A feathered bob is a short layered cut that creates fullness and movement within the hair. It’s popular for its distinctive feather-like layers, allowing a more natural and airy finish.
Hairstylist Jean Claude from Lebanon explains who he thinks can nail this look the best.
“It’s great for ladies who don’t have heavy hair but would love to add volume and thickness to it,” says Claude. However, he clarifies that the cut’s voluminous finish isn’t doable on fine, thin locks.
Claude adds that this layered cut can benefit those with longer face shapes.
“I recommend this bob for a woman with a long face as it can give a round-like shape and shed light in the cheeks. If she’s in her thirties or more, it refreshes her features with a nice lift,” he explains.
Layering plays a vital role in securing a flattering bounce in this cut. It’s relevant to the head shape, too. If the hair is too thick, let the layers reduce some volume from it.
When in doubt, consultation would always help you decide. Ask your stylist if your preferred bob style suits your face shape and hair type. If they say yes, go for it!
For more hair inspiration, check out these photos of the trendiest feathered bob cuts you can copy.
#1: Heavily Layered Bob Cut
Add fullness and movement to your hair with a heavily layered bob. Your best bet is to seek out an experienced stylist that has been trained in the art of cutting feathered bobs. Techniques like point cutting or slicing will ensure you get the most lift from the cut. All without having all the bulk taken away with thinning shears. Short layered bobs are perfect for fine-haired clients who want more volume. And the cut is low-maintenance. Ask your stylist about products like sea salt or texture sprays to enhance your new layers.
#2: Short Feathered Bob with Textured Layers
You’ll want to try a short feathered bob with textured layers if you like a voluminous style. The short textured layers create that full wispy shape that turns heads. Choose this textured bob if you have a medium to thick hair type. The inverted bob in the back makes your neck appear longer and can make you appear taller. Finish this cut with some wax to make the most of the textured layers.
#3: Blonde Bob with a Deep Side Part
If you have a thinner long face shape, ask your stylist for inverted layers. The shape of the short layers will stack on top of one another and give your hair more volume. The key to widening your client’s narrow features is to try to bring your weight line to the cheekbone area. This will add lift and open the outer corners of the face shape.
#4: Graduated Messy Feathered Bob
When you want fullness and movement in your hair, consider this messy feathered bob. This style works well for straight to wavy hair types, giving them body without weighing it down. The graduated layers create more versatility with styling. Try pinning back the front pieces for an updo or wearing half-up/half-down styles! To make sure this look lasts all day, use a light-hold hairspray. Try Kerastase Couture Styling Laque Couture Hairspray before you style your locks. Your stylist will use their expert cutting skills to add feathery layers.
#5: Airy Feathered Style on a Bob Cut
Add more dimension to your bob cut with an airy feathered style. Airy feathered hairstyles have more layers than a traditional bob and add interest and movement. This shape would be a great choice for women who want more volume and have medium to thick hair. A stacked feathered bob like this needs to be cut about every 5-6 weeks to keep it looking fresh.
Related: More bob hairstyles.
#6: Short Multi-Layered Bob with Side Bangs
If you’re tired of your one-length haircut laying flat, you’ll want to try a multi-layered short bob with side bangs. Adding layers to your cut will add movement and volume, and give you a nice change. A side fringe is also a great addition and can accent your face. This shape works best on straight and slightly wavy hair and can be blown dry or air-dried for a tousled finish.
#7: Tapered Bob with Feathered Pieces
Add some feathered pieces to a tapered bob and amp up your hairstyle. An airy bob haircut can be achieved by placing texture into your cut. You can ask your stylist to cut into your bob to create pieciness, which makes the cut more interesting. Finish with a spray wax such as Wax Blast by Redken for a beautiful textured shape.
#8: Feathered Bob with Piece-y Layers
Piece-y layers coupled with a feathered bob are sure to please. Thick-haired ladies will benefit from the weight removed from the texture and layers, and a fringe will also help release heavy hair. When styling a multi-layered bob haircut, the blow-dry process is fairly simple with a larger round brush, but you should know ladies with curly hair will have to work a bit harder to achieve the straight texture. A layered bob with fringe will give you a cute, edgy appearance.
#9: Voluminous Feathered Bob for Women Over 50
Women over 50 should try a voluminous feathered bob. If you’re feeling frumpy, add some layers and face-framing and you’ll get softness and fullness. Hair moving away from the face will lift things up and makes you appear younger. When styling a feathered bob for over 50-year-old women, try using a medium round brush or just your hands, then blowing backward for an uplifting finish.
Related: Layered bob hairstyles for women over 50.
#10: Feathered Stacked Bob for Natural Black Hair
Consider a feathered stacked bob if you’re searching for a great cut for natural black hair. This feathered bob for black hair is a great choice for African-American women with finer hair textures. Cutting your relaxed hair shorter will rid you of those nasty ends and sharpen your image. Feathered bob hairstyles for black hair require oils and lots of conditioning to keep your hair looking healthy.
#11: Layered Cut with Feathered Bangs for Gray Hair
A layered cut with feathered bangs works best on medium to thick, grey hair. Leaving the feathers a bit longer will give your bobbed hair that full and round shape. Add the inverse bob or stacked back to make your cut appear even fuller. You’ll want to blow dry your feathered short bob haircut with a volumizing mist like Instant Levitation Mist by Pureology, and a medium round brush.
#12: Soft Layers on a Feathered Bob for Ladies Over 60
Ladies over 60 should try a feathered bob with soft layers. The layers on this shape are shorter and will give you lots of volume. Short feathered bob hairstyles work well on narrow or oval face shapes, giving you fullness on the sides where you need it. Blow-dry with a volumizing product and a small to medium metal barrel round brush, working back and away from the face for the best results.
Related: Short bob styles for women over 60.
#13: Feathered Angled Bob for Black Hair
Try a feathered angled bob on black hair and you’ll enjoy a beautiful shiny shape. Make sure the layers are left longer all around to allow for manageability. A silk press might be needed on a thicker density and a curlier texture to achieve smoothness and shine. Feathered bob hairstyles for a black woman look sharp and modern, but you should know frequent trips to the salon might be needed to keep your hair looking beautiful.
#14: Graduated Feathered Bob with Layers
Consider the beautiful shape of a graduated bob with feathered layers. If you like versatility, this cut has plenty of options. Wear it blown forward, backward, or curl it up for dressy days. The feathered ends keep the style looking light and airy and help the cut last longer. This great shape should be trimmed up every 5-6 weeks for best results.
#15: Jaw-Length Bobbed Hair
You’ll want to try a jaw-length bobbed haircut for its classic, beautiful, and carefree shape. The subtle layers and soft lines complement almost any face shape and age group. The blow-dry can be quick and easy depending on how much time you have. If you’re short on time, blow dry with your hands for a messier finish.
#16: Feathered Long Bob
A feathery long bob is a perfect length to spruce up your cut, but still feel sexy. This long bob with layers is great for women who are afraid to go too short. Add a swooping side bang to make this long bob even more stylish. Make sure your layers are left on the longer side to maintain bounce and swing and give you a soft shape. Blow-dry with a round brush and volume enhancing products. Rollers could even be used for a beautiful finish.
#17: Round Feathered Bob with Bangs
A round-shaped feathered bob with bangs is a beautiful cut that softens facial features with its face-framing layers. Soft tendrils coming forward are perfect for round or broad facial features. Ask your stylist for a layered bob with bangs and you’ll be glad you did. Blow-dry this style with a medium round brush and with all the layers, you’ll have lots of movement.
#18: Feathered Pixie Bob with Balayage Highlights
Balayage highlights on a feathered pixie bob is a short cut with tons of style. The longer layers in this shape are the perfect canvas for some natural-looking balayage highlights, which grow out naturally and are a great choice. The graduated nape gives this cut a modern edge and an overall great shape. This feathered bob style requires cutting every 5 weeks and is easy to blow dry, making it fairly low-maintenance.
#19: Long Bob with Feathered Layers and Bangs
If you’re a middle-aged women, you might want to choose a lob with feathered layers and bangs. Bringing your hair up in length makes it look healthy and damage-free. The layers in a long feathered bob can be styled away from the face, uplifting your appearance. Blow-dry with a medium round brush backward taking care not to make it too full, keeping the shape more current.
#20: Classic Feathered Bob for Senior Women
A classic feathered bob hairstyle is a great cut for senior women and thinning hair textures. Ask your stylist to leave the layers medium length to make the most out of your hair and create wispy layers. A short feathered bob for fine hair is the way to go if you are looking for easy care, wash and wear, and timeless style.
#21: Asymmetrical Bob Cut with Feathered Layers
Try an asymmetrical bob cut with feathered layers if you’re ready to amp up your style. The asymmetry really gives a bob some new dimension. Ask your stylist to undercut one side to achieve the desired shape. When cutting a feathered bob for thin hair, it’s important to leave the layers medium length to maintain weight to keep your hair looking its thickest. Top off this shape with some wax to create a modern and funky finish.
#22: Very Short Stacked Bob with Feathered Layers
Try a very short stacked bob and give your limp hair some movement with feathered layers. Bob haircuts with layers are the perfect choice to spruce up fine hair. The layers hit at just the right length to retain weight to the hair, but still give it body. Blowdry this cut with a round brush and some volumizing mousse, under and backward for the best results.
#23: Feathered Layered Bob for Thicker Hair
If you have thicker hair, a feathered layered bob is a great style choice. Thick hair tends to look best brushed backward to keep it off the face. Side-swept bangs work well with this shape and open up the forehead by keeping the hair from crowding facial features. A feathered bob for thick hair can be blowdried with your hands or a round brush, using a smoothing cream or oil for control.
#24: Short Feathered Bob Haircut for Blonde Hair
You’ll want to try a short feathered bob haircut for blonde hair and create a new you. Shorter hair takes less time to style and is a great choice for busy women. Add some blonde highlights for added dimension and body and your blow-dry will be simple with a round brush. A short bob looks great on most face shapes and age groups.
#25: Textured Feathered Bob Cut
Did you know that a textured feathered bob cut can make you appear taller and elongate your neck? Ask your stylist for soft choppy layers and to graduate the nape to create a great shape-shifting style. A feathered bob can also be worn forward or backward giving you options and versatility. Remember not to over-blow dry your hair. Stopping as soon as it is dry is the way to go. Over-blow drying will take too much body out, making your hair look lifeless and dull.
#26: Short Feathered Bob with a Fringe for Older Ladies
A short feathered bob with a fringe is a great cut for older ladies. Adding shorter layers and bangs can perk up sagging facial features and can be very uplifting, creating softness and volume. Blow-dry the layers up and backward for the most lift. A short layered bob for older ladies can make you appear 10 years younger.
#27: Neck-Length Haircut with Feathery Layers
A hairstyle that is neck-length with feathery layers is a great choice to flatter women with narrow face shapes. Hair moving away from your face opens up facial features and is super complimentary. A graduated A-line bob gives the cut a beautiful full shape and keeps it looking modern and sharp. Blowdry with a round brush for volume and control for a fairly easy style.
#28: Chin-Length Feathered Bob with a Side Part
Consider a feathered long bob that hits at the chin with a side part as your next cut. A chin-length bob is a perfect length if you want a shorter cut, but not too short. This length is still sexy and the side part can give you a little lift in the fringe if you desire it. Bobs are also very versatile and can be worn sleek and straight, or messy with loose waves.