The case for cutting an ‘Italian bob’ this summer

Italian bob summer.

Does it feel like every few weeks there’s a newly named haircut trend? It sure seems like it. As explained by Sydney hairdresser, Florence Chiyoko Oka, “most of the time, they’re just classic haircuts rebranded as a brand new style”.

But unlike clothing-based micro-trends, haircuts trends feel fairly innocent. After all, changing your hair feels less about overconsumption, waste and environmental damage. As long as you’ve got a heat protectant, good hair mask and enough emotional resilience stored in case you don’t end up liking it, hair is there for us to have fun with. If you don’t like it or change your mind, you can grow it back and restart.

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Given we’re heading into summer, the Italian bob feels particularly timely. Just the name itself brings to mind breezy summer nights, aperol in hand, out-of-office on. If you’re looking for that extra push, then you’ll be pleased to know that it’s one Florence would recommend to anyone. “It’s an easy all-rounder,” she says.

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What is the ‘Italian bob’ and who does it suit?

The Italian bob sits somewhere between a standard bob and a lob. As explained by Florence, it’s longer than a French bob, sitting below the chin but just above the shoulders. Usually, it features a blunt cut with a full, heavy baseline, making it look extra voluminous.

It’s a style that has been around in one iteration or another for years, from old Hollywood to ’70s Italian actresses. More recently, it was sported by Simona Tabasco, the actress who played Lucia on The White Lotus, Zendaya on the Challengers press tour and TikTok queen, Yesly.

“I will always stand by there being no silly rules about who suits a haircut depending on a certain face shape,” Florence says. “It’s giving outdated toxic beauty standard energy. Modern beauty is about enhancing individuality, not hiding differences.”

Because it can be worn straight, wavy and curly, and the length isn’t as short as a French Bob, it’s a style she’d recommend to anyone.

 

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What exactly should you ask for if you want the Italian bob haircut?

Though the evolving nature of hair trends means there’s a new term everyday, Florence finds the names helpful when understanding what her client is after. “I personally find trendy haircut names easier to visualise and communicate with clients,” she tells me. “Not all clients know technical hairdressing terms and if it helps my client tap into their personality, then why not?”

However, if your hairdresser is unfamiliar with the ‘Italian bob’, you can tell them that you’re after an evenly-chopped long to mid-length bob, with minimal layering and plenty of volume.

“Personally, and I’m sure a lot of stylists would agree, I love it when clients bring in reference pictures! Even if they’re of different people, I can get a rough vibe of what you’re after.”

How do you style the Italian bob?

Like any hairstyle, there are a few ways to go about styling the Italian bob. If your preference is to keep things natural, then Florence’s advice is to air-dry your locks with a curling cream or sea salt spray.

For the glamorous, Zendaya-esque old Hollywood look, a round brush, mousse and hair drier will be your best friend – and maybe keep a hair roller or two on hand. And, because the Italian Bob is that bit longer than it’s French counterpart, you can just as easily tie it up or clip it up without having half your hair come loose (the worst).

For more bob inspiration, try this.