“Bernice Bobs Her Hair”: The Bob Hairstyle

Short hair has been a fashion since the early 1900s, and one very popular short hairstyle that has continued to reign throughout history is the bob cut. This haircut was first seen on a famous dancer in the 1910s, Irene Castle, and was named the “Castle Bob” after her. Nevertheless many women did not adopt the style until the 1920s, which was the era where women started making drastic statements from the old way of life. Also, many women who worked in the First World War cut their hair short for convenience. On May 1st, 1920, a story in the Saturday Evening Post called “Bernice Bobs Her Hair” became the infamous tale that caused young women of that time to cut their hair.

Today the bob is just as popular as it was in the 1920s, but there have been many variations to the cut since then and every year there is a different style bob that comes on the scene. Some variations to the bob cut include the Asian bob, angled bob, razor bob, blunt bob, inverted bob, long bob, wavy bob, and the asymmetric bob (just to name a few). A bob cut is basically short hair that is cut in a straight line around the head (it is usually cut at the jaw). Some of the bob trends of 2012 include the A-line bob, the Mussy bob, the long bob, the graduated bob, the sophisticated bob, the new bob, the choppy bob, the shoulder-length bob, the asymmetrical bob, and the wispy bob.

Tot cut a simple, blunt bob (normal bob) takes only a few simple steps, and it is one of the easiest hairstyles to cut, so you can do it at home if you want. First, wash the hair so that no products are left in the hair while you cut -- for it is easier to cut hair while it is wet. Then, section the hair into seven separate parts (top, right side, left side, right crown, left crown, right nape, left nape), and then begin cutting from the front to the back at about chin length. Make sure the lie around the head is straight (unless you want a different style bob), and use the already cut hair as your guide and make sure to keep your scissors horizontal. Using a fine-tipped comb for your ruler is a good idea, and while cutting make sure to brush the area thoroughly, so you can find any stray pieces.