10 Years After A Traumatic Hair Cut, I Braved The Bob Again

Watching the first lock fall to the ground in what felt like slow-motion, I was gripped by a mixture of elation and terror. Only this time, in Ryan and Hannah’s capable hands, the apprehension quickly fell away as I saw a new me come to life. [Insert inspirational line about entering a new decade with a fresh look/outlook.]

Before the cut, I’d dutifully shown Hannah and Ryan the inspiration pictures that I had saved on my phone, and they helped me adapt my vision to make sure the final result was a style that suited my face shape and complexion. I explained that I am – and always will be – low-maintenance when it comes to hair, so it was important that we ended up with something that wouldn’t need too much styling.

Ryan advised me towards a modern bob that could “flick out at the ends”, with a blunt but choppy finish, agreeing that something with movement would suit my low-effort morning routine nicely.

With Hannah, we spoke about dyeing my hair dark enough so that it felt like a “moment” but not so dark that it looked like a wig. The result? A cool bob that still felt like me. I was – for lack of a better word – bob-sessed.

Words of advice before getting a bob

Having gone through the tricky first few weeks post-cut, I have learnt some invaluable pieces of advice for anyone adjusting to a new bob.

1. Don’t panic

No matter how much you love your new bob, nothing prepares you for that first post-cut hair wash, where everything you once knew about how to make your hair look good goes out the window. I initially looked a little like Lord Farquaad from Shrek, before I learned how to style it properly through a process of trial and error.