How to make a bob look less mumsy?

[gruffalosmile]

Have spent about 2 painful years growing out a short layered crop to a chin length bob, no layers as I found that the layers were going all sticky-outy and driving me mad. But now I have this smooth bob I feel it looks so mumsy. Looks okay when first washed but not for long. My hair is very thick with a slight wave, but it will blow dry smooth. I hate the stacked bob look short at the back. I;m worried if I have layers cut back in it will go all fly away and unmanageable again. I don't want to go short and choppy again either! Any ideas? Thanks!

Okay thanks ladies, some great ideas here. I will resist layers for the moment as I have not had good experiences with having it layered in the past, but I am due a trim in a couple of weeks so will go for longer/blunter fringe and a more angled shape, will also buy a babyliss (have been thinking about one for ages). The make up I do every day but as I work in childcare I don't like to put too much slap on for work, and the clothes...well I do my best! I do my own colour because I can't afford salon colour, but will look for something nice and rich and a bit more zingy instead of my usual mouse.

I have a deep seated aversion to her, but I have to admit that dawn porter really rocks the short bob.

It is all in the fringe and shine.

But her bob can easily look frumpy on someone else - as I've said before, hair is just one element of your appearance, so as long as the rest of you is stylish, you should rock any of the bobs on here...

Well that goes without saying, however as someone up thread said, blunt thick fringes add an edge. Similarly I would argue that some styles of bob are intrinsically more frumpy than others - such as angela

Embrace the wave! Mad hair can be cute: Clara Bow

But Colin, Angela's haircut there is not even a bob.

Pop to a colourist and get some thick slices of colour put through. I was brown once with what my colourist called 'cheeky' slices of blonde, a chunky slice on my right that was unseen when my hair was down or I could pin the top back to reveal it, and three narrow slices on my left, again underneath the top layer of hair.

Or dye it pink. Or pillar box red.

That Angela Merkel haircut is not a bob.

I had mine re-cut into a bob just above the chin the other day. I have mumsy risk factors - toddler, bump, harried expression - but am trying to avoid the mumsyness winning over with makeup, clothes etc. An unstyled bob worn with a blotchy face (which would be me) and a fleece is not going to look brilliant.

Not sure about the fringe, I'm getting rid of mine and it looks less frumpy with a side parting and forehead on show. But it really depends on the wearer.

Try using mousse and blasting your hair upside down for a loose feel to it.

I have a bob without a fringe. I don't suit fringes- I look about 12

www.hairstylesmagazine.org/hairstyles/medium-length-hairstyles/medium-length-hairstyles-picture-0069.html

This is how I wear mine, but a bit shorter and I usually tuck it behind my ears. For nights out I do a bit of back combing on the crown. It gives it some height and looks really elegant.

Sorry that should be- this is how I get mine cut, I don't wear it like that as it would annoy me, being on my face.

Ok not strictly speaking but I am trying to channel my sister in law's awful bob which is a jaw length version. You must know the frumpy bob I am trying to evoke - thin hair, fringe cut far too far round the face and bad colour. Frumpy bobs do exist.