Alternatives to a graduated bob

[AnythingButThat]

I’m 36, and have fine hair which can look lank. It lacks volume without a lot of styling and I often pin it up. It’s in good condition now after bleaching it myself over lockdown 🥴 but I’m really after some ideas for a shortish style that’s not ageing.

I’m not exaggerating here when I say that the last four times I’ve been to the hairdressers (three different salons) they all suggested a graduated bob. I don’t mind a graduated bob - I’ve had one before (not with an extreme wedge, a more subtle one) and I think the style really suits lots of people. However, I have explained that I’m after something different, like a grown-out pixie or something shorter (I’ve shown them pictures) - only to have to really insist they don’t do a graduated bob. I usually end up with just a trim, so I now have a bluntish chin-length bob.

Without sounding vain I have a pretty enough face which I think could carry a shorter style. Why are hairdressers so reluctant to chop it off? Does anyone have a shorter style they can share?

I have similar hair. Whenever I've had it short (pixie, grown-out/shaggy pixie) it's taken daily washing and styling to look good, and even then looks middle aged on me once it's about 2 weeks growth from the cut, so needs cutting often.

Currently sporting a collar length slightly graduated (ends only) bob like Nicola Walker in The Split

Thanks for your reply! I've just Googled and that style is lovely.

I think the worst time was when I was all ready to talk through my ideas, and the hairdresser was sporting a very obvious.....graduated bob. I felt like I couldn't say 'please don't suggest a graduated bob!' - she did anyway! And then got a colleague's opinion, who also agreed that would work!

I've found a new salon in the city centre close to where I work, I'm going to try there next week. I'm very confident in my description, I would totally understand their reluctance to 'chop it all off' if I had gorgeous long hair and I didn't seem sure - but I'm going to have to start being even more direct!

I think sometimes they are scared you might hate it too short. It's silly. I had to really persuade them to cut my pixie bob. Anyway, I find if you go for the first one and say you'll have a bob then often they are happy to cut it shorter the next time.

Try asking for a choppy bob above the jawline. That's what finally got me the cut I wanted after years of being given dull, longish graduated bobs, regardless of what I asked for. I just hadn;t the hairdresser language to explain what I wanted and they refused to ever cut it short enough until I hit upon the word choppy and insisted on above the jawline. My hair is like yours.