Kendall Jenner has been serving an endless array of hair inspiration of late. The most notable of which came in the form of a dramatic colour change, when this summer the 29-year-old supermodel sidelined her signature rich brunette lengths for a buttery blonde.
After getting creative with every blonde hairstyle under the sun, from Marilyn-inspired curls and amped-up volume to effortless half-up hairstyles, Jenner, has now gone back to her darker roots and, in doing so, has eschewed her mid-length hair in favour of a soft bell-bottom bob.
It's not the first time we've seen the bell-bottom bob come to the fore – the popular chin-length cut, which is defined by flicked-out ends and comes inspired by the flared cut of bell-bottom jeans, has been making waves more and more, offering up a fresh take on the global phenomenon that is the bob haircut.
But as trend forecaster and hair expert, Tom Smith, explains, it's taking on a softer, more subtle iteration for the season ahead. "For those not willing to embrace the full bell-bottom silhouette, we've seen a surge of softer, more textured versions flooding in for a more wearable alternative," he shares. "The flicked-out shape, worn sleek to the head and combined with a strict central or side parting, is rapidly gaining traction."
As demonstrated by Jenner, it offers more texture and definition to your standard short crop but without the dramatic or overt flick, making it both a simple upgrade for the new season and an easy aesthetic to translate into the everyday.
To recreate the look, Smith recommends starting with a blow-dry and a heat protection spray as well as the Olaplex duo–No.5 Leave In, layered with No.6, to lock in hydration and tame any frizz. "Next use a straightener to form the desired flick at the end. If your hair length hits your shoulders, it will remain in the desired silhouette quite well, however, if it’s shorter, you'll need to finish with a good amount of strong hold hairspray, both on the inner and outer curve of the ends," he adds.
Jenner isn't the only one embracing the bell-bottom trend—the likes of Gemma Arterton, Hailee Steinfeld, and Kelly Rowland are among a number of famous faces who have been adding a flick to their bobs this season too, making a strong case for embracing the short, defined cut for the winter months ahead.
This article was first seen on ELLE UK.