The Bob Hairstyle That Women With Curly Hair Should Never Ask For, Stylists Warn

Curly hair is undeniably stunning, and some styles suit this natural hair type better than others. Rocking a shorter look with curly tresses can sometimes lead to frizzing, but this can be avoided with the right layering hacks and styling tricks.

We reached out to professional hair stylists and experts to learn more about bob cuts for curly hair, and which one they unanimously stressed is best to avoid if you want a chic, sleek and frizz-free look. Read on for tips, suggestions and insight from Ghanima Abdullah, hair expert and cosmetologist at The Right Hairstyles and Arrogant Smith, professional hairstylist and hair consultant at KES Wigs.

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Bangs can work wonders on gals with curly tresses, Abdullah notes, but opting for super-thick fringe paired with a chin-length cut can often lead to frizzing. “Bobs make curly hair look incredible, just don’t forget to define your curls for the best look,” she advises. The model above looks great with a shaggy lob since it is long enough— not ending at the chin, and her bangs are wispy, light and can be parted to promote facial symmetry.

“For curly hair, the worst bob haircut is the shaggy bob,” she says, stressing that a shorter shaggy bob is best to avoid. “This haircut makes part of the curls look straight and the rest curly. The curls resemble poodles,” she warns. To avoid this, opting for a collarbone length if you want to layer can make your shaggy bob look more even and less puffed-out.

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To get the best results out of a bob hairstyle with curly hair, Smith says your stylist should “layer the front pieces gently with thinning shears for a softer look that gives volume and movement to your locks.” For added hold and definition, Smith recommends applying a “curl-enhancing product before styling.”

Additionally, Smith notes that an asymmetrical bob can give your hair some shape and dimension. “An asymmetrical bob is cut with the sides longer than the back, which gives you more volume and movement,” Smith says, adding, “Ask your stylist to use thinning shears on the ends for a softer look that won’t appear as dated.”

For added definition and hold, he suggests applying a curl-enhancing product before styling and “using a diffuser on low heat when blow drying your hair.” This, he says, will ensure that curls keep their shape while enhancing texture at the same time.

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“Additional tips include regularly trimming split ends (every 4-6 weeks) to maintain your haircut’s shape and minimizing heat exposure to minimize damage caused by styling tools (i.e., air-dry as much as possible),” he concludes. Noted!