If you explore one chic short hair update this summer, make it the Italian ’60s bob. A chunky-ended, neck-grazing chop, it leaves the hair long enough to tie up and short enough to turn heads, thanks to its beautiful silhouette. “The Italian bob can be styled with any parting, meaning you can always achieve that second-day volume we all love,” say Sean Paul Nother and Nick Latham, founders of The Hair Bros.
The Italian bob has been one of the most popular hair trends of recent years, but the ’60s-inflected update is all about a subtle detail – a little extra polish and curve through the layers. The ’60s iteration borrows elements of the baroque bob – another popular chop, see Zendaya’s bouncy cut for a good reference – but with all the body, movement and texture of the original.
“The beauty of this haircut lies in its versatility,” Nother and Latham say. “The heaviness allows for that Parisian, air-dried feeling when left natural, but you can also put a brush through it for a nod to classic ’60s glamour.” It suits everyone, but to nail it, your haircut needs to be tailored to you, your hair type and face shape. “No two heads of hair are the same, so it needs to be cut to each person.” They recommend getting a folder of hair reference images together to help inform the direction you go in.
When the Italian ’60s bob is cut right, you don’t need to spend hours styling it – it should fall in just the right way. “The cool thing about this style is that whether you have five or 50 minutes to spare, it always looks and feels super chic,” they say. “Even if you just tuck your hair behind your ears to get it out of the way, the chunky outline allows this haircut to feel like a strong style.”
Other ways to wear it? Part it in the middle to frame your cheekbones and leave the hair to air dry for a slightly more undone feel. If you’re tight on time – and after a Parisian look – “scrunch a little texture spray into your hair and let it dry naturally”, they suggest. “It’s an ideal look for morning school runs.” And for warm summer evenings, dining al fresco? “Add a dollop of mousse, rough dry the hair, then flip it into a deep side parting for volume and movement reminiscent of the ’60s.”
However you style it, the Italian bob is timeless, effortless and incredibly cool, featuring face-framing tendrils that look as good when tied up in a ponytail as they do when your hair is down.
As they say in Italy… bellisima!
