What to ask for for a non-boring bob?

[Justkoko]

Feeling a bit meh. Could do with a haircut and I'm sure I could have a bob that is more stylish but I don't know what to ask for!
Early 40s, round of face, very fine hair currently cut into a boring but easy to manage bob that's around chin length or a bit longer.

What do I ask for to make it a bit more updated?

The thing with those is the balayage which makes it look interesting. Without that it's just a normal slightly choppy bob that's been painstakingly styled

I erase coveting Michelle Williams's haircut on Graham Norton last week - 

Gawd. Post fail!

OP I have the same hair as you. I find the best bobs with just a hint of style on me are

• Longish - front bits should hit your collarbones
• Slightly shorter at the back - helps give it some structure somehow, and distributes the weight better and doesn't weigh itself down after it has grown a bit (also buys you an extra month or two before you need to get it trimmed)
• Keep it blunt - makes it look thicker.

if you have enough hair then you can do a light angled side fringe.

And this is all based on various expensive and/or cool central London hair stylists advice over the years - they do seem to be right. Anything else requires too much styling if your hair is too fine to hold shape. I get the Karen comments, but it's a different look really.

Oh and don't be afraid to back comb the crown a little - makes a world of difference. (as does Babyliss Big Hair rolling brush)

Just googled Italian bob and I’m in love!

I think bobs just below chin are a bit mumsy (guilty) and it made all the difference when I showed the hairdresser a picture of a short bob with a few layers but cut so lots of volume. The thing which took it out of the mumsy territory was the length-just above chin length with the fro t ends pointy and swingy. It looks much thicker-needs frequent cuts as soon as it starts to drop it drags my face down again. Think 5-6 weeks instead of 8.

I had a short bob, and had a fringe cut in. I just looked like Sue Barker. As lovely as she is that wasn’t the look I was aiming for…

So I had it cut into a pixie and I love it. Minimal effort (mine is fine and straight) and I think I look less mumsy.

I’ll probably grow it back into a short blunt Bob when I get bored of it.

How about a bob with curtain bangs?

I’ve got a Bob that’s Centre parted. It’s solved at the front. I get lots of compliments on it. I’ve got thick hair, and it’s a very very blunt cut.

God OP I hear you. Have exactly the same hair.

none of those choppy, slightly wavy styles work, my hair is far too fine to hold any kind of curl or wave. If it gets longer than chin length it just goes completely flat within five minutes of drying it. And it’s gone gray now so won’t curl round anything willingly 🙄 But really straight, crisp styles just look hard on me. And yes, all those willowy, swan-necked models don’t help.

it might fall into the mumsy camp but I loved Jemma Redgrave’s hair on an old episode of Dr Who I watched last night (season 6): just below ear / chin length, bit of height on top, tucked behind ears. I need some volume, as I’m tall and broad (and 50), but if i grow it too long it all goes a bit Bonnie Tyler thanks to my square jaw 🙄

As others have said OP - its more a case of what suits your particular hair and face shape rather than what might be trendy.

There's little point in my view in looking at magazine photo shoot pictures of models who may have a completely different hair type, face shape etc and have spent 2 hours being styled with multiple products before being photo'd from a specific angle.

Fine hair is difficult, I sympathise. It just doesn't hold volume or shape easily so 'choppy' or 'messy' styles don't look they're supposed to as the hair doesn't have that type of movement.

My bob is an inch below the lowest point of my chin (used to be shorter but I like to be able to tie it back sometimes). Blunt cut then 'scissored' into the ends which makes it round under easier. Personally that gives my hair more illusion of volume than it being poker straight.

I have friends with great, much shorter cuts (and fine hair) but they suit their face shape and longer neck wouldn't sit mine.

And can we please ditch the term mumsy. It's so derogatory to women.

@dameofdilemma yes, it's fine and soft, so anything longer than between chin and shoulders just hangs and looks drab. It won't hold a curl and believe me I've tried. The most 'styling' it will do is flicked ends, either under or over. That's as much as it can handle.
So, I don't know if anyone does all that kibbe stuff, but I'm coming to the conclusion (after a lot of thought) that I am soft classic, so smooth controlled styles work best and really, that fits my hair type so it makes sense.
I'm just not sure whether to put layers or a bit of soft graduation at the back. I don't want anything swingy around my face, I like it to be fairly under control.

It just seems like a slightly longer more relaxed length is in at the mo. And my ever reliable chin length is a bit too short. I don't know.