Zazu Pitts in 1923

A bob is a haircut, usually for women but occasionally for men, in which the hair is cut short, but a weighted area is left to fall between the ears and chin.

It was invented in 1909 in Paris by the hairdresser Antoine, who was inspired by "Joan of Arc." After the First World War, it was made popular in the 1920s by flappers. At the time it was considered a sign of a liberated woman.

Early film stars associated with the bob were Louise Brooks and Zazu Pitts. In Germany, brunette Louise Brooks's haircut was known as "the black helmet," because it resembled a German helmet.

In the 1980s, Vidal Sassoon made it popular again, using the shape of the early bob and making it more stylish in a simpler cut. Many different styles and combinations of the bob have evolved since.

Today, the bob is again a part of hair fashion, but this time in a combination of the stylish front look combined with textured layers in the back.