Everyone Is Getting a French Bob this Fall (2024)

The real differentiator from the more standard bobs we’re used to seeing is the length. According to celeb hairstylist Peter Butler, the French bob originated in the ’20s jazz age, so it has that really short, crisp, dramatic flapper look. “It has to be cut so that it hits your jaw line,” he says. “Traditionally, it can also go shorter and hit your lip line. Both lengths look amazing and fresh.”

While historically the French bob has had more of a pin-straight look, Brown says the most modern way to wear it is effortlessly and wavy. This, paired with the fact that people are desperate for change, could explain why the cut is having such a moment—apparently it’s the most searched haircut in the U.K.

“I’m finding that months of quarantine has made a lot of people want to embrace their natural hair texture, and want to find a haircut that is low-maintenance and falls into place with little to no effort,” says Brown. The stereotypical idea of French girl beauty has included such a tiny portion of people for so long—white, thin, perfect skin, wine-stained lips—but luckily this is a haircut that almost anyone can wear, no matter their hair texture. In fact, Brown says that she finds the cut works best on waves or curls because of the natural volume.