I may work in fashion but lately, I've been feeling anything but fashionable. I have two young children and my days are spent flitting between my laptop and school drop-offs and pick-ups. I permanently feel just that little bit frazzled, and I've been trying to work out what I can do to liven up my look to make me feel less…mumsy.
I hate that word, but so many of us will resonate with the daily struggle to maintain our own identity while having about 11 minutes max to get ourselves out of the door with the kids clothed, fed and wearing the right shoes. So, what's the solution? I'm delighted to report I've found it in the 'French bob'.
Firstly, I have to thank the team of experts at London's Hadley Yates Salon. Without them, I don't think I'd have been brave enough to go for the chop. They made me realise that long hair isn't the secret to feeling sexy, but rather that a shorter style that works for my hair type and texture will be far easier for me to manage AND make me feel a lot more like, well, me.
On the way to my appointment, I scrolled through Instagram for celebrity bob inspiration, but I couldn't quite decide on a look. I've seen those incredible asymmetric bobs trending on TikTok, and I love the idea of a bob with curtain fringe, but neither felt like styles that a) I could pull off and b) that could be quickly styled in the morning. Then, I came across Frankie Bridge and her new bob, which, coincidentally, was cut by the Hadley Yates team. It looked slick, thick, shiny and feminine – everything I want my hair to look.
I was expecting Luke Roberts, who cut my hair, to talk me out of it, but he told me this Parisian-looking cut was actually perfect for my hair, which is thick and dries with a slight wave. I could run a hair straightener through it to get the glossy Frankie effect, or I could let my natural curl pattern give it a more 'worn', and dare I say 'sexy', edge.
Convinced and with enough adrenaline thanks to my double-shot latte, I told him to snip off the dead ends that weren't serving any kind of purpose on my hair anyway. In total, he cut off around 3 inches, which felt scary. However, as soon as I saw the thick, blunt ends in the mirror, I knew it was the right decision.
I wanted to avoid a flat 'Lord Farquaad' style so the front of my hair is slightly longer to allow for movement and styling. If myself and Frankie have just about influenced you into trying a French bob for yourself, here are some amazing tips I picked up while I was in the Hadley hot seat…
Style and care for your bob
+ Ask for your hair to be coloured with a 'root tap'. Georgina Hopkins did mine so that when my roots start to grow back, I won't have that obvious blunt line.
+ Do use a mousse. It's an underused product that helps hold your style for longer. Try OUAI Dry Texture Foam, £24 here.
+ After using a mousse, apply a hair serum/heat protection. I love Colour Wow's Pop & Lock High Gloss Finish, £17.30 here, for the shine and fly-away control it gives.
+When blow-drying, to add volume, you want to point the hairdryer upwards against the roots. Pointing it down will only cause your hair to go flat
+ Use a round brush with the hairdryer to style the bob so that it bends under and doesn't flick out.
+ For super easy styling, Luke recommended trying Revlon's Hot Brush, £29.99 here, which is a one-step hair dryer, styler and volumiser.
Appointments at Hadley Yates start from £65 BOOK HERE
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