The bob has established itself as the cut of the year. But you don't need us to tell you that. Look to the red carpet, where swathes of celebrities and certified cool girls have stepped out in various iterations of it all year long. Zendaya's micro-shag was all the rage before she committed to her current pixie, Scarlett Johansson recently served up a masterclass in how to style one crop in multiple ways, and Margot Robbie's '90s slip bob is a permanent fixture on our mood boards. And if you thought the bob brigade was about to take its foot off the pedal, think again.
In the last few weeks alone, the world's biggest pop stars have joined the ranks. Janet Jackson's choppy, layered crop oozes sexiness, while Ariana Grande has swapped her XXL slick back ponytail for a retro flipped out bob. As for Billie Eilish? She's just traded in her signature deep, dark lengths for the varsity bob.
'This look is absolutely varsity bob territory because it combines sharpness with a relaxed element,' says Tom Smith, hairstylist and Grazia Beauty Panellist. 'It blends a solid shape with an undone finish, particularly those little flicks towards the ends, which look as though they've been tucked behind her ears and then brought forwards. This is a true varsity bob signaler because it's got the practicality of moving hair out of the way when necessary, but then when it comes into the face, it looks intentional.'
Having coined the look himself, Smith defines the varsity bob as being characterised by a preppy and sporty finish, 'there is bluntness and structure to the haircut itself but a relaxed and undone quality to the style and finish which gives it a slightly utilitarian and practical look while also leaning into the athlesuire style that’s so popular in wellness and beauty right now.'
Eilish's new crop is complete with a jaw length, choppy shape and gentle face framing. Surprisingly, according to Smith, the length makes it low-maintenance day-today because the foundation of the look relies on a strong haircut that naturally falls into place.
Celebrity hair transformations usually signal a season of change. Can we expect knew music from Eilish or a career pivot of some kind? Perhaps. If anything, what we do know is her new look is of the moment. 'Undone, relaxed texture is very much what we're seeing for autumn/ winter 2026 alongside heaps of bobs. And her soft auburn colour is very much appropriate for autumnal weather, too' Smith adds.
What makes Eilish's iteration of the varsity bob refreshing is her inclusion of what Smith calls 'bottleneck bangs'. It's all about how her fringe and hair shape start narrow around the forehead before widening over the cheekbones, much like the neck of a bottle, which lends a curved out silhouette.
To recreate the look, Smith advises asking your hairstylist for a jaw length layered bob with face framing, cut softly and textured on the ends. You'll need some bluntness to the cut initially, which should be softened for a choppy look. Rather than something super layered or blended, the finish will end up looking graphic, jagged, and modern.
When it comes to managing it at home, those with a straight to wavy hair texture will benefit from the cut's wash-and-go nature. A good trick to get that bend around the front is to keep the hair behind the ears as it air dries, but you can blast through with some K18 HeatBounce, £24, and a hairdryer if you're impatient or dealing with bad weather, too. Curlier or coily hair types can start with a blow dryer or a silk press, before going over with a straightening iron to build bends and flicks into the hair. Once the foundation of the style is set, mist over with a dry texture spray like the Living Proof Full Dry Volume & Texture Spray, £30.95, which swerves stickiness and heaviness for flexible grit, dimension and body.
Shop: The varsity bob kit
K18 HeatBounce Conditioning Heat Protectant
A heat protector that really does it all. It acts as a leave-in to detangles, softens, and condition, all while delivering deep heat protection that protects up to 232℃ with 85% less breakage breakage after blow drying.
24
Living Proof Full Dry Volume & Texture Spray
Unlike traditional texturising sprays, this won't leave your hair sticky, heavy or stiff. Instead it lends a flexible hold and touchable grittiness that boasts volume, body and definition.
30.95
ghd Sculpt
Meet ghd's first AI-powered straightening styler, fully committed to the health of your hair. With a zero damage promise, it features Heat-Adapt Technology, which uses AI to interactively sense, learn, and adapt to your hair’s temperature, for enhanced styling and protection against thermal damage.
369
Sameeha Shaikh is Grazia's beauty writer, working across all categories to bring you insights on the latest trends, industry news and the products you need to know about, viral or not (most probably viral).
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