Meet the Riviera Bob, the Italian Bob’s Relaxed Younger Sister

Another day, another bob haircut. This time, it’s a style perfect for fine to medium texture hair to give it an effortless feel with volume and va va voom. Intrigued? Say hello to the Riviera bob.

Coined by leading hair stylist and trend forecaster Tom Smith, the new style is the evolution of the familiar Italian bob. “It still offers that polished, voluminous shape we love, but with a lighter, more natural feel,” he explains. “Rather than being blowdried to perfection, the Riviera version has a subtle, shattered finish that gives it movement and softness. It’s the Italian bob’s more relaxed, younger sister.”

Already seen on the likes of Kaia Gerber, Kylie Jenner, Hailee Steinfeld, and Khloe Kardashian, if you’re already donning Hailey Bieber’s cute Italian bob from last summer, this is the perfect evolution.

If that doesn’t apply to you, Smith shares what to ask for on your next visit to the salon. “Ask for a chin-length bob that sits just below the jawline with very long, soft internal layering to create movement without obvious steps,” he says. “The ends should be subtly shattered rather than blunt. Any fringe or front section should remain long and gently blended into the rest of the cut. A centre parting will give it a youthful feel while a side parting can add glamour and structure.”

A playful, more easy-going style than the OG Italian bob, the Riviera bob looks best when styled more loosely. “A light texture spray or styling cream can enhance natural movement without weighing the hair down,” says Smith. “I like Hair by Sam McKnight’s Cool Girl Barely There Texture Hair Mist or Hershesons’ Almost Everything Cream. Flipping your part while drying or lightly tonging just a few pieces will create a slightly irregular finish that makes the look feel lived-in. Avoid anything too symmetrical or overdone. The charm of the Riviera bob is that it never looks like it’s trying too hard.”

The best part about the relaxed Riviera bob is that as it grows, you can still maintain the carefree aesthetic. “It actually grows out quite well and holds a long bob shape for a while,” Smith says. “If you want to transition it into a longer shape, once it’s got some more length, layering it more will turn it from a ‘long’-‘short’ haircut to a ‘short’-‘long’ haircut.”