With the arrival of warmer weather, the urge to trade long locks for a breezy summer chop is stronger than ever. Enter the French bob: an effortlessly chic style that is dominating salon requests. However, walking out with a sophisticated, cool-girl cut—rather than a childish crop—requires knowing exactly what to ask for and how to maintain it.
Legendary celebrity hairstylist Sally Hershberger, the creative force behind the iconic looks of stars like Meg Ryan, Julia Roberts, and Miley Cyrus, recently shared her masterclass on achieving the perfect short cut. According to Hershberger, communication is your most valuable tool at the salon.
"The most important thing you can do is bring visual references," Hershberger explains. "Photos are the best way to communicate what you want – whether that’s from Instagram, Vogue, or anywhere you’re seeing cuts you love."
Precision in length is equally crucial. Hershberger advises clients to be highly specific about where the ends should fall—whether directly at the chin, slightly below, or grazing the shoulders. Even a fraction of an inch can dramatically alter the haircut's overall vibe. Furthermore, a skilled stylist will never treat the French bob as a rigid, one-size-fits-all style; instead, they will tailor the shape to flatter your unique facial features and natural hair texture.
Once the cut is perfected, maintaining that salon-fresh look at home comes down to using the right products for your specific hair type:
For Sleek, Straight Bobs If you are aiming for a polished, glossy finish, the goal is to add shine without sacrificing movement. Hershberger recommends a lightweight dry oil hair serum, such as The Hair Edit Dry Oil Hair Serum, to keep the hair looking sleek and smooth without weighing down your fresh ends.
For Curly Bobs When dealing with curls, a shorter cut requires dedicated frizz control and intense hydration to maintain its shape. Hershberger suggests utilizing a defining product, like Color Wow Dream Coat for Curly Hair, which hydrates curls while keeping them incredibly soft and controlled.
For Fine Hair Bobs Fine hair can easily fall flat when cropped short, making texture the ultimate goal.
"With bobs, especially on finer textures, you want that airy movement and separation to avoid the cut falling flat," says Hershberger.
To achieve this, she swears by Oribe Dry Texturizing Spray. A quick spritz adds instant volume and body, delivering that highly sought-after, effortlessly undone aesthetic without leaving behind a sticky or heavy residue.