From Jane Birkin-inspired bob hairstyles to laissez-faire French ones, it seems that everyone and their sister/girlfriend/mother has caught bob fever; and there is no shortage of inspiration. Celebrities flock to the style, as seen on Lily Collins (the patron saint of clean cut bobs) and Tyla, whose textured, voluminous chop is equal parts sensuous and glamorous.
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But ever the beauty (and style) trailblazer, Zendaya isn’t here to follow the pack. The trendsetter was an early adopter of the bob, debuting a sixties ‘party’ bob early last year at the SAG Awards. Instead, the 28 year-old actor attended the Louis Vuitton show in Paris yesterday with an unexpected twist on the short hair look.
Zendaya modernised two key retro trends and made it completely her own. Her dark roots and butter blonde lengths were styled to appear as though they were the 2024 version of ’00s frosted tips. The look screams less ‘sixth member of NSYNC’ and more chic city-slicker thanks to lighter strands that seamlessly blend into the rest of the hair.
Meanwhile, her updo is a nod to the eighties bouffant, which mirrors the oversized silhouette of her monochrome jacket complete with a puffy bubble skirt. Longtime hairstylist Ursula Stephen achieved the look by creating a dramatic side part with a voluminous swoop, before putting the hair up in a chignon placed directly behind the head. Processed blonde tresses ala Zendaya naturally has plenty of texture, but a good texturising mist can help achieve a similar effect.
‘Zendaya is bringing back the voluminous side quiff,’ says hairstylist Jay Birmingham. ‘To achieve this look, start by scraping the hair back and leaving a separate section at the front to tease and add volume. I personally prefer to use my fingers instead of a brush as this gives more of a cool, lived-in look.’
To help lock in the style, he’s a fan of Tresemmé Freeze Hold Spray which keeps flyaways at bay.
Never one to do things halfway, the Dune star complemented the rest of her look with a statement red lip and bronzey, snatched cheekbones (by make-up artist Ernesto Casillas) that reflect the sculptural shoulders of her ensemble.
If this year’s bob craze is any indication, we predict that the style stars will be rocking up with Zendaya’s modern bouffant come next autumn…
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