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

1 2 3 4

Original poster

can we discuss bobs and what makes them frumpy

100 replies

PigOnStilts · 29/08/2017 19:40

I wrote a massive post about bobs.
It disappeared into the ether.

This is my second, more concise attempt.

want a bob.
but not a frumpy mum bob.
what IS a frumpy mum bob?
I do not want a frumpy bob
I am 42 and live in adidas and have a big bum. I can't afford a frumpy do!

Is it too layered ie wispy and ageing?
Too structured?
Too helmety like dawn OPorter?
I want a graduated bob without any layer (see attached)

What's happening these days in terms of bobs??

can we discuss bobs and what makes them frumpy

OP posts:

Thread gallery

Scrumpington · 30/08/2017 15:08

Great minds indeed Buns

endehors · 30/08/2017 15:11

Your hair is very stylish, littlepig.

Scrumpington, those look like bob of doom, as they're frequently called, bobs.

BunsforTea · 30/08/2017 15:13

Indeed, Scrumpington

BunsforTea · 30/08/2017 15:19

fertility I had longer hair before but tended to wear it scraped back in a rather severe bun for everyday, which aged me no end. My bouffy wavy bob has apparently taken years off me, and (perhaps no coincidence) is also pretty much a return to the hairdo I had as a sixth-former and at uni.

Littlepig8834 · 30/08/2017 15:33

fertility you'd def hate my hair!

I've had this length hair for quite a while, pre my DD. I did have longer hair before (below shoulders) but it would always be up in a bobble or just down and not styled in any way.

I have a bit of a natural wave to my hair so I sometimes leave it relaxed and not straightened.

Thanks to those that think it looks nice! And I agree, I'm no longer going to use the word 'mumsy'

Bodicea · 30/08/2017 16:05

I think that a bob that curl under at the ends can look mummy.
The ended need to be uber blunt and straight to be edgy - whether that's blunt accross or inverted.

fertilitykate · 31/08/2017 08:21

I know that people think that long hair just gets scraped up. Mine is way down my back - I'm 50. I have it is a low messy bun, loose, French plait, high messy bun - never in a pony tail.

Original poster

PigOnStilts · 31/08/2017 08:36

Ive had long air all my life, mainly mid back - but it totally took years off me when I cut it to bra length probably because of the bits around my face

OP posts:

heron98 · 31/08/2017 10:35

Do not get a bob if you have thick hair.

I made that mistake, thinking that the shorter it was the more manageable it would be. Wrong! It stuck out like some sort of weird bush and I always had to straighten it which got really tiresome.

My hair is now quite long (below my shoulders) and so much easier to manage as I can just let it dry naturally and the extra weight makes it hang more stylishly.

OldJoseph · 31/08/2017 12:45

Would love to not have a bob but my hair is straight and fine so not many options.
I don't have the face for very short hair and because my hair is so fine and my face long my hair doesn't look good long either.

Glitteryfrog · 31/08/2017 13:00

@Littlepig8834 that's my haircut too. But with geeky glasses.
My hairdresser went ferral and did a graduated Bob up the back of my head... It was hideous and frumpy.

Dustbunny1900 · 31/08/2017 15:44

do not get a bob if you have thick hair
Seriously. Or unruly cowlicked hair, or frizzy. Not if you want wash n go hair that looks good.
My hair is coarse and super thick and the most low-maintenance hairstyle is long hair. I get out of the bath, go to sleep, and wake up with long boho waves instead of poofy triangle-head smashed to one side. Short hair on unruly haired girls is work..the short strands spring up, freed from the weight of long hair and at best it looks frumpy.

DameDoom · 31/08/2017 16:03

You need to sit down with a really good hairdresser and be prepared to pay plenty for it. I had my hair bobbed at Christmas and it's taken years of me. The cut has to be mega-precise and you can't go beyond 7 weeks without getting it done. Mine is all one length and gently graduated - it is very blunt. Because the cut is so good, I can wash and go if I need to but it does look far better if I spend time blow drying.
I tried to cut corners by having my first trim with the hairdresser I used when my hair was long - big mistake. She just didn't have the skill or time to get a really good blunt line - 'twas a bit frumpy. Had to get an emergency appt with the guy who'd done it in the first place.
I

Gooseberrytart4 · 31/08/2017 20:09

Go for a long bob to start with

SwedishEdith · 31/08/2017 20:13

Because the cut is so good, I can wash and go if I need to but it does look far better if I spend time blow drying.

Do you have naturally very straight hair?

DameDoom · 01/09/2017 12:25

I do Swedish - very fine but lots of it and poker straight.

PrimalLass · 01/09/2017 15:29

I've just had my long hair cut into a collarbone bob. It's much easier just now as messy bobs are 'in' rather than sleek and perfect. I can tong it into waves or straighten it into blunt ends. And I have a fringe - not frumpy.

DameDoom · 02/09/2017 15:26

I disagree that sleek and perfect isn't 'in' although it may not be as trendy and edgy as a messy tousled bob- if you have fine straight hair it is practically impossible to hold a wave so there is no other choice . By perfect do you mean styled to within an inch of its life? I make sure I point the nozzle on my hairdryer down the hair shaft to get shine but use minimal product so my hair has lots of movement - no one wants a stiff do.
I really do think there is a variation of the bob to suit everyone but you need an excellent hairdresser to help you find it.
I Like these two sleek bobs.

DameDoom · 02/09/2017 15:35

How about this to go with you Adidas and jeans Pig? I loved this so much on Adele - tis lush.

DameDoom · 02/09/2017 15:54

Littlepig - I have just gone back through the thread and I think your bob looks fabulous - the antithesis of mumsy.

Trollspoopglitter · 02/09/2017 16:03

I've had variations of bobs for about 25 years now and thanks to Vidal Sassoon, it's always been on trend. My current is similar to this

Trollspoopglitter · 02/09/2017 16:07

Also, because the cut is so £££, I get my bob cut twice a year. My hairdresser cuts it so that it looks just as great growing out into a longer version. So I completely disagree about it needing frequent cuts. And - gasp - I hardly ever blow dry my hair either. I had straight hair before pregnancies and now have curlier hair. The bob has worked with both textures and it's just so bloody easy to maintain.

PuppyMonkey · 02/09/2017 16:10

I've had a variation on a bob for most of my life. I've given up styling my hair now, with straighteners and all that - just have layered ends and put salt stray on and mess it all up basically. So easy to look after. I also let it dry naturally sometimes and it goes all wavy and beachy. I might look a frump to others, I dunno. I'm 50 now and don't give a shite basically

DameDoom · 02/09/2017 16:26

Troll you are really lucky that you can get yours cut twice a year. I kid you not but at 7 weeks mine starts to lose all shape and looks all different lengths. I have resigned myself to regular expensive haircuts if my hair is to look good. Am doing cutbacks in other areas to be able to cover the cost. The curse of fine, poker straight hair I suppose.

Trollspoopglitter · 02/09/2017 16:30

Dame, you are the exception rather than the norm. My hairdresser would be doing cartwheels if he had regular clients every 7 weeks . Most people (he and other hair dressers have told me) do every 3-4 months. But you do really need to specify you want it to grow out. Obviously, it needs some sort of layering (no clue on terminology) for it to work.

Flip

1 2 3 4