What Is a Lob Haircut and How Long Is It?

A lob is a long bob, cut to land between your chin and your collarbone. If you're asking what is a lob haircut, that's the short answer: you keep most of your length and lose the weight that makes hair flat or hard to style.

At Lavish Hair Lounge in Westport, MA, it's one of the cuts clients ask about most. It rarely turns out the same way twice. That's on purpose. Our haircut page is the full picture of how we cut here, and this is the lob answer inside it.

How Long Is a Lob, and Where Does It Land?

A lob lands somewhere between your chin and your collarbone, and many clients settle right around the shoulders. The exact spot depends on your hairline, how your hair falls, and what you want to change. It sits between a bob and long hair. It isn't one fixed length.

The bigger choice is how the ends finish.

Blunt lob

A blunt lob is cut in one clean line, so it reads sharp and graphic. It tends to suit fine, straight hair, because that hair looks fuller once the extra weight comes off. Most days it needs a few minutes with a round brush. As it grows out, the line softens, so come in sooner if you like it crisp.

Layered lob

A layered lob gets layers or texture through the ends, so it moves instead of sitting flat. It tends to suit thick or wavy hair, which sits heavy without layering. You can style it with a round brush or a wave set. As it grows out, the layers start blending back toward one length.

Neither one is more correct. We decide with you, based on your hair type and how you want to spend your mornings. Let's customize it to you instead of copying the picture exactly.

Who a Lob Works For (and Who Should Think Twice)

A lob works well if you want a real change and still want enough length to tie back, curl, or straighten. Clients coming from long hair often choose it as their first real cut in years. It keeps enough length to still feel like them. It also loses the weight that was making their ends look thin.

Fine, straight hair usually looks fuller the moment that extra length comes off. Thick or wavy hair is different. It needs layering built into the cut, or the ends sit heavy and triangle out at the bottom.

It's a harder sell if you're not ready to lose length below the shoulder. Same goes if your routine is strictly wash-and-go with zero styling time. A lob still needs a few minutes with a round brush or a wave set most days. That's what makes it look pretty and intentional, not just shorter.

We want your hair to look amazing, but it also has to work for your real life. If your hair is already fine, we'll talk through where the layers go before we cut. That way it comes out soft instead of stringy.

What Happens During a Lob Haircut Appointment

Every lob appointment here starts with a conversation, then the cut, then a second check once it's styled.

Nothing gets cut until we talk. "Let's talk about your hair goals" is where it starts. We ask about your texture and your face shape. We also ask about your mornings. Do you blow it out, air dry it, or run a straightener through it most days?

That conversation makes sure the cut you're picturing and the cut you leave with match. A lob can look different depending on how it's layered and where the weight comes out.

In our experience, the cut itself runs under an hour once we've settled on length and shape. It can take a little longer with heavier layering or face-framing pieces. We cut wet or dry depending on your texture. Then we check it against your face while it's wet, and again once it's styled.

That second check is where blending matters. Blending lets the ends move instead of stopping in one hard line. It's what makes a lob read as intentional. Clients who book Katie for a cut mention the blending by name in their Google reviews, and it's the part of the cut we slow down for.

First time with us? Our guide to your first visit to Lavish covers what to expect, so nothing about the day is a surprise.

What Changes the Outcome

Texture changes how a lob turns out more than length does. Two clients can ask for the same length and walk out with different haircuts. Curly hair springs up shorter once it dries. Straight hair holds every inch you cut.

That's why we read texture first. Our salon is led by two owners, and the team attends continuing education classes every year to stay current on techniques and evolving client needs. We use that to plan for how your hair will move once it's dry, not just where the scissors land while it's wet.

Styling time is the other big factor. A lob cut for someone who round-brushes every morning looks different from one cut for someone who air-dries and scrunches. Neither is wrong. The cut just has to match the routine, or it won't hold its shape between visits.

This is where people go wrong on their own. They pick a length or a photo without thinking about what their hair does once they're home. No stylist's hands. Just their own bathroom mirror. You can see how different lob finishes look and grow out on our Instagram.

What Is a Lob Haircut Like to Keep Up Between Visits?

Keeping a lob sharp between visits comes down to how you dry it and how you protect the ends. Your hair should still look good weeks after you leave the salon. These steps help.

1. Rough-dry damp hair with your fingers first, then finish with a round brush at the roots if you want lift.
2. Twist one-inch sections around a wand or flat iron for a loose wave, working away from your face.
3. Smooth a small amount of a light finishing product through dry ends only, never near the roots, so the shape doesn't fall flat. We use the Shibui line in the salon and can point you to the right one for your texture.
4. Sleep with hair loosely braided or in a low bun so the ends don't tangle and break overnight.

If your ends feel dry no matter what you do, a hydration treatment added to your cut is worth asking about.

Most of the shape still comes from the cut. When you come back, we look at where the blending has softened before we pick up the scissors. That tells us whether you need a full shape-up or just a light refresh. Clients drive in from Fall River and Dartmouth for theirs, and it helps to book the next one before the ends lose their line.

Frequently Asked Questions

How is a lob different from a classic bob?

A lob is longer than a classic bob, usually landing at the collarbone instead of the jaw or chin. That extra length gives you more options, like a loose wave or a low ponytail. A shorter bob doesn't allow those as easily.

Does a lob haircut work with curly or wavy hair?

Yes. Curly and wavy lobs just need layering built into the cut so the curl pattern has room. Without it, the shape can sit heavy at the bottom. We often cut curly lobs dry so we can see how each curl will sit.

How often do I need to get my lob trimmed?

Most of the time here, clients come back for a shape-up every couple of months. Come in sooner if you like a crisp line. Waiting longer usually just means the ends start blending back toward one length.

How much does a lob haircut cost?

The price of a lob depends on your hair's length, density, and whether we're adding layering, blending, or a gloss on top. Our service menu has current pricing. We're happy to walk you through it before you book.

Ready to Try the Lob?

A lob is worth a real conversation, not just a saved photo. That goes double if you've been thinking about cutting length without losing all of it. Here's how one of our clients described a cut with us in a Google review: "Omg I am in love. Best haircut and hair blending I ever had. The amount of compliments I have received is amazing. I have referred at least 5 people to Lavish and of course Katie who did such an amazing job. You def have a lifetime client here ❤️❤️❤️❤️" That blending is what we're after with every lob.

Book your lob haircut at Lavish Hair Lounge in Westport. We'd love to create a plan for you. Come see us.