An angled bob haircut is a woman’s style that is longer in the front of the face and gradually gets shorter as it reaches the back of the neck. Other names for this haircut include the graduated bob or stacked bob. Since the hair is shorter in the back, there is more volume and movement with longer, face-framing layers in the front. The angled bob haircut goes in and out of fashion every few years, but it is largely considered a classic hairstyle that can be pulled off on a variety of hair textures.
The bob haircut emerged in the 1920s as a stylish alternative to old-fashioned, waist-length locks that were held in tight buns. The style works best on straight to wavy hair that is fine to very thick. Curly hair tends to get too poofy when it is cut into an angled bob haircut. If a woman with curly hair desires the style, however, she could use a flat iron every day to straighten her curls to achieve the desired angled effect.
Getting an angled bob means that the stylist has to cut the hair as short as the nape of the neck in the back, and gradually leave it longer as it reaches the front of the face. An angled bob haircut is usually cut to chin-length in the front. The bangs can be cut short or left long, as desired. Some women opt for the pageboy haircut, which involves cutting thick, blunt, short bangs. Longer, side-swept bangs are another popular look for this hairstyle.
Short, blunt bangs are best for women who have longer or thinner faces. Long, side-swept bangs are best for smaller, rounder faces. Women with oval faces can usually wear any type of bang style. Graduated bobs, in general, work well for women who have very thick hair.
One downside to a short, angled haircut is that it needs to be maintained on a regular basis. A trim may be required every four weeks or so to keep the haircut’s overall shape. Another downside is that women with wavy hair have to spend extra time blow-drying and flat ironing their hair to get it to lie down smoothly. A positive aspect of the graduated bob haircut is that it helps the wearer stay cool. Long hair and hot climates do not mix, so a short, stylish haircut such as the bob might work well for many women in warm environments.