The Micro Bob Is Your Shortcut To Chic Hair This Spring

The hairstyle that dominated the Emmys isn’t only for the Hollywood red carpet – this is how to make it work for you.

There are some beauty trends that go out of fashion as quickly as they come in — for instance, green eyeshadow was all the rage on TikTok this summer (information relevant only to around 1% of the population).

But there’s one beauty style that has enduring appeal whether it’s spring, summer, autumn or winter. The bob. The long bob, the midi bob or the short bob — a wavy bob or sleek bob — there really is a bob to suit everyone.

The latest evolution of the haircut is the micro bob; a confidently short, sharp and ironed straight version that was spotted on a whole host of celebrities at the Emmys on Sunday night.

Kristen Wiig led the trend on the red carpet, with a sleek micro bob styled by A-list hairstylist Adir Abergel (he is Anne Hathaway’s go-to guy, responsible for her headline-worthy blunt fringe). Sarah Paulson’s ultra straight, slicked-down micro bob looked like it had been cut with military precision (and perhaps a ruler), as did the bob seen on Fargo actress Carrie Coon.

While they had a slightly more tousled, voluminous style, Naomi Watts and Jodie Foster both sported micro bobs too. Elsewhere on the red carpet, the 72-year-old actress Christine Baranski proved that micro bobs have no age limit. This is certainly a hairstyle that means business.

It’s not just a style reserved for the Hollywood red carpet, however. “We are seeing masses of these shorter, micro bobs in our salon and clients asking for this graphic cut for the new season,” explains leading hairdresser Adam Reed, who works with stars including Diane Kruger and Ellie Goulding. Referencing the 1920s actress Louise Brooks, Reed tells me, “this bob is not as extreme as Louise’s flapper bob, but it’s getting close.”

Here’s the low-down on how to try the micro bob yourself.

A nineties-inspired cut, with a twist

While many of the popular bob cuts we’ve seen in the past year have a soft, beachy tousled wave, what sets the micro bob apart is the poker-straight styling. “It’s almost a bit 90s with a little more volume,” says Reed. This is the statement bob for anyone looking for a bold change, and — unlike green eyeshadow — it will last beyond a monthly trend.

The right length

To find the perfect length for a micro bob, “use your jawline as a guide,” says Reed. “The bottom of the bob shouldn’t be longer than your chin. You want to cut as close to your hairline as possible — along the nape of the neck — without having to shave up into the hairline.”

READ: 2024 Emmy Awards: From Ayo Edebiri to Greta Lee, Viva editors pick their best dressed from the night

Reed explains that the micro bob can suit every face shape, with tweaks: your hairdresser may add soft feathers at the front of the hair or even a fringe depending on what suits your features.

How to style the micro bob

“The most stylish way to style a short bob is poker straight with a little volume at the roots,” says Reed, similar to the look of hair that has been up in rollers but then had a quick run of straighteners at the ends. Try using a lifting spray before styling, such as the New Form Blow Dry Spray by Arkive paired with the new Chronos Hair Straightener by ghd on fully dried hair.

“This style is more polished and more defined than previous bobs we’ve seen,” points out Reed. “We’ve seen tousled texture styles over the past few years but now these bobs look like they’ve purposefully had more time spent styling them to make sure the hair looks healthy and glossy.”

Finish with a spritz of hairspray all over to keep your style locked in place. This is a 90s-inspired hairstyle, after all.

More beauty

From expert recommendations to Viva team test drives.

8 Hairstylists Share Their Favourite Heat Styling Tools For Bouncy Blowouts Or Long, Sleek Locks. In search of a new hair straightener? Blow dryer? Curling wand? These are the best hair tools which come expert-recommended.

We Gave 4 Makeup Artists $100 To Create A Special-Occasion Makeup Look. This Is What They Bought. Special event coming up? This is what the pros would buy, and why.

The Most Luxurious Beauty Items Worth Their Designer Price Tag, According To A Beauty Editor. This is what the best luxury beauty buys should look, smell and feel like (not to mention accomplish).

Every Beauty Product Our Viva Editors Tried, Loved Or Loathed Lately. Our editors and journalists share their honest thoughts on every new beauty product to land on our desks in the last month.