How To Master The Bob on Different Hair Types

Step by Step: The Big Bob Blow-Dry

Nadine Farquhar, Gamma+ Ambassador

1. Wash the hair and towel dry by blotting, rather than rubbing, to remove excess water.
2. Brush hair using a paddle brush, starting at the ends, and working your way up to the root.
3. Section the hair from the nape in a horseshoe, apply your chosen products, taking sections the width of the barrel brush you're using. 
4. Blow-dry the root first at a 90-degree angle to create as much volume as possible, allowing the mid lengths and ends to flow through the bristles wrapping around your brush. Always finish each section with cool air which will help smooth any frizz and mould the shape of the hair. Work your way up the head. 
5. Section the hair from the nape again using sections the size of your barrel tong. 
6. Flat barrel tong to the head and place clips to secure your pin curl. 
7. Leave for 20 minutes to cool, then dress out using a dressing out brush. 
8. Spray a shine spray onto the brush and brush through to create a glossy, old money bouncy blow-dry with soft movement.

"I CAN'T LIVE WITHOUT THE SHED PUMP UP VOLUMISING BLOW-DRY SPRAY WHEN DOING A BIG BLOW OUT!"

Peter Mellon, Alfa Italia Styling Ambassador

Top Tools

Clients love a good blow-dry, and it comes as no surprise that to achieve a bouncy look, the tools used are key. "My go-to electrical tool for blow-drying is the Alfa Italia Aurora Pro Ionic Smart Dryer," Peter Mellon, Alfa Italia Styling Ambassador tells us. "It locks in the hair's natural moisture and gives the hair smoothness and shine."

Meanwhile, Mohammad Ilmaas, Gamma+ Ambassador, uses the Gamma+ Xcell S Rose Hairdryer and Gamma Brushes in sizes 25mm and 35mm to blow-dry. To finish, Mohammad says: "Go in with the Gamma+ Twin Pro Straightener for a sleek and smooth finish." 

Step by Step: Natural Bob

Rosie Myles, Key Account Educator for ghd

1. Begin with freshly washed hair. 
2. Next, section the hair for easier styling.
3. Take your ghd chronos styler and rotate the styler 180-degrees as you glide it through the hair, using the push down technique to create a curl.
4. Continue this technique throughout the hair, alternating the direction you rotate the styler throughout for a breezy natural-look effect.
5. Use the ghd detangling comb to dress out the curls for care-free vibes.

TOP TIP: Hold the styler vertically, not horizontally, to maintain the length of the bob. 

Promote the Process

As we know, social media is key when promoting your work, especially different styles. James Parr, Wahl Styling Team and Creative Director of Nashwhite tells us: "When clients see step-by-step processes using techniques they may not be familiar with, it encourages them to try different looks and styles. Any tips to make achieving these styles look simple enough for them to recreate will give them trust and will add value to your service. A bonus of a styling appointment is it can be more cost effective for the client by making them feel brand new at the same time, as it may be a look they can't quite master themselves." 

Top Tool

"With its tourmaline and ceramic coated plates, the Wahl Style Collection Straightener offers even heat distribution across the plate for perfect results on the first glide, so you don't have to keep going over it. The contoured plates and the easy glide technology ensures hair moves through the iron with zero snagging which is great for protecting hair's integrity while creating purposeful imperfections and enhancing movement and texture."
Stacey Wright, Wahl Styling Team

Step by Step: Straight 90s Bob

Edoardo Colasanti, Trevor Sorbie Creative Team

1. To attain the flawless, voluminous 90s bob, the process begins right after a fresh wash.
2. Start by priming the hair with a mousse, evenly distributing it from the roots to the tips.
3. Using the Diva Pro Styling Atmos 2 Ultra Dryer and a generously sized round brush, focus on the roots, rotating upwards to amplify volume, before gliding towards the ends. 
4. Once the hair is flawlessly blow-dried to a smooth finish, refine it further using a straightening iron, imparting a final touch of polish and shine.

According to Alfredo De Benedictis, Founder of KEEO, after rough drying the hair, selectively bending mid-sections of the hair (avoiding the roots and ends) in alternating directions, is key for natural-looking volume. "This technique transforms the classic bob into a modern masterpiece." And to get that super sleek, smooth finish, the trick is in the drying of the hair. "You need a good, versatile dryer," says Ky Wilson, BaByliss PRO Ambassador. "I'm all about the BaByliss PRO Falco Dryer – it's fast and comes with the right attachments you need to create this look." 

"THERE'S ONE GO-TO TOOL IN MY KITBAG THAT GIVES SHINE AND SMOOTHNESS AND THAT'S THE STEAMPOD BY L'ORÉAL PROFESSIONNEL. IT'S PERFECT FOR STYLING THE BOB WITH ITS OUTER BEVELLED HEATED PLATE THAT GIVES ME FULL CONTROL IN CREATING THE SHAPE I'M STYLING."

Louis Byrne

Step by Step: Curly Bob

Chloe Whittle, Educator at Neäl & Wølf - sold at Salon Promotions

1. Always start with clean hair to remove product build-up that could weigh the hair down.
2. Apply curl enhancing products to define and hold the curls in place. Neäl & Wølf's Enhance Volumising Mousse gives the hair a long-lasting hold and helps to enhance shine. 
3. After blow-drying, use a round brush for added volume. Divide the hair into small, manageable sections using clips. 
4. Take a small section of hair and wrap it around the curling wand, starting close to the root and working towards the ends. Hold the hair in place for 10-15 seconds, then release. 
5. For a more natural and textured look, alternate the direction in which you wrap the hair around the curling wand. This helps to prevent the curls from clumping together. Continue working through until the entire head is done.
6. Once you've allowed the curls to cool, use a flexible styling hairspray to set the style and keep the curls in place. 
7. For a more relaxed look, gently finger comb through the curls to break them up slightly and create texture. 
8. Finish with a shine enhancing product.

Top Tip

"The CLOUD NINE Mini Iron is fantastic at creating a firm, spring-like, natural curl," Marie Nieuwoudt, Group Education Manager at CLOUD NINE, tells us. "Take 1cm cube sections, pass each section of the hair through the floating plates, twisting the irons clockwise at first, then anti-clockwise in a brickwork pattern, to create a natural curl feel." Make sure you use the correct temperature for your client's hair type. Unsure of the correct temperature? Use the revolutionary CLOUD NINE Temperature Calculator.