4 Cutting Tips for Bobs & Lobs
Elevate Your Bob & Lob Game
The modern bob and lob continue to reign in the salon—soft, textured, and tailored to every client’s lifestyle. ARC™ Scissors Artist Chris Jones, known for his precision cutting and effortless finishes, shares four essential tips to help stylists perfect their shapes while maintaining clean lines, movement, and balance.
Instagram via @chrisjones_hair
1. How To Achieve Subtle Graduation
Want a fast yet effective way to build soft movement into a bob? Try slide cutting with a texturizing shear, starting higher in the back and working lower toward the front.
“You don’t want to wipe out the corner near the face,” says Chris. “Enter the section leading with the straight blade [using the ARC™ Scissors 30/2 Reversible Texturizer], closing the shear on the way out. This allows you to remove weight and create movement in one step.”
2. The Difference Between Texture & Layers
When clients bring in textured bob photos, it’s easy for them to confuse what they’re asking for. Many “textured” bobs are actually one-length cuts styled to appear layered.
“When curled, the haircut looks a lot more layered than it actually is,” explains Chris. “When in fact the haircut is 90 percent one length with just enough texture to add movement.”
3. The Key to a Soft Blunt Bob
If you’ve ever cut a bob wet and watched the sides shrink after drying, you’re not alone. Chris’s solution combines precision with adaptability.
“I like to cut the nape area wet—it allows me to get the precise line I’m looking for,” he says. “Once the line is in, I blow-dry and flat-iron to finish the cut dry. I love the combination of a strong perimeter but with a soft interior.”
The dry detailing process allows for more accuracy around the face, ensuring balance and symmetry in the final look.
4. Textured Lobs & Bobs With Blunt Lines
Creating texture without compromising shape requires precision control. For this, Chris works with the ARC™ Symmetry 10/10 Reversible Texturizer—his go-to for enhancing blunt shapes.
This shear allows him to “chip away” at dense areas until the line feels soft but still structured. As Chris describes it: “Think of it as sketching with a pencil rather than drawing with a pen.”
The Symmetry 10/10’s reversible design lets stylists work freely in any direction, refining texture in both wet and dry cutting techniques.
