Bob Haircuts Aren’t Going Anywhere for Fall 2026—Experts Share the 7 Trends to Look Out For

There are many things you automatically associate with autumn. From Halloween sweets to PSLs and, of course, the best TV of the year. Bob haircuts, perhaps, aren't on that list, but this autumn, they certainly will be.Now, you might be thinking: 'Bob haircuts. Plural?' Indeed, there's more than one bob to choose from. Actually, there are more than one hundred bobs to choose from, if we’re being specific. But going into all of those styles would take us until the holidays.To help you decide which bob to go for this AW26, we sat down with a group of industry experts to get all the tea on the trendiest hairstyles right now. From 'the bombshell bob' to 'the shaggy bob', these are the best bob haircuts to try this autumn…The ripple bobXinhua News Agency//Getty ImagesIf you're a fan of 1930s aesthetics, then 'the ripple bob' is the bob for you. Take a look at Maggie Gyllenhaal at the recent Venice Film Festival, for example. She exuded red carpet glam thanks to 'the ripple bob'."The deep side part, polished surface, and sculpted sweep through the front recall the great screen sirens of the 1930s," Zöe Irwin, creative consultant at John Frieda Salon Mayfair, tells Cosmopolitan UK of this look. "While the sharp, jaw-skimming length makes it feel completely modern."Luckily, for those who went for a similar, longer version of the look for summer, there isn't too much of a hair transformation required to nail the ripple bob. "This bob takes one of the [summer's] biggest texture trends—soft, undulating mermaid waves—and reimagines it at a shorter length," says Irwin. "Instead of long, flowing waves, the ripple is compressed into the bob, creating gentle bends that move through the hair with an effortless, almost liquid quality."The boy bobArnold Jerocki//Getty ImagesWant something that feels a bit more modern in comparison to 'the ripple bob'? Cos Sakkas, TONI&GUY's global creative director, suggests booking in for 'the boy bob'."[It is] a modern classic and one of the easiest bobs to wear this AW26," the hair expert says, likening it to the popular 'soft French bob' but with a "subtly shattered fringe that makes the style effortlessly chic."So, who can wear 'the boy bob'? "Because it is such a versatile style, it suits all face shapes and hair textures," says Cos. "The key to 'the boy bob' is balance, while working with the natural texture, making it one of the most versatile styles around."The luxe bobTommaso Boddi//Getty ImagesAdd a touch – or, in this case, a ton – of luxury to your look this AW26 with the 'the luxe bob'. "It's luxurious by name and exudes elegance and power," Cos says of 'the luxe bob', before caveating that the glamorous finish doesn't require loads of effort. Phew! "This bob sits above the shoulder and is a reinvention of the classic cut with an undone, effortless take," he says.As for how to style it, you can play around with 'the luxe bob' to create a high-end polished finish, or wear it more casually in your day-to-day, which is one perk of having a slightly longer bob. "It feels fresh and fashion-forward but still gives you enough length to wear tucked behind the ears or pulled back when you want to," Cos says.The curved bobKayla Oaddams//Getty ImagesIf, like me, you've got a round face, then you might've been put off by the sharpness of a bob in the past. This is where a curved bob comes into play."This jaw-skimming blunt cut is softened with a subtle curve, sweeping slightly longer through the front," says Cos. "The curves keep it strong, but its softer corners are more wearable and flatter most face shapes."Ultimately, Cos says: "It's a real fashion-forward bob for the season." Argue with that!Frazer Harrison//Getty ImagesLove Island may be done and dusted for another year, but that doesn't mean the bombshell energy has to end. Bring a bit of that villa spice into your AW26 with 'the bombshell bob', as seen on the likes of Pamela Anderson and Raye (AKA, the ultimate bombshells).Evoking the glamour of a 1950s film star, the bombshell bob is characterized by polished, perfectly coiffed curls, as Irwin explains. "It lends itself to being dressed up, curling under, having that real Hollywood vibe."The shaggy bobKristina Bumphrey//Getty ImagesAlways wanted a shag but don't want to part with your beloved bob? Combine these two popular haircuts, and you get the shaggy bob. What an original name!As well as epitomizing cool girl energy, the shaggy bob is a great hairstyle for those of us who don't want to spend too long styling our hair—which can often be quite the tiresome task depending on which short haircut you have! "The shaggy bob doesn't try too hard," says Cos, adding: "If you’re short on time, this is the look you want."Beyond being a winner in terms of time, Cos explains that "the undone finish [of this bob] makes it perfect for fine and medium naturally textured hair."The boyfriend bobChelsea Guglielmino//Getty ImagesNot to be confused with “the boy bob,” “the boyfriend bob” is perhaps the easiest bob to wear. Why? Well, the secret to the boyfriend bob is perfecting that undone finish... which is ideal if your morning GRWM consists of rolling out of bed and grabbing a croissant as you walk out the door."'The boyfriend bob' is a slightly lived-in style, sitting around the jaw or just below, with enough softness to give it movement but still a good, strong outline," says Irwin, nodding to celebs who already nail the look, like Selena Gomez. "The appeal is that it feels like a proper haircut, but without needing a perfect blow-dry and style every morning."The little (read: no) time it takes to style the boyfriend bob is what makes it a perfect bob for autumn. With the sun rising later and later, and the temperatures dropping, you'll want every excuse to snooze your alarm and stay under the covers just that little bit longer!Why trust Cosmopolitan? Jade Biggs is a freelance writer for Cosmopolitan UK where she covers beauty, entertainment, sex, and relationships.Jade Biggs (zij/haar) is een van de freelanceschrijvers van Cosmopolitan UK en werkt op alle gebieden, waaronder entertainment, schoonheid, lichaam en seks en relaties. Eerder bekleedde ze de functie van Features Writer, waar ze alles behandelde, van het laatste nieuws en de laatste koninklijke roddels tot de gezondheids- en fitnesstrends die je TikTok-feed overnamen. Jade heeft een graad in journalistiek en was tien jaar journalist en inhoudsredacteur, waarbij ze vooraanstaande onderzoekers, vooraanstaande influencers en experts uit de sector interviewde in die tijd. Ze is een kattenmoeder van vier vachtbaby's en is geobsedeerd door Drag Race, bodemloze brunches en draagt kleding die alleen geschikt is voor Bratz-poppen. Volg haar op Instagram, Twitter en LinkedIn.