It was the haircut that sparked a thousand imitations: Victoria Beckham’s Noughties “pob”.
This portmanteau of “posh bob”, in case you were wondering, was a bob that was cut aggressively short at the nape of the neck with a hemline that sloped down into a graphic point at the front of the haircut.
A bold look indeed, and – love it or hate it – it was one of the most iconic hairstyles of 2006 and, frankly, of the past 20 years. But like with most things in the fashion and beauty orbit, trends come and go and a graphic haircut à la the “pob” now feels somewhat passé.
While Beckham settled on a shoulder length “midi bob” back in 2019, for the past five years her hair has grown into a glamorous swish of extra-long, at times even waist-skimming, tousles. If the “pob” was a signature Essex haircut, the beachy waves she has had in recent years felt much more Miami.
This week, Beckham has cut her hair once again into a style that will likely become autumn’s go-to haircut for women all over Britain. The “midi-bob”, a length that sits below the shoulders and is styled to look natural and effortless, is a cut that would suit almost every woman.
“We’re seeing trends move away from very long hair without much shape to more of a natural, wearable haircut like Victoria’s ‘midi-bob’,” says the A-list hair stylist Luke Hersheson, who Beckham sees when in London, and indeed will work with again next week. Hersheson cut the first iteration of Beckham’s “midi-bob” back in 2019.
Currently in Italy, tending to the tresses of Sienna Miller and Iris Law for the Venice Film Festival, Hersheson confirms that this new “midi-bob” is the style of the season. “It’s the sort of elevated hairstyle that makes the most of your natural texture and is the perfect ‘new season’ haircut for all ages.”
Sold. So how can we all get our own version of the “midi-bob”? Hersheson shares his expert advice.
It begins with a good haircut
Sounds obvious, but a good haircut can cut your styling time in half. “This particular version of a bob is all about the shoulder-skimming length,” says Hersheson. He points out that while the ends of Beckham’s cut are blunt and chunky, there are invisible layers throughout the hair.
“This helps to encourage natural movement without the style looking blocky,” he says, explaining that he will often cut this sort of style on dry hair rather than wet, to really maximise the natural “swish” of the hair.
One thing you pleasingly avoid with a more blunt haircut is lots of wispy ends that can look immediately ageing. This “chunky” end of the cut also makes any hair – even fine hair – look instantly thicker.
A note on colour, too: “If you’ve got very solid, one-toned hair, some subtle painted highlights work really well with this look, too,” suggests Hersheson.
Pay attention to face-framing
“Face-framing” is hairdresser-speak for the bits around your face, whether in reference to the cut or highlights around the hairline. “The thing with this haircut is, it looks great with anything from fringes to longer pieces around the front,” says Hersheson. He advises on face-framing elements that work with your lifestyle and how much time you are willing to spend styling it.
If a blunt fringe is a no-go but you still want something around the face, Hersheson suggests “curtain bangs”, which means a longer, centre-parted fringe (that begins at eye level) and gradually blends into the rest of your “midi-bob”. “This type of fringe really helps to focus attention on the eyes,” adds Hersheson.
The anti-style style
One of the most encouraging aspects of this haircut is that it does not need a lot of expert styling with tools or technical know-how. But it does have its own set of styling rules, explains Hersheson.
“To maximise the natural texture of your own hair, don’t brush it immediately after washing it. Instead, comb it through in the shower when conditioning it, and then leave it to do its thing.” This means step away from the hairdryer and resist even rough-drying your hair with a towel. Just squeeze out the excess water in the shower so it is not sopping wet.
For a natural cheekbone-enhancing kink at the front of the hairstyle, Hersheson suggests tucking your hair behind your ears while wet and then releasing this once your hair has fully air-dried. (I employ this tactic myself and it works wonders.)
The best products to use
“Once you’ve washed your hair, it’s often at its softest and silkiest – so you need to add a little product to it, to help the style along,” says Hersheson. After washing it, apply a cream product in the hair to help tame frizz, give it separation and a little grit. “Leave it to air-dry for a relaxed finish like Victoria’s.”
Hersheson suggests a 50p-sized blob of product. His Almost Everything Cream, £14, is excellent for this, but you can also try the Complete Air Dry Cream by JVN, £12.
Also effective at this step is a salt spray or air dry spray, which again helps to encourage movement. If you’ve tried salt sprays before and find them too drying for your hair, Hersheson’s Air Dry Spray, £16, is hydrating with some hold, too. The Surf Spray, £16, by Bumble and bumble is classic favourite, too.
The ‘hairvolution’ of Victoria Beckham
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