If there’s one hair trend currently sweeping my feeds as a beauty editor, it’s the “heartthrob bob”. The charmingly androgynous, delightfully floppy style is equal parts ‘90s boy band member and modern, cool-girl short hair trend. Think Leonardo DiCaprio in Romeo + Juliet, Nick Carter in his Backstreet Boys era, or a young Brad Pitt with his tousled, middle-parted locks.
Yes, the latest bob hair trend takes from the dreamboats of a '90s teenager's bedroom wall. Given our current obsession with ‘90s beauty aesthetics that has welcomed the return of skinny brows and lip liner, this boy-band bob was arguably on the cards for a comeback too.
What Is the Heartthrob Bob?
At its core, the heartthrob bob is a cropped, chin-skimming bob haircut with soft layers and a curtain fringe that effortlessly swoops across the face. It boasts volume without being fussy, and sits somewhere between a grown-out pixie cut and a breezy shag haircut. The look oozes low-maintenance effortlessness, like you’ve just stepped off the set of a 1997 Calvin Klein campaign.
While we've seen razor sharp bob silhouettes of late (such as the blunt bob and laser cut bob) the heatthrob bob is deliberately undone. It’s all about movement and texture and doesn’t try too hard. It’s playful, it’s soft. The comeback hair trend has been given a modern update for 2025, with celebrities such as Ariana Greenblatt, Emma Chamberlain and Taylor Hill flirting with variations of the trend by each adding their own twist, whether it’s with a swooping fringe or choppy layers.
How To Style the Heartthrob Bob
The beauty of the heartthrob bob is that it’s incredibly versatile. Air-dry it for that slept-in, skater-boy feel. Or, use a round brush and mousse for a retro blowout. Or scrunch in some texture spray for a lived-in, post-concert vibe. The key is to keep it soft—think natural bends over poker-straight strands. And don’t forget the fringe. Whether you go full curtain fringe or a subtle side-swoop, it’s the face-framing detail that brings the look together.
Ready to embrace the heartthrob bob? Scroll ahead for all the inspiration you could need to take to the salon.
Heartthrob Bob Haircut Ideas
The effortlessly tousled hair and fringe combo makes me want to take this picture of Taylor Hill straight to my hairdresser.
Emma Chamberlain's bob is so boy-band coded.
The modern take keeps the trend feeling fresh with a choppy curtain fringe and layers.
Those with curly hair textures can get in on the action by working with your hair's natural texture.
Proof that this trend can look incredibly chic—I love Loïcka Grâce's cropped heartthrob bob-pixie hybrid with that iconic face-framing swoosh.
Adding a curtain fringe is the easiest way to update your bob and lean into the '90s look.
I'm swooning over this wavy bob and curtain fringe combo.
Shop the Trend:
A good hair mousse is key to getting volume and hold in your bob hairstyle.
The curling barrels and round brush attachments of the Dyson Airwrap are perfect for styling a curtain fringe to channel the heartthrob bob.
If you're blessed with natural curls or waves, then this air-dry cream is a great way to enhance your hair without resorting to heat.
A good round brush is key for styling curtain fringes into shape—Beauty Pie's is one of our favourites.
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