HAIR TRENDS

‘Le petit bob’ is the dinky, skimpy haircut we need

The hair trend to watch.

28 September 2023

Le Petit Bob Is The Dinky Skimpy Haircut We Need

There's something about September and the new season that makes us want to start fresh. Maybe that's why we keep spotting Le Petit Bob cropping up (quite literally) everywhere.

Coined by leading hair stylist and trend forecaster, Tom Smith, and dubbed “the one to watch” in his round-up of the top winter hair trends, Le Petit Bob definitely plays into our desire to prune away any excess that we just don't need.

While shorter cuts are often associated with summer and shedding layers, we reckon the best time to crop hair so short you can't tie it up, is heading into the cooler seasons, because cute crops, plus roll necks equals autumn-winter wardrobe goals.

What is Le Petit Bob?

Essentially it's a dinky, super short rendition of the classic bob shape. “Bob lengths have been shrinking for a while and this new sharp offering might be as tiny as a bob can go before it becomes a totally new shape," explains Tom. “This shape is the sassy sister of the ‘French Girl Bob’ and can be a great option for those growing out a crop as it creates angles and contours, which is exactly what the ‘awkward’ stages of growing out shorter hair lack,” he explains.

And rather than an A-line shape, the chop features subtly shorter face-framing layers. “Unlike the ‘Pob’ which has fallen firmly out of favour, the lengths around the face are slightly higher than those at the back, adding the effortless French influence we love,” explains Tom.

Who is Le Petit Bob best for?

The cut is best suited to fine hair-types looking for extra oomph. Thick textures can wear it too, you may just need to ask your hairstylist to remove some weight so it falls exactly where you want. "If your hair texture is fine or has thinned over time, this cut is one of the best you could opt for to increase the visual thickness and bulk of your hair,” says Tom.

How to cut Le Petit Bob?

In terms of what to request from your stylist, “the trick to achieving this nano length is to graduate slightly at the nape of the neck,” says Tom. "We have to lift the hair above the natural hairline to allow us to create the shorter length around the face. The shorter the hair, the straighter and more side parted it should become to retain the ‘bob’ feeling,” he adds.