If you live in New York City or have wandered down a bustling Canal Street on a weekend, you’ve undoubtedly seen the racks and racks of knock-off, luxury items lining the sidewalks. While this may be brave to admit, at first glance, I can never tell the difference between mass-produced purses and the real thing, and it got me thinking—what really makes something “designer”?
Earlier this month, celebrity hairstylist Chris Appleton debuted a shocking hair transformation on long-time client Kim Kardashian, where she shed seven inches of her natural strands in favor of what Appleton called a “Tom Ford Gucci-inspired bob.” Again, my previous thought resurfaced—how does one take a classic, done-one-million-times style like a bob and make it designer? To find out, I tapped the experts. Ahead, everything you need to know about planning, cutting and styling a designer bob.
Featured Experts
- Dimitris Giannetos is a celebrity hairstylist and Garnier Fructis ambassador
- Paul Labcrecque is the creative director, master stylist and colorist with Paul Labrecque Salon and Skincare Spa
- Riawna Capri is a celebrity hairstylist and co-founder of Nine Zero One Salon
What details make a bob ‘designer,’ or high-fashion?
While the concept of a high-fashion, designer bob is rather subjective, there are practical styling choices one can make to create a more luxurious-looking bob. “A designer bob is all about precision and customization,” says Giannetos. “It’s not just a haircut—it’s a moment. The lines are clean, the shape is intentional and it works to complement the client’s bone structure. Whether it’s an ultra-blunt cut, a razor-sharp French bob or something with micro-layers for movement, a high-fashion bob always looks strikingly stunning.”
Labrecque agrees, noting that the angle of the bob cut is what makes it look truly designer. “To me, an A-Line Bob is the epitome of a high-fashion style,” Labrecque says. “A strong bang on a bob also takes it to another fashion-forward look that’s trendy.” Capri agrees, saying that, in her opinion, sharp lines and blunt structure truly define a designer bob.
What face shape and hair type suits the designer bob best?
While no one should be confined to any hairstyle based on their face shape or hair type, understanding which works best with the aesthetic of a designer bob can help decide if the cut is what you’re looking for. “Most face shapes look great with a bob,” Labrecque assures, noting that the one exception could be those with skinnier, more narrow faces, as the bob can tend to swallow them up. In terms of texture, Capri says, “Designer bobs are great on most hair textures but can be more difficult on super curly hair.” Curly, more coily hair types can have a harder time achieving that structured, polished finish associated with a designer bob.
How do you style a designer bob?
If you’ve ever gotten a drastic haircut, you know that the way it looks in the salon can be worlds different than when you try to wash and dry it yourself. So, having expert-approved styling tips for your designer bob is key. “First and foremost, you always want to add in a product to control the frizz as well as one to create a sheen,” Capri says. She notes that her favorite prep product is the InCommon Magic Myst ($18). “The key to a flawless bob is shine, control and movement,” says Giannetos, who opts for Garnier Fructis’ Hair Filler Strength Repair Serum ($10) for creating an effortlessly sleek style.
In terms of styling tips, Capri says that “Blow-drying the hair in a downward direction, where the blowdryer air is coming from above the crown, and using your fingers to get it tight to the head,” is the best plan of action for a designer bob, calling out the L’Oréal AirLight Pro ($475) as her weapon of choice. After blow-drying, Giannetos recommends running a flat iron over the ends of your designer bob for an extra polished look. Capri agrees, explaining that she would finish styling a high-end bob look with the Bioprogramming Flat Treatment Tool ($950) to “smooth the bob into a sleek look,” before topping it off with R&Co Bleu Elastic Styling Pomade ($39) “just at the ends to polish it off to perfection.”
