Carré à pointes retournées: le brushing qui le dessine
Tout se joue au bout de la mèche, là où le carré se retourne.
By Manel, M BRUSH5 min read
N° 04
Trends
The essentials
A flipped bob is created with a blow-dry, not with the cut: the lengths are smoothed with a round brush, then the ends are rolled outwards, or inwards for the C-curl version, and cooled in their shape. Seen on the autumn-winter 2026 runways, it is a variation of the soft blow-dry.
The bob has not had its last word, but it has changed its look. In 2026, it is the ends that make the difference: flipped outwards for a retro feel, or curled inwards for a softer finish.
Either way, it is not the cut that draws the line, it is the blow-dry.
The bob that moves
Fashion magazines have spent the year revisiting the bob, and one idea keeps coming back: it has to move.
- In late 2025, Cosmopolitan announced that the bob "isn't going anywhere" and listed, among its four styles for 2026, a "Retro Sass Bob", a retro bob with lifted ends.
- In February, The Zoe Report placed "flipped bobs" among the autumn-winter 2026 Fashion Week trends. The same month, Elle US spotted rounded blow-dries with flipped ends at the PatBo show.
- In September, Grazia USA spoke of the "flippy lob", the long version, while Refinery29 counted nine bobs among its seventeen haircut trends for the autumn.
A debate that stays open
Let's be honest: not everyone agrees. Dazed magazine announced in August 2026 the year of very long hair, and in France, Google searches for "coupe carré" have been falling since 2021. The bob is no longer a given, and perhaps that is why it seeks character in its ends.
Ends out or ends in: two curves
The flip, outwards
This is the retro version, worn with more lightness than before. The lengths stay smooth and the ends turn firmly outwards. The effect is graphic, a little cheeky, and it draws the eye to the neckline.
The C, inwards
In spring 2026, NewBeauty and WWD spoke of the "C-curl", launched by Dimitris Giannetos, Gigi Hadid's hairdresser: a smooth blow-dry in which only the ends curl inwards, in a C shape. Softer, more classic, it frames the face.
The long bob that waves
In between, the long bob at collarbone level. For the version Marie Claire US calls "Italian Midi", the advice given is a round-brush blow-dry that creates a slight curve. It is the easiest to wear every day.
On a bob, the end is a signature: one centimetre of curve changes the whole look.
The gesture with the round brush
A flipped end does not happen with a flick of the wrist at the end. It is prepared from the very start of the blow-dry.
Perfectly smooth lengths.The section is first stretched from root to tip under the hot air. Without this even base, the final curve looks messy.
The right brush.The shorter the bob, the smaller the round brush: its diameter sets the size of the curve.
The rotation in the right place.At the ends, the brush turns outwards for a flip, inwards for a C, and the end stays rolled under the heat for a few moments.
The cooling.This is the decisive step. For the C-curl, each rolled end is held with a clip while it cools: released while still hot, an end drops.
A final light veil sets the whole, without freezing the end: it should bounce when you turn your head.
Which length for which bob?
To book, the length is determined with three simple markers: the nape, the shoulders, the bottom of the ribs.
- A short bob at the nape, above the shoulders, falls into the short length. The flip is very pronounced there, almost graphic. Our specific advice is in the article on the blow-dry for short hair.
- A classic bob, touching the shoulders, corresponds to mid-length and long. It is the ideal length for every curve, from the flip to the C.
- A long bob that falls below the shoulders stays in the mid-length and long category. The curve there becomes a fuller wave.
Unsure about the category? Our guide to choosing your hair length details each category.
Making the curve last
The ends are the most exposed part of a bob: they rub against the collar, the scarf, the shoulder strap of a bag. A few precautions change everything.
- Watch out for high collars and thick scarves, which crush the curve within hours. In winter, prefer a scarf tied low.
- At night, a silk or satin pillowcase limits friction. On a bob, there is no need for a bun: it would break the line.
- The next day, an end that has dropped can be revived with the round brush and hot air, then a blast of cold air. We detail these gestures in the article on reviving your blow-dry on the second day.
- Faced with humidity, the curve drops faster than the lengths. An umbrella protects it better than a hood.
The flipped bob, at your appointment
At M BRUSH, the closest finish is the soft blow-dry: fluid lengths and a light movement at the ends, worked with the round brush then cooled in place. If you prefer a very clean bob, with just a stroke of shine, also look at the sleek blow-dry.
An important point: the cut is not on the M BRUSH menu. The curve is therefore drawn on your current bob.
Manel, a qualified hairdresser, welcomes you in her private studio in Lausanne, by appointment. Choose your length, the finish, then a free slot; the address is Avenue d'Yverdon 4, 1004 Lausanne, and the confirmation email gives the directions. Come with clean hair, without oil, serum or styling product.
Feel like a bob that moves? Book your soft blow-dry.
Frequently asked questions
- Is the bob still in fashion in 2026?
- Yes, but it has evolved. Fashion magazines highlight bobs that move, with flipped or curled ends, and long bobs at collarbone level.
- Which brush should I choose to flip the ends of a bob?
- A round brush of small to medium diameter. The shorter the bob, the smaller the brush must be to form a real curve.
- Can you flip the ends of a bob without straighteners?
- Yes. The round brush and the hairdryer are enough, provided you let each end cool rolled before releasing it.
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