Hair apparent: The ‘fob’ is the next big thing
It’s not short and it’s not long, so the fake bob is the perfect hairstyle to see you through the festivities, says Sonia Haria. Here’s how to recreate it at home
Apologies if you’ve only just familiarised yourself with the Lob (long bob), and the Cob (collarbone bob), because it’s now time to get your head around the Fob.
The fake bob — as seen this week on Kate Middleton and recently on Blake Lively — is deceptively chic. But it’s also a relatively simple style that will see you through the coming party season.
Shorter hair has long been the go-to look for women looking for something that little bit different at a certain stage of their lives, but when it comes to her locks, Kate has long preferred to play it safe with something classic and mid-length.
She’s the poster girl for thick, glossy, perfectly blow-dried hair. While there have been the occasional chignons for special appearances — not least, a demi-chignon on her wedding day — a twisted, low bun at the nape of the neck can easily look dated and is quite ageing, especially when paired with formalwear.
And that’s where the Fob comes into its own. Refreshingly, the Fob helps to keep the appearance of thick, voluminous hair, but in a youthful and modern bob style.
Giving a slight nod to the Twenties, when short hair was considered daring, it’s essentially a spin on the classic updo, and something you can recreate from desk to dinner for the party season.
For those with longer hair, it can provide an updated, versatile style without having to commit to a big chop.
In essence, it’s the hairstyling equivalent of having your cake and still being able to eat it — you can always let it down a bit later on in the evening when the more formal part of the occasion has come to a close, like Kate did last weekend.
Shortly after she appeared with the hairdo at the Rememberance
Sunday service, she appears to have shaken hers out.
“I love what the Duchess has done to her hair,” says Ken O’Rourke, the hair ambassador for Charles Worthington and stylist to celebrities including Amy Adams and Kristen Stewart.
“It is a very elegant, classic look that can be adapted for the party season by adding in more texture or loosening it up a bit more.”
Kate is not the first to style a Fob. Last month, when actress Blake Lively sported a Fob on the red carpet for the premiere for her new film All I See is You ,it was a slightly longer, graduated faux bob with a deep side parting. Onlookers wondered if she’d had
Giving a slight nod to the Twenties, when short hair was considered daring, it’s essentially a spin on the classic updo, and something you can recreate from desk to dinner for the party season
her locks chopped — but it was simply some clever styling. By contrast, Kate’s updated Fob is shorter, lifted from her shoulders, with a slight wave. So how can you do it yourself at home without having to pay a visit to the salon this party season?
It’s a surprisingly easy look to recreate, says O’Rourke. “Apply a mousse in damp or dry hair — such as the Charles Worthington Volume & Bounce Body Booster Mousse — from the mid-lengths of the hair to the ends.
“Ideally, blow-dry it smooth or if you’re going out straight from work, brush it with a paddle brush.
“Next, take two equal bunches and backcomb it from the nape to ends of the hair to create volume and then smooth out the backcomb gently using a soft bristle brush.
“For a professional finish and for lots of volume, take a synthetic hair padding which you can buy from Boots and roll the hair around and up into a loose bob and pin into place at the nape of the neck.
“You can do this without the padding, of course, for a softer look — just fold the hair under and pin in place.
“Finish with lots of hairspray to set the look.”
For a party hairstyle with a touch of the roaring Twenties, you can create a deep side parting, just like Blake Lively, and add in a simple gold or sparkly hair slide — perfect for adding interest without looking too overdressed.