How To Get Lauren Conrad's Edgy Bob

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Long locks have always been on-trend, but shorter strands are beginning to take the spotlight. From the runway to the red carpet, to making hashtag headlines all over social media, the most recent iteration of the bob is a little less polish and a little more play.

As a stylist, I love bobs! Many women shy away from the shorter style, but I am constantly encouraging my clients to try the trend. The hairstyle is sexy, sophisticated, and contrary to popular belief, completely versatile. Whether tucked behind one ear or beachy and tousled, the days of the smooth, simple, and uninspiring bob are gone.

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From the initial cut to the daily wear, I give you my advice on shape and style, so you can get on board with the bob.

Cuts
With her rockstar-chic, model-off-duty vibe, Karlie Kloss has worked every shape and style of the edgy bob over the past several years. The model muse started with one-length symmetrical strands, skimming her jawbone. As this cut grew out, the bob turned into a lob (long bob), dusting her shoulders. More recently, Lauren Conrad has been sporting our new favorite way to wear the bob.

This cut, shorter in the back and angled toward the front, has a more modern appeal, and works for most, if not all, hair types. Ladies with finer hair should opt for the one-length look, and those with thicker texture should add extra layers to get rid of some weight. The classic straight-and-uniform look, in which the back length matches the front, is a relic of the past, and the edgy bob is all about the back being slightly shorter than the front.

For shorter bobs, make sure to get a trim every four to six weeks in order to maintain the shape. If you aren't totally ready to part ways with your long locks, start with the lob. Instead of cutting hair at the jawline, play it safe with a long bob that has very little layering. This will be your stepping stone to going shorter in the future.

Styles
Straight, Smooth, & Sleek
This is the more polished version of the edgy bob and works great for any texture. Take large sections and blow them out smooth and straight, finishing by running a straightening iron through strands for added smoothness.

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Classic & Sophisticated
Great on most textures unless hair is very thick, this look is flawless and chic but can appear unavoidably old-fashioned if there is too much volume on the ends. To keep this style edgy, don't create volume on the roots and sides. As you blow out your hair, let ends sit on the brush for a minute before rolling them under. My go-to brush for this type of sleek movement is the Ibiza boar-bristle brush.

Starlet Retro Waves
The retro Hollywood wave on shorter hair is created the same way as on longer hair. Using a curling iron to make finger waves, the end result looks best with a side-part and hair tucked behind one ear. When working with an iron, curl toward the face — remembering that the smaller the barrel, the tighter the curl, so choose your tools appropriately. Once you've finished with the iron, brush out curls and apply shine spray. My favorite product is Gloss Appeal by Kérastase. Expert tip: Spritz hairspray on your Mason Pearson before brushing out curls to help maintain the smoothness.

Beachy, Weekender Waves
This look is a true, tousled wave and should not be a defined curl. To create the messy, beachy vibe, take an unstructured approach as you wrap hair around your iron in different directions, leaving out ends for added messiness. For ultimate rockstar edge, use pomade to piece out hair and showcase texture. My go-to is Short Mania by Kérastase. Apply a dime-sized amount in your hands, rubbing them together to emulsify the product. Flip head over and run the product through the ends for extra bedhead.

Slightly grown-out, the edgy bob can be either smooth and straight, or textured and tousled. With varying degrees of edge, this versatile look is both elegant and wearable. A beauty staple among the street style set as well as the red carpet It Girls, this style is here to stay.

Click through to see a close-up of Lauren Conrad's chic new bob.

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