Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Style and beauty

Looking for style advice? Chat all about it here. For the latest discounts on fashion and beauty, sign up for Mumsnet Moneysaver emails.

Flip

Original poster

Is a bob a low maintenance haircut?

20 replies

farendofafart · 10/08/2014 08:03

I'm looking for a wash and go style. I don't mind a little bit of straightening if it will only take 5 mins.

I have thick slightly wavy hair. Currently far too long and constantly tied up because I can't find the time to style it properly.

OP posts:

beccajoh · 10/08/2014 08:16

If it's thick and wavy you might find it styles itself into a triangle shape around your head unless you have it thinned out a bit.

s88 · 10/08/2014 08:23

I did this hoping for an easy style. I was wrong !

I have thick wavy hair and like you it was constantly up but when it was short I had no option but to straighten it every day .

I learnt my lesson and won't do it again . why not have a lot of layers put in instead to thin it out and make it quicker to straighten

gamerchick · 10/08/2014 08:26

It is an easy style to maintain but it's not a wash and go sadly.

Maybe a pixie cut?

McBear · 10/08/2014 08:31

I have shit hair. Thin, bleached to an inch of it's life and short hair was a nightmare. Mine is just above bra strap now and I can wash it, leave it natural or tie it up. I think that's the least hassle length.

pommedeterre · 10/08/2014 08:39

No! High maintenance unless you have naturally poker straight shiny hair.

WhoKnowsWhereTheTimeGoes · 10/08/2014 08:43

Mine is thick, wavy and fairly unruly. Currently long layers and just above bra strap length. I have had all sorts of long and short styles in the past and would say bobbed was by far the worst, no option but to style it every day, whereas now it is easy to wear up, wear down, looks good if left to dry naturally etc.

I had short hair for years, which had to be blow dried every morning, only took a couple of minutes, but I couldn't not do it or it would end up partly lying flat to the scalp, partly sticking out in random tufts, it looked dreadful. It also didn't cope well with windy weather, the waviness means that if the wind catches it it tends to stay where it is blown to instead of falling back into place, I would catch sight of myself in shop windows with random strange fringe effects and sticky out bits. Also, not so bad if I was at home, but we camp quite a bit and I would hate the way it looked if I didn't have access to a hairdryer. Whereas now I have far more options.

I've been considering having mine cut short again and scrutinising other women's hair cuts, there are some fabulous short cuts out there, but I suspect all the best ones are higher maintenance than they look.

BestIsWest · 10/08/2014 08:49

I have thick wavy hair wit a tendency to frizz. I had a bob for years and it was ok but not wash and go. I had it cut eventually because I was tired of looking like Wendy in Wallace and Gromit.

I have a short layered style now which I love but it has to be looked after exactly as whoknows says.

ThrowAChickenInTheAir · 10/08/2014 08:52

I have straight fine hair (graduated bob style).

A Bob is practically my only option unless I have it cropped. I did used to have it v short and although it was quite low maintenance I felt it was too severe for me so grew it out. That was a painfully slow and frustrating 18mnths but now have chin length bob.

It def needs to be 'done' to look any good. But then I've never been one of those lucky lucky people who have hair that behaves without much work.

The trick is to find the holy grail of hairdresser who can cut it properly. Hit and miss on that I've found. You have to be half competent at blow drying too but yes it's ok.

Fairylea · 10/08/2014 08:53

Unless you straighten loads everyday you will look like a mushroom. Well I did anyway. ...!

Lilybensmum1 · 10/08/2014 08:53

Sadly I agree with everyone, I have thick unruly hair had it bobbed for years, it has to be styled everyday takes ages, it looks lovely as it's long at sides and short at back but, not had my haircut for a while due to cost and it's much easier.

You could always try it, you never know it might work and it will grow back. You have my sympathies I get so fed up spending ages on my hair.

KittyandTeal · 10/08/2014 09:02

I have a bob and it's not low maintenance. I have to straighten it every day (that I want to go out and be seen in public) it's just about long enough now to put in tiny pig tails at the gym so it's not in my face but that looks ridiculous!

Saying that I love it and don't mind straightening it every day.

CMOTDibbler · 10/08/2014 09:13

I used to have a bob (cut higher at the back, and reverse layered to stop it looking like a big triangle). It looked lovely at the hairdressers, and if I had a good 30 minutes to dry it properly.
If I didn't, or it was humid, I looked awful. Went back to having it long so I could wear it down, pin it up, bun, plait, pony, and when camping or doing sport its out of my way

Sicaq · 10/08/2014 09:21

I'm going to be a voice of dissent! I also have thick wavy hair and a longish bob worked really well on me. Just don't go above jaw length. I never needed to style it; maybe a bit of spray for root lift but that was it.

Memphisbelly · 10/08/2014 09:26

I have thick poker straight hair and had it cut as I was sick of scaping it into a ponytail and thought it would be easy to do, take me longer to sort in the morning, it flicks in all directions if it doesn't get tamed.

missmartha · 10/08/2014 09:28

I have fine, dead straight hair cut into a layered bob.

I do spend about 5-10 mins with a round brush and a hair dryer just to give it a finished look, but no longer than that, I just haven't got the time.

I agree, get yourself a good cut from a good stylist and you're laughing.

Orangeanddemons · 10/08/2014 09:28

Another one against. I have slightly wavey hair, it flicks in every direction with a bob, takes ages to straighten. It only behaves itself when it gets to just above bra strap length

George9978 · 10/08/2014 09:36

No, you need the weight to hold it down. I have mine mid breast length and I have found that twisting it into a bun to dry overnight ( needs to be half dry to do this) sleep on it, in the morning it falls into lovely loose curls and looks styled.

Sleeping on it loose leaves it wild!!

George9978 · 10/08/2014 09:39

Oh yes and frizz ease/ Moroccan oil is your best friend.

OhOneOhTwoOhThree · 10/08/2014 09:44

I went for a chop a few months ago, from bra length wild and wavy to chin length bob. It looked great for the first 24 hours...

Even blow drying/straightening doesn't get the hairdresser effect. And even if it did, 5 minutes out of the house ruin the effect (I cycle to the station every morning and play a lot of sport). I'm now back at being able to tie it back and wash and go and feel more like me again.

Laundryangel · 10/08/2014 09:45

I had a bob for years thinking it was the easiest solution. It was only after having DC2 & seemingly no time in 7 months to go to a hairdresser that it grew down to shoulder length & looks better with less effort. I still wash & dry it every day but can get away with a blast of the hairdryer rather than careful blow drying plus straighteners. Not only does the length weigh it down but the odd kink in the wrong place is more likely to get lost in the general waves rather than stick out at 90 degrees to the rest of my head.

Flip