If you haven't already spotted the "modern Diana" bob on your Instagram and TikTok feeds, trust us, you're about to. With the Platinum Jubilee encouraging us to get nostalgic about the royal family, it's only right that 2022 will shine a spotlight on Lady Di, whose signature beauty look made her a fashion icon of her time (and of all time). Years on, millennials and Gen Z are still revisiting her best style moments with some modern-day flair. See: cycling shorts, power co-ords and blue eyeliner.
In just the past couple of years alone, Princess Diana has inspired the beauty looks of Kristin Stewart in Spencer, Emma Corrin in season four of The Crown, and Elizabeth Debicki is set to play the royal for season five this November. Proof that Diana's impact is still as far-reaching today.
But back to the Modern Diana bob. According to Suzie McGill, international artistic director at Rainbow Room, there's a reason Diana's iconic cut is so perfect for the current day. "Diana has always been a style icon, and the bob never goes out of fashion. Diana always sported a bob, sometimes hitting just past her cheekbones and sometimes slightly longer at the back, but what was always a statement look of Diana's bob was the deep side parting and the volume and layers within her hair," explains McGill.
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And Jubilee fever paired with the resurgence of voluminous cuts such as shags, the Wolf Cut and sexy, mussed-up bobs provides a perfect recipe for the style to really go stratospheric.
The beauty of this hairstyle is that if it's cut at a good length, like at the cheekbones, it can be left to grow out beautifully and can be a very low-maintenance cut. "If layers and a side parting are incorporated into the hair, this instantly adds volume and can make the hairstyle even more low-maintenance in terms of styling as you can simply add some styling product to add further texture to your hair, or blow-dry for a smooth finish like Diana's," says McGill.
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Andreas Wild at Larry King agrees that the modern Diana bob will be major for summer because it's so fresh. "This is a really extreme look and is a great idea for summer. It's so feminine in a masculine way," Wild said. The hairstylist emphasizes that layers are important because they open up the face. As for styling, blow-drying the layers back and then forwards gives bounce and provides a modern look.
Wild also points out how versatile the cut is. "Play with it; try different partings — side, front and slicked back — and when it grows out, leave it for a while before you get a trim as it adds chicness to it and, when styled with the right outfit, looks on point."
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So what do you need to ask your hairdresser for? "This is all about the haircut," notes Syd. "A razor is vital for this. Ask for shattered edges with a short shape to the haircut. And be sure to invest in texture sprays as they are great for really showing that undone and not too styled haircut."
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To maintain the look at home, Syd recommends blow-drying hair with a diffuser and nozzle attachments to bring out the natural movement when drying your hair. "Tuck the sides behind your ears like Diana would and diffuse on a high heat and low power. When it's about 85 percent dry, turn your hairdryer off and let it dry naturally."
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"To make the haircut more modern and on-trend today, wear the hairstyle a little messier for a more relaxed take on the trend. I'd suggest scrunching some mousse or texturizing spray like a salt spray into your hair and leaving it to air dry rather than blow-drying," suggests McGill. "Alternatively, use a heated styling iron to bend some soft waves into your bob to give it an instant modern finish. This is a look that's very on-trend today and that we are seeing a lot of Instagram influencers wearing and it gives your hair an undone finish, taking Diana's bob from royal to perfect for everyday."
This story originally appeared on glamour.co.uk.
More of this summer's biggest hair trends:
- 24 Hair Color Trends That Will Be Huge in 2022
- How to Get Razor Bangs, the Cutting Technique That Works for All Face Shapes
- The Hime Cut Is All Over TikTok — Here's What to Know Before You Get It
Now, see how short haircuts have evolved within the past 100 years: