20 Easy lob Ideas for layered Hair You Can Do at Home
Is there any haircut more universally flattering than the lob? This chic, shoulder-grazing style has reigned supreme for years, and for good reason. It’s the perfect sweet spot between the commitment of a pixie and the length of long waves. But when you add layers into the mix? That’s where the magic truly happens. Layered lobs are all about movement, texture, and effortless volume. They frame the face beautifully and can be styled in a myriad of ways to suit any mood or occasion.
The best part? You don’t need a professional stylist on speed dial to keep your layered lob looking fresh. We’ve rounded up 20 easy lob ideas that you can achieve right at home, with minimal tools and maximum style. Get ready to fall in love with your hair all over again.
The Effortless Beach Wave Lob
This is the quintessential layered lob look. It’s tousled, textured, and screams “I just woke up like this.” The key is to enhance your natural layers with soft, undone waves.
How to do it: Start with slightly damp hair. Apply a texturizing spray or mousse from roots to ends. Using a curling wand with a 1 to 1.5-inch barrel, wrap random sections of hair away from your face. Don’t curl all the way to the roots, and leave the ends straight for a more modern feel. Once all your hair is waved, run your fingers through it to break up the curls. Finish with a light mist of sea salt spray for that perfect beachy texture.
The Sleek and Straight Lob
Sometimes, simplicity is the ultimate sophistication. A sleek, straight lob accentuates the precision of your layers and creates a sharp, polished look that works for the boardroom and a night out.
How to do it: Apply a heat protectant and a smoothing serum to towel-dried hair. Blow-dry your hair straight using a round brush to add a slight bend at the ends, preventing a flat look. Once dry, go over sections with a flat iron, gliding it smoothly from root to tip. For extra shine, add a drop of hair oil to the palms of your hands and lightly gloss over the surface of your hair.
The Textured Blowout
Give yourself a salon-worthy blowout at home. This style uses volume and body to show off the different lengths in your layered cut, creating a bouncy, full-bodied effect.
How to do it: After washing, apply a volumizing mousse at the roots. Flip your head upside down and blow-dry until about 80% dry. Then, using a large round brush, roll sections of hair under and up, directing the heat from your dryer down the hair shaft. Concentrate on lifting the roots for volume. Once complete, cool shot your hair to set the style.
Half-Up, Half-Down Style
This is the perfect way to keep hair out of your face while still showing off your beautiful layers. It’s quick, easy, and looks intentionally chic.
How to do it: Take the top section of your hair, from about the temples back, and gather it at the crown of your head. Instead of pulling it tight, gently tease the crown area for a little lift before securing it with a hair tie or clip. Pull out a few face-framing pieces to soften the look and emphasize your layers.
The Modern Shag Lob
Embrace your inner rockstar with a modern shag. This look is all about embracing choppy, piece-y layers and a lot of texture.
How to do it: This style works best on day-old hair. Use a texturizing spray generously throughout your hair. Then, with a small-barrel curling iron, create tight, random curls. Once you have a head full of curls, vigorously run your fingers through them to break them apart. Use a pomade or wax to define the ends of your shorter, face-framing layers, giving them that signature “piece-y” look.
Accessorize with a Scarf or Bandana
Sometimes the easiest way to style your hair is to accessorize it. A silk scarf or a trendy bandana can instantly elevate your lob and add a pop of color or pattern.
How to do it: Fold a square scarf into a triangle and then into a long strip. Tie it around your head like a headband, letting your layers fall freely around it. You can also tie it at the nape of your neck over a low ponytail for a different vibe. This method beautifully showcases the shorter layers around your face.
The Low Messy Bun
Don’t think a lob is too short for a bun! A low, messy bun is not only possible but also incredibly stylish. The shorter layers will naturally escape, creating a soft, romantic frame around your face.
How to do it: Gather your hair at the nape of your neck as if you’re making a low ponytail. Twist the ponytail and then wrap it around its base to form a bun. Don’t worry about tucking in the ends; let them stick out for a messy effect. Secure with bobby pins and an elastic. Gently pull out a few pieces around your face and neck to complete the look.
Pump Up the Volume at the Roots
Flat hair can make even the most beautiful layers fall flat. This trick is all about getting that coveted root lift for an instant face-lift effect.
How to do it: Section off the top layer of your hair. Using a teasing comb or a fine-tooth brush, gently backcomb the hair at the roots of the section you’re holding up. Be gentle—you want volume, not a bird’s nest. Lower the section and use your fingers or a brush to smooth the top layer over the teased section. For hold, spray a light-hold hairspray at the roots.
Face-Framing Curls
Highlight the beautiful shorter layers around your face by giving them a bouncy curl. This draws attention to your eyes and cheekbones.
How to do it: Using a small to medium-barrel curling iron, take the face-framing layers on one side and wrap them away from your face. Hold for a few seconds and release. Repeat on the other side. You can leave the rest of your hair straight or wavy to let these focal curls truly stand out.
The Tucked-Behind-the-Ear Look
This is the ultimate effortless style. It’s simple, elegant, and the perfect way to show off a statement earring.
How to do it: Simply take one side of your hair and tuck it behind your ear. For a more secure hold, use a clear bobby pin behind the ear to keep it in place. Let the other side fall naturally. The contrast between the tucked and untucked sides creates a dynamic and interesting shape.
Add a Braided Detail
Incorporate a small braid to add a touch of bohemian flair to your lob. A Dutch braid along the hairline or a simple side braid can make your style look intricate without much effort.
How to do it: On one side of your head, take a section of hair from the front. Create a simple three-strand braid or a Dutch braid (braiding under instead of over) and secure it with a small clear elastic. You can let the rest of the braid hang or incorporate it into a half-up style.
The Slicked-Back Wet Look
Channel your inner 90s supermodel with a slicked-back wet look. This style is surprisingly easy to achieve and makes a bold statement.
How to do it: Apply a strong-hold gel or a styling cream mixed with water evenly through damp hair. Use a fine-tooth comb to slick your hair back away from your face, ensuring there are no bumps. You can leave it to air dry for a true wet look or use a diffuser on a low setting. For a modern twist, leave out a few wispy layers in the front.
Twisted Crown
This romantic style is perfect for a date night or a special event. It looks complicated but is deceptively simple.
How to do it: Part your hair down the middle. Take a small section from the front of one side, twist it back, and secure it at the back of your head with a bobby pin. Repeat on the other side, crossing the twists over each other before pinning. Let the rest of your lob hair flow freely.
Pin-Straight with Flipped Ends
Give a retro nod to the 70s with a sleek lob that has ends flipped outward. It’s a fun and playful take on the straight look.
How to do it: Flat iron your hair as you normally would for a sleek look. When you get to the ends, instead of gliding straight down, twist the flat iron outward, away from your face, to create a uniform flip. This works especially well to show off the ends of your layers.
The “I Just Got Out of Bed” Look
This is all about celebrating natural texture and a little bit of mess. It’s the perfect second or third-day hairstyle.
How to do it: Spritz dry shampoo throughout your roots to absorb oil and add grip. Then, use a texturizing spray on the mid-lengths and ends. Scrunch your hair with your hands to enhance any natural wave or kink. The goal is to look artfully disheveled, so don’t overthink it!
Deep Side Part
Sometimes, a simple change in your part can completely transform your look. A deep side part adds instant volume and drama.
How to do it: Using the end of a comb, create a clean, deep side part. Blow-dry the hair on the heavier side over a round brush, directing it slightly away from the part to maximize volume. This will make your layers cascade beautifully over one side of your face.
Ponytail with Wispy Layers
A lob-length ponytail is incredibly chic. Because of the layers, it will never look too severe or perfect.
How to do it: Gather your hair into a mid-height or low ponytail. Secure it with an elastic. The key is to then gently pull out the shorter layers around your face and at the crown to create a soft, wispy frame. You can also wrap a small piece of hair around the elastic to hide it for a more polished finish.
Crimped for Texture
Bring back the 80s in a subtle, modern way. Crimping isn’t about creating full-head zig-zags anymore; it’s about adding strategic texture.
How to do it: Take the underlayers of your hair and run a crimping iron over them. Leave the top layer smooth. When you let the top layer down, it will cover most of the crimping, but the texture will add incredible volume and a unique, piece-y effect to your lob.
Soft Pin Curls
For a vintage-inspired, glamorous wave, try setting your lob in soft pin curls. The result is a head of defined, bouncy waves that showcase your layers beautifully.
How to do it: On damp hair, apply a setting lotion. Take small sections of hair and roll them into curls against your head, securing them with bobby pins. Allow your hair to air dry completely or use a hooded dryer. Once dry, carefully remove the pins and gently separate the curls with your fingers.
The “Undone” Ponytail
This is the cooler, older sister of the classic ponytail. It’s loose, a little messy, and incredibly chic.
How to do it: Loosely gather your hair at the nape of your neck, but don’t pull it all the way through the elastic on the last loop. You should have a looped ponytail. Then, gently pull the sides of the loop to loosen it and create a small, messy bun-like shape. Pull out as many wispy pieces as you like to frame your face.
Embrace Your Natural Texture
Last but certainly not least, the easiest style of all: let your layers do their thing! Whether your hair is curly, wavy, or coily, a layered lob is designed to enhance your natural texture.
How to do it: Use a curl-defining cream or mousse on wet hair. Scrunch your hair and either air dry or diffuse. Avoid brushing it once it’s dry to prevent frizz. The layers will help define your curls and reduce bulk, creating a beautiful, shapely silhouette.
