I Recently Had My Hair Cut Short—Here’s How to Style a Curly Bob

I’ve always had a love-hate relationship with my natural hair texture. Part wavy, part curly, it’s never fallen fully into one camp or the other, and, for that reason, I’ve always found it hard to find a haircare routine that both worked for me and made the most of my previously long, layered hair.

When I was a teenager, I decided to rectify this. I wanted curls at any cost, and so, I booked in for a perm. What I wish I’d known then, however, is that rather than spending hours in the salon, there was a much easier route to transforming my hair texture—it turns out, all I needed was a bob haircut.

You see, at the beginning of the year, I did just that, chopping seven inches off my hair to achieve the perfect chin-grazing cut. And, not only did my short haircut make me feel instantly chicer, it also transformed my hair texture, too. Where once my curls had fallen straight and stretched out, now, without so much length to weigh them down, they bounced up tighter and more defined. Learning to style my bob brought opportunities I hadn't anticipated. While I thought I’d chopped my hair to achieve a sculpted flicked bob, I instead discovered I had another style open to me, too—a bouncy, curly bob.

It’s now been six months since I first chopped my hair, and over that time, I’ve had plenty of opportunity to not only in how to style my curly bob but also to discover a haircare routine that works for it, not against it.

So, I thought, why not pass my newfound insider knowledge onto you? Keep scrolling for my best curly bob styling advice, as well as a few of my favourite ways to wear it, too…

Best Curly Bob Styling Tips

1. Start Curl Care in the Shower

As any wavy or curly-haired person knows, caring for your curls starts in the shower, and it’s no different for shorter length styles. A nourishing shampoo and conditioner (my favourite duo is from Sachajuan, but coily hair types might want a conditioner more buttery) will cleanse and condition hair, respectively, while also keeping strands hydrated. The result? Juicy-looking, more defined curls once your hair dries.

Sachajuan

Moisturizing Shampoo

Hair feels clean yet not dry or brittle.

Sachajuan

Moisturising Conditioner

I always ensure I have a bottle of this conditioner in my shower.

2. Add Hydration

Post-shower, it’s all about adding even more hydration to give shape and definition. As my hair contains a combination of curls and waves, I’ve found that a nourishing hair oil applied to my hair while damp offers the perfect amount of hydration without overloading my strands. For those with stronger curl patterns, however, a curl cream should be your go-to. Like the oil, apply to damp hair and scrunch or finger roll your curls for the perfect twists.