The side-parted bob has been everywhere this year: Awards season It girl Ayo Edebiri showed off a sleek and simple take at this year’s Emmys, Gigi Hadid rocked a curly version at the Met Gala, and Joey King debuted a retro take at Cannes.
With side-parted, side-gray hair now in vogue, why is the side-parted bob becoming so popular? The shorter cut and side-swept parting combine to create a style that evokes romance and old-world charm.
Plus, side-parted bobs come in a variety of styles to suit different face shapes. Celebrity stylist Ashley Gomira says that a chin-height bob with volume on top and in the front can make a round face look longer, while a cut just above the chin can help accentuate the jawline. Celebrity hairstylist Gon Kinoshita adds that round faces look good with a subtle side part, while longer faces look good with a deeper side part.
Want to try this style for yourself? Look no further. Below are 25 different side-parted bob styles in all shapes and sizes.
Meet Our Experts
- Dimitris GiannetosA celebrity hairstylist whose clients include Megan Fox, Demi Moore, and Gigi Hadid.
- Ashley GomiraLos Angeles based celebrity hair and makeup artist.
- Gon KinoshitaShe is a hairstylist and Balmain Hair Ambassador, whose clients include Sienna Miller and Simone Ashley.
Timeless Tack
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Ayo Edebiri kept it simple with a sleek, straight, side-parted bob cut just above her chin and pinned behind her ear. The style looks great when paired with a strapless top and tennis necklace.
Gomira explains how to achieve this style at home: “Hold hair down with a curling iron, part it horizontally and pull it straight down. Once the hair is held perfectly straight, find the perfect parting and secure a small side part with a flat bill hair clip. I recommend applying a quality oil all over your hair to protect it and add shine. I usually recommend using a little bit of Shine Wax wherever you need that finishing touch. I use Balmain Hair Shine Wax to hold down any hair that needs extra hold and then apply a little on top to give your sleek style a lovely sheen.”
Vintage Vision
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Joey King debuted her sleek ’20s-inspired bob at the Cannes Film Festival. The hairstyle was a flapper look that came just above her chin and was angled down towards her face. Celebrity hairstylist Dimitris Giannetos achieved the look by straightening the hair and curling it slightly inwards towards her chin. A single bobby pin was placed above the arch of her brow for a retro feel.
Old Hollywood glamour
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Penélope Cruz channeled old-world glamour on the Oscars red carpet with flowing curls that framed her face and tucked just in front of her ears, a look befitting the young actress.
Cool Curly Bangs
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Here, Yara Shahidi mixes a voluminous curly triangular cut with subtle side bangs.
Vibrant waves
Dixie D’Amelio’s deep, side-parted, textured blowout looks effortless, like you just rolled out of bed and ran your fingers through your hair. Giannetos calls her textured, mid-length bob fun, flattering, and “easy to maintain.”
Decorative knitting
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Marsai Martin shows us how amazing a side-parted braided bob can look, and the addition of silver beads really elevates the whole look.
Disheveled Waves
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Charlize Theron adds volume and movement to her side-parted bob with tousled beach waves, adding volume to the minimalist cut.
Gomira shared how she achieved this texture: “Once your hair is dry and parted, use a one-inch iron to cut at an angle to add shape and texture to your hair. Take a one-inch cut and wrap the hair around it, with the tip of the iron pointing towards the floor and away from your face. Finish by spraying on a high-quality texture spray.“
Curls that frame an attractive face
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Elle Fanning wore her hair loosely curled and draped over her face for a romantic look that paired beautifully with her red lip and blazer.
Barely there
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If you have very short hair, this simple style is a great alternative to an updo or slicked back style. Here’s how to recreate Iris Law’s look at home, according to Gomira:
“Start by parting your wet hair to the side and combing a small section behind your ear. Next, apply a small amount of styling cream all over your hair. I recommend Balmain Hair’s Moisturizing Styling Cream. Apply a mousse product, such as Balmain Hair’s Volume Mousse Strong, to the larger sections at the top of your hair. Next, use a small round brush to blow dry your hair away from your face to create soft volume. Work all over your hair, avoiding the small section in the side part, keeping that section flat and straight. I like to use flat clips to secure the smaller sections. Once you’ve finished styling, lightly spray the smaller sections with texture spray and hairspray to keep them in place.
Deep Side Part Swoop
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America Ferrera shows us how to accentuate the silhouette of a side-parted bob by creating a deep side part that falls over the socket of one eye, adding volume and accentuating the curves of your hairline. To finish off, use a round brush and hairdryer to pull hair toward your face and create bouncy ends that complete the playful shape.
Swoop backwards
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While the slicked-back bun was all the rage, now it’s time for the slicked-back bob to shine. Zegna Adonz balances a sleek silhouette with super-bouncy ends for a playful, modern look.
A clever surprise attack
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For a more avant-garde look, Willabelle Ong swept both sides back, leaving one strand of hair to playfully sweep across her forehead.
Refined S-wave
Stephanie Martini’s understated take on sculptural S-waves features one highly structured bangs and the rest of the hair left relaxed. It’s elegant, but not red carpet-ready. Here’s how Gomira recreated the style:
“For soft, natural volume, blow dry wet hair with a large round brush. Use a flat iron to create volume and bend the ends up and down to add a little movement. Create big barrel curls at the very front of your hair with a large side part. Once you’ve achieved the shape you want, set it with a strong hold hairspray. You can also add a dab of matte styling gel to the small part. I recommend activating a little matte paste, warming it in your hands and applying it over the small side part and behind your ear.”
One side tuck
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For a sophisticated, everyday look, try Olivia Palermo’s simple look by blow-drying your hair straight and tucking one side behind your ear. A side part just above one eye will allow the loose side to elegantly frame your face.
Windblown Twigs
“A bob is harder to mess up because you don’t have much hair,” says Giannetos, who styled Megan Fox for this look. That said, he adds, “Depending on your hair type, you can easily style it with a blow dry, soft waves, or natural curls. With this style, a blow dry was all that was needed, and it felt very natural.”
Peacey Bob
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Sabrina Dhowre Elba changed up the look by keeping most of her hair pinned behind her ears but leaving bangs to frame her face.
Vava Volume
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With this voluminous blowout, Bebe Rexha proves that straight hair doesn’t always have to be sleek: it can be simple yet impactful.
Bend Lob
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For a more subtle take on the trend, try a lob (or long bob) with a subtle side part placed at one corner of the eye instead of in the middle. Cate Blanchett sports this style with loose waves that fall over her shoulders.
Swoop
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Lily Allen’s style features a diagonal part that mimics bangs and a steep curve in the hairline, making it a fun way to add volume and drama to a shorter cut.
piece
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Who says a bob can’t give you a ’90s-inspired, chunky look? Sarah Ellen proves that sticking to small chunks is the key.
Still wet waves
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A side-parted bob is particularly well-suited to creating a wet-yet-textured look, especially if you have curly hair, as French film director Mamouna Doucouré demonstrates.
Side Bang Swoop
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Side bangs and a side part may sound like a combo best left for 2007, but Karlie Kloss proves that it can work, especially when paired with a choppy chin-length bob.
Sophisticated Construction
Giannetos said D’Amelio’s side-part, which was styled for the Louis Vuitton Fall/Winter 2025 show, was a collaborative decision: “By opting for a sleek and sophisticated look, we gave the hairstyle a modern twist. Adding some beach wave texture to the side part would also be a stylish option.”
Posh Spice
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Who can forget Victoria Beckham’s asymmetrical bob, with longer bangs that fall to her chin while shorter layers add volume towards the back of her head.