Two inches is the difference between a bob that sits under your jaw and one that sits on your collarbone, and those are two completely different haircuts. This is what each length actually does on a head.
The lengths
| Length | Where it falls | The effect |
|---|---|---|
| 8" | Earlobe to mid-cheek | Sharp, deliberate, French-crop territory |
| 10" | Jawline | The classic bob. Frames the face hardest. |
| 12" | Just below the chin | The most forgiving length. Suits almost everyone. |
| 14" | Collarbone | A long bob — softer, more casual |
| 16" | Below the collarbone | No longer a bob. This is short hair. |
Measured on a straight unit from the cap to the tip. A wavy or curly bob at the same stated length sits higher — a 12 inch curly bob wears like a 9 inch straight one. The shrinkage chart has the conversions by texture.
Height changes everything
These positions assume an average frame. Under 160cm, every length sits roughly one size lower on you than the table suggests, so a 12 inch reads as a 14. Over 175cm, the opposite. If you are short and want a jaw-length bob, 8 to 10 inches is your range, not 12.
Choosing by face shape
- Round — go longer than the jaw. 12 to 14 inches with length at the front draws the eye down rather than across. Avoid a blunt 10 inch cut at the widest point of the face.
- Long or oblong — 10 to 12 inches, ideally with some width or wave. A long straight bob makes a long face longer.
- Square — softness matters more than length. A wavy or layered bob at 12 to 14 inches breaks up a strong jaw.
- Heart — 12 to 14 inches with volume at the bottom balances a wider forehead.
- Oval — any of them.
None of this is a rule. It is a starting point for people who do not want to buy twice.
Blunt, layered, or A-line
The cut matters as much as the length:
- Blunt — one length all round. Sharpest and most modern, and it needs density behind it or the ends look thin. This is the cut that most rewards 180% or higher.
- A-line — shorter at the back, longer at the front. Flattering on most faces because it creates a diagonal line toward the jaw.
- Layered — movement and volume, less structure. Easier to wear badly, harder to make look sharp.
- Curly bob — the pattern provides the shape, so the cut matters least. Also the most forgiving of a bad morning.
Density matters more on a bob than anywhere
Long hair hides a low density because the length creates its own weight and shadow. A bob has nowhere to hide — the ends are all anyone looks at, and a thin blunt line reads as a cheap unit instantly.
For a blunt bob we would not go below 180%, and 200% if the cut is short and sharp. The density guide explains what those numbers look like on a head, and the size and density page sets out what we stock.
Why bobs suit daily wear
They are the lowest-maintenance units there are. No length against a collar means no nape matting, which is where most wigs die — see the tangling guide for the mechanism. Nothing to plait at night. Nothing to catch in a seatbelt or a bag strap. And they dry in a fraction of the time.
Cleo is our straight 13x4 HD lace bob, Nia is the glueless curly version for people who want to be out of the door in five minutes, and Tiana goes shorter still if a bob is not short enough. The bob collection has the full range.
If you are not sure
Go slightly longer than you think. A bob can be cut shorter in ten minutes by anyone competent; it cannot be made longer. 12 inches is the length we would point most first-time bob buyers at for exactly this reason.
Best wigs for everyday wear covers why bobs keep coming out on top for daily use, and which wig should I buy walks through cap type and density once you have settled on a length.