Curly hair - Would a bob work?

[Mixedandproud]

I have very curly shoulder length hair and all I ever do is put loads of leave in conditioner in to tame it and then tie it back. It always looks dreadful however hard I try to make it look nice.
I have always liked the bob style, do you think it looks good with curly hair?
I am going to book into a hair salon which is good at catering for my hair type so I know they will be able to cut and style it well.
I am thinking either a natural curly bob with some colour or to have my hair relaxed (straightened) first and then cut into a bob possibly with a fringe.
If anyone has curly hair and a bob could you tell me if it is fairly easy to maintain?
Would you opt for this style again?
I am thinking why not just go for it, surely it can’t look any worse than it already does! I intend to talk it all through with the hairdresser first to get their advice.
I have attached a couple of google pictures of the kind of looks I like. I only wish I looked like the woman in the second picture!

@museumum - Your hair style sounds lovely.
I’m thinking the same as you, go for a shorter style bob so that I can’t keep tieing it back. I’ve tied mine back for 20 years and it’s damaged my hairline.

@Mixedandproud thanks a list of hairdressers would be great. It's past shoulder length now, with some random layers so I only really want someone to give it a trim and thin out. Sounds simple, but in practice I know that I'm straying into dangerous territory and could easily end up with a Kevin Keegan 80s style abomination.

OP, you have amazing curls. Please don't relax them.

I would focus on finding a good curly hair routine (I find finding YouTubers with the same hair type the most useful way) and rock your curls.

Most of the photo suggestion here are white models with a completely different curl type. These cuts don't work with your hair.

have you done Google image search for Bob and natural/afro hair. lots of nice cuts come up. and have a chat with your hairdresser but your curl pattern looks great. Show it off!!!!

FWIW, I have chin/shoulder lengths bob. Not afro hair but my curls are very thick and tight...

Have just looked at your hair again . actually, I would not cut it into a bob. get yourself to a curly specialist and sort out the cut but keep as much hair as possible.

If you have curly hair, from wavy to afro, there are two main issues. The cut.... you need a hairdresser who understands how to cut every curl individually after the initial rough shaping, and allows the time to do it.

And the right products. It's taken me over 60 years to discover that a salt spray and (a large dose of) oil are key to making my grey Caucasian curls settle flatteringly. My hair is Robert Plant in the Zeppelin years... it grows out, not down and on a bad day I look like I stuck my finger in an electrical socket. When I get it right, it is still quite chic. I had a straight blow dry, once. Then went home and wet it again. I do not have straight hair.

Ah good luck with your new hair stylist OP.. it's so great to find someone who can work with curly and Afro hair, rather than against it. ❤️

Do not straighten it, embrace your curls

@Candleabra - I typed in best afro hairdressers in UK and a few different review type lists come up with salons in the North.
I know you have a different hair type but as we know curls have a mind of their own! Many of them state they cater for European hair too so hopefully you'll find somewhere worth considering.
Neither of us are aiming for the Kevin Keegan look! Good luck, keep us posted.

www.google.co.uk/amp/s/www.refinery29.com/amp/en-gb/best-salons-afro-hair

www.google.co.uk/amp/s/www.stylist.co.uk/beauty/best-afro-hair-salons-uk-black-hair-curly-hair-braids-weave/270870/amp

@vengeancer - Thank you for your posts.
I am definitely not set on trying the natural relaxer texture release treatment yet. But after so many years of never being able to achieve anywhere near the look I'm going for and spending what must add up to hundreds maybe into the thousands of pounds on curly hair products, none of which live up to the claims, I really need to try something different. I'm going to take the advice of the stylist and go from there. I would like to go shorter after having shoulder length hair for so long. It should grow back if it's a disaster so why not try something different!

@XingMing - I hear you with the Robert Plant look! Hair products are everything and it may be that I need to spend more on salon quality products to make my natural curls look good. Along with a good cut. I'm open to seeing what the hairdresser says.

@NeedToKnow101 - Thank you. Yes I'm really hoping this stylist is as great as she sounds.

@Slinkymalinky1 - I know it seems awful to some to straighten curls but curls are really tough to deal with and in all honesty embracing them can be very difficult when they have a mind of their own!

I have a type of afro hair that’s a bit more relaxed than yours and I would absolutely stay away from a bob as it highlights frizz and just goes so puffy (think orphan annie). I think your hair type might suit a longer bob though - possibly a blunt cut to your collarbone. You could then speak to a hair stylist to maximise your curl.

Thanks @GrumpyHoonMain - I think whether I go for the Bob or Lob I will need lots of layers to avoid the dreaded mushroom look. I really don't think a blunt one length cut would work for me as I don't have the face to carry it off. I desperately want my hair to soften my features and nicely frame my face if possible.
I currently fight frizz on an epic scale daily so if I go for a natural style the frizz will always be something I have to deal with.
Ha! Orphan Annie is another look I'm trying to avoid!