob and have it thinned out or texturized from the cheekbones down," says Hernadez. To style it like Hilary Duff, let the hair dry naturally or diffuse it. If your hair is straight, create loose waves using a curling iron.

Razor-Cut Messy Bob

Texturizing can create movement when styled, as Kelly Rowland's airy bob can attest. “Ask for a blunt bob with lots of texturizing throughout, either cut with scissors or a razor,” says Hernandez. To style, blow-dry your hair straight, curl with a curling iron or flat iron, and finish with texturizing spray.

Faux Messy Bob

If you're not ready to go in for the chop, follow Kerry Washington's lead and try a faux messy bob instead. Begin by sectioning your hair and then braiding and pinning the bottom section horizontally along your neck. Then working with the remaining sections of hair, use bobby pins to secure each underneath your braid. Finish by pulling out some pieces for that intentionally messy style.

Lightly Textured Messy Bob

“The length of this bob is perfect for her face,” says Hernandez of Jourdan Dunn's cut. “The back hits the jawline, and the front hits right at her mouth. If you can match the length of your bob with your bone structure, it’s usually more flattering.” To try it out, ask your hairstylist for a middle-parted bob with light texturizing and light layers just in the ends.

Messy Bob With Blunt Ends

Blunt bobs can feel stiff, but Emma Meyers's mussy waves lend movement. “To try this look, ask for a long blunt bob with some light texturizing," says Hernandez. "This style can be cut dry—it’s a good way to see the hair's natural texture take shape as it’s cut.”

Face-Framing Messy Bob

If you have thick hair, a bob haircut will help cut down on styling and drying time. Try a razor cut with long layers, like Kat Graham's here, to remove some of hair's weight and give it movement.

Voluminous Messy Bob

“The texture of this bob shows how you can achieve a different look by changing your part,” says Hernandez. “This bob has been cut with a middle part but styled to the side. To try this look, ask for a longer middle-part, blunt bob with lots of texturizing.” To style it like Margaret Qualley, you can diffuse your hair for volume, with the option of going in with a flat iron or curling iron for added texture.

Messy Bob With Choppy Bangs

Who says bangs always have to look perfect? Sabrina Elba's choppy fringe gives this wavy messy bob an edge. To style, use a straightening iron or curling iron to create loose waves and spritz with some shine spray for a glossy finish.

Medium-Length Messy Bob

To create a medium-length bob with face-framing layers like Emma Stone's, Hawkins advises using a 1.25-inch curling iron and a generous serving of hairspray. We're fans of Living Proof Full Dry Volume & Texture Spray, for anyone who's interested.

A-Line Messy Bob

Charlize Theron's structured cut feels fresh and modern thanks to messy texture. “To achieve this look, ask your stylist for a slight A-line bob that’s shorter in the back and longer in the front with long face-framing layers at the ends,” says Hernandez. Style with a leave-in conditioner and rough dry straight. Finish with a flat iron, if needed.

Messy Bob With Curtain Bangs

Ella Purnell's messy bob with curtain bangs is a wash-and-go style that looks gorgeous when air-dried. If you're in a hurry, “Style with sea salt spray and diffuse the hair while scrunching," instructs Hernandez. "Go in with texturizing spray to finish.”

Grown-Out Messy Lob

This style on influencer and actress Eva Gutowski "is a good example of what your hair would look like if you were growing out a bob,” says Hernandez. “To try this look, ask your stylist for a blunt lob or collarbone-length bob with very light texturizing on the ends.”

Messy Bob With Voluminous Curls

Everything about Rose Bertram's layered lob, from its ethereal curls to its mussy finish, is chef's kiss. To get her style's definition and volume, use a leave-in conditioner and curl cream and air dry or blow-dry with a diffuser.

Brushed Back Messy Bob

The use of light layers on America Ferrera's bob naturally lends shape to the cut. While not entirely messy, the brushed-back styling creates an effortless feel and conjures up some '90s nostalgia. To build body into this 'do, blow-dry your hair using a round medium brush then wait for the compliments to come rolling in.

Textured Messy Bob

To achieve Lea van Acken's It girl cut, ask for a long blunt bob with minimal texturizing. "To style, use curl cream and oil, and let the hair air dry or diffuse,” says Hernandez. The result is simple yet statement-worthy.

Choppy Messy Bob

If you're looking for a tousled bob with lots of movement, opt for Naomi Ackie's choppy cut. Strategic layers help to remove some of hair's weight to give this style a light and flirty feel that beckons for a double take.

Shaggy Messy Bob

Lots of short layers and feathered ends give Xochitl Gomez's shaggy bob an '80s feel. Not to mention, the cut's length and bangs work to frame her face beautifully. Just keep in mind that this cut works best on those with medium to thick hair density given all of the short layers.

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