This Is The Haircut Of 2020, As Seen On Kaia Gerber

Short, chic and highly covetable - this is why the French girl bob should be your next haircut

Updated on14th September 2020 at 4.29pm

In a year where going to the hairdressers was off the cards for four long months, it might sound surprising that the ‘it’ haircut of 2020 is a bob. But it is. And trust us when we say this – the French girl hair style is totally wearable in its nuances and can be pulled off by every single face shape, age and hair texture. What’s more, it’s really only taking that ‘safety cut’ (where you have a few more inches chopped off in case of a second wave) to the next level.

So, what exactly is the French bob?

‘It’s a sharp, short, chin-grazing bob,’ says Adam Reed, UK Editorial Ambassador for L’Oréal Professionnel. Drawing inspiration from the Louise Brooks-esque feel of the 20s and 30s, according to Reed the French bob is a really nice way of updating the usual bob. ‘It has that sultry, jazz singer feel,’ he says, ‘think sassy yet elegant.’

What should you ask for at the hairdressers to achieve the French bob?

Ask any stylist and they will always recommend taking a few visual references of the type of look you're after to your appointment. We'd suggest Kaia Geber, Hannah Kleit (pictured above) or Aïda (pictured below) as a good place to start. 'In terms of the haircut itself, the point of the bob should hit the corner of the mouth,' advises Reed, 'and that gives it the cool sharp finish.'

If you have a fringe or would like to get a fringe cut in - it should sit just above the brow -'slightly shorter than a usual fringe, super chic,' adds Reed.

Why is the French girl bob so popular?

'It’s such a great haircut to get right now as it’s a lovely move on from the boyfriend bob we saw last year,' says Reed who's already seen a rise in demand for the look. 'Several clients were looking to do a big cut following lockdown and we went with this look, they loved it!' One client even opted for a bright pink take on the go-to style and Reed assures us it worked so well (for more pink hair inspiration click here).

How do you style a French bob?

From poker-straight to tousled and curly, there are various ways to wear the French girl bob. 'I recommend prepping the hair with my hero styling product, L’Oréal Professionnel TECNI.ART Pli, £16.10, before blow-drying,' says Reed, 'this will give the hair a great moldable hold.' Next up? 'Finish with hairspray for extra hold and to calm any of those loose flyaways.' We love Ouai's Texturizing Hair Spray, £22, for an extra boost of movement and volume.