What Is a Lob Haircut and Who Does It Suit?

Shorter than long hair, long enough for a ponytail. That's the lob. It's a long bob: the back ends between your chin and your collarbone, and the front is the same length or a little longer.

At Oh Baby Salon in Bloomington, we talk a lob through in the chair before anyone picks up the shears. If you're new to us, here's what happens at a haircut appointment in Bloomington, start to finish.

What counts as a lob, and how long is it?

A lob sits between your chin and your collarbone. It's long enough to tuck behind your ear and short enough to lose the weight of long hair. Because it lands so close to your shoulders, how it moves depends on your thickness and how your hair grows.

That shoulder landing spot is the whole story of this cut. Hair that stops above the shoulder swings freely. Hair that touches the shoulder can flip outward, and we plan around that before we start cutting.

A lob also isn't a fixed measurement. One client's collarbone is another client's chin. So we place the length on you, not on a ruler.

Which lob shape fits your hair?

The right lob shape depends on your texture: blunt for fine, straight hair, textured for thick or wavy hair, and angled for straight hair that needs shape. These are three common shapes, and each one asks something different of your routine.

Blunt lob

The ends are cut straight across at one-length. It shows off healthy ends and a smooth finish, and it shows split ends too. It suits fine to medium hair that's straight or has a light wave. That crisp edge is the first thing to soften as it grows, so this is the shape where you'll notice an overdue trim first.

Textured lob

This one has light layering and softened ends. It moves more, it hides grow-out better, and it's kinder to thick or wavy hair that would otherwise stack up heavy at the bottom. The trade is a softer line. If you love a razor-clean edge, this isn't it.

Angled lob

The front is longer than the back, and the line slopes toward your face. It frames your cheekbones and gives straight hair some shape without much layering. The back takes careful cutting. Skip a few trims and the two lengths drift apart, so it starts to look a little uneven.

Who does a lob suit, and who should think twice?

A lob suits most hair types, but fine, thick and curly hair each need a different plan. Here is how we think it through.

• Fine hair: a blunt lob can make ends look fuller, but too many layers will thin them out.
• Thick hair: without shaping inside the cut, the ends can flare into a triangle. We remove weight so it falls instead.
• Curly hair: curls spring up as they dry, so a lob that looks collarbone-length wet can land at your chin. We account for that before we cut.
• Waves: often the easiest. The bend adds movement, and the length gives the wave room to show.

Now the honest part. A lob may not be the right call if you need every strand in a tight bun for work. Short back hair slips out of a bun, and you'll end up with a stub of a ponytail. A strong cowlick at the nape can also push the back hair up and away from where we want it. And if you have broad or high shoulders, we may keep the length just above them so the ends don't kick out.

None of that rules you out. It just means we talk it through first.

What happens in the chair, and what it looks like later

A lob appointment starts with a conversation, and the shears come after. We'll ask you to tell us about your hair, and we'd love to see your inspo picture. That photo matters more than you'd think, because "long bob" means a different length to everyone.

Next we look at how your hair falls on its own. We check where it lands on your shoulders, how the nape and crown grow, and which way your part sits. After the wash and cut, we blow dry the shape so you can see how it looks dry and styled. That's part of the cut. A lob looks its best when someone shows you how it sits on a normal day.

When you leave, the line is at its sharpest. Over the following weeks the ends relax a little. By then you've seen how it behaves on a day you skip the styling, and that's when you'll know if it fits your routine.

A lob on its own is a shorter appointment than color. Our guide to how long balayage takes explains why color sets the length of your day if you want both. You'll find both services, and their prices, on our service menu.

A lob also shows color well. Dimensional color like lived-in blonde has room to show at collarbone-length, though it may take a couple of visits to get to your hair goals. Our haircut, color and styling page explains how those services start. You can see cuts and color on real hair on our Instagram.

What do people get wrong about the lob?

The biggest myth is that a lob is just a bob with an extra inch. It isn't. The extra length changes how the hair hangs, flips and holds a curl.

Three other mistakes come up often:

1. Calling it low maintenance. There's less to style than long hair, but the shape needs trims. As it grows, a lob that sat at your collarbone can creep onto your shoulders and flip.
2. Skipping the photo. Words like "just above the shoulder" mean different things to different people. A picture settles it in seconds.
3. Expecting product to do the trim's job. You can't product your way out of a trim. Soft, healthy ends come from regular cutting. We carry Oribe for styling and care, and we'll show you what suits your texture, but it won't replace the haircut.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is a lob the same as a long bob?

Yes. Lob is short for long bob. Both mean a cut that ends between your chin and your collarbone, usually one-length or lightly layered.

Can I still wear my hair up with a lob?

Yes, with limits. A lob will go into a small ponytail or a half-up style. A full bun is harder because the back hair is short and tends to slip out.

Does a lob work on fine or thin hair?

Yes, often. A blunt edge can make the ends look fuller, and fewer layers keep the weight where you want it. We'll tell you plainly if another length would look better on your hair.

How often do I need a trim to keep the shape?

Plan your next trim before the ends reach your shoulders and start to flip. Booking it before you leave keeps the line where you chose it.

Can I go shorter or grow it out later?

Yes. A lob is an easy starting point either way. Going shorter means taking the same shape up toward your chin. Growing it out means passing through the stage where the ends touch your shoulders and flip, and regular trims keep that stage tidy.

Book a Visit

If a lob is on your mind, come see us at Oh Baby Salon in Bloomington. Bring your inspo picture and tell us about your hair, and we'll find the length that works for you. When you're ready, book your appointment online, or look through our team to find the right stylist for your hair goals. You can follow along on Instagram for fresh cuts and color, too.