Bob this, bob that… what if I don’t want to cut my hair to my jawline? Well, take it from someone who did a little over a year ago and loved it most days, but on others, wished she’d been just a bit more forgiving with the length of her chop—you don’t need to go short-short to look chic. Because let’s be honest, bobs take forever to grow out.
There’s no denying the influence the conglomerate of European and randomly named bobs have had since late 2023. From the tame French bob to the unruly boyfriend bob and the ultra-sharp Prada bob, jawline-grazing chops have been what’s hot for the better part of two years. But what if (gasp!) you could experiment with short hair without taking the ultra-short plunge? Enter: Collarbone-length hairstyles. The Los Angeles lob, the “clavi-cut,” the almost-lob—whatever you want to call it, this shoulder-skimming style is a great in-between cut that feels effortlessly chic.
This chop is great for people with damaged hair who want a fresh start, and it’s also a stylish way to lighten up your mane without losing too much length. “I like to call it ‘The Tease’ because it flirts with length, giving you the drama of long hair with the edge and ease of a shorter cut,” says celebrity hairstylist Davontaé Washington. “It’s the kind of cut that turns heads without trying too hard, giving long hair energy with short hair attitude!”
Below, find 14 screenshot-worthy snaps of fashion people rocking this mid-length cut that we can’t get enough of. So go on, scroll to your heart’s desire— you’ll be booking your next appointment before you know it.
Collarbone-Length Bob Ideas
Retro Shag
“This length is a playground for versatility,” Washington quips. The stylist calls out a “soft shag with curtain bangs for movement” as a great way to sample the collarbone-length cut with an androgynous, cool flair—take Selena Gomez’s choppy shear, for example. Her wispy, long bangs add a fun touch to this shoulder-skimming style, and we especially love how beachy her strands look. Spritz one of our editor-recommended sea salt sprays to emulate her touchable, wavy texture.
Curly Clavi-Cut
You, too, can try out this versatile length with curly hair. In fact, your curls can look extra cute when you give ‘em the shoulder-length shear, freeing up the weight that comes with long hair and allowing your locks to spring back with more bounce. Enhance your tresses with your favorite curl cream and dry your locks with a diffuser to get the best results (ahem, anything that looks remotely close to Simone Ashley’s dreamy spirals).
Pin-Straight Lob
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