Beyoncé has spoken, and the Old Hollywood bob is officially — and literally — the biggest haircut trend for autumn 2024.
Queen Bey proved this herself at the US GLAMOUR Women of the Year Awards 2024. Attending in support of her mother, Miss Tina Knowles, even Beyoncé couldn’t help but shed a tear (or a few) during her mum’s acceptance speech. As a beauty writer, however, I couldn’t keep my eyes off Beyoncé’s larger-than-life bob haircut (well, and the fact that her makeup stayed perfectly in-place despite her crying).
Beyoncé’s take on the trend isn’t the first we’ve seen this season. In the past few weeks alone, Sabrina Carpenter has worn a Marilyn Monroe–inspired Old Hollywood bob, Kendall Jenner has chopped her “old money” blonde hair into a lob, and Sydney Sweeney wore the style for her US GLAMOURamouramour Woman of the Year cover shoot. Clearly, the Old Hollywood bob isn’t just trending, but is here to stay.
“We’re seeing a resurgence of Old Hollywood and vintage-inspired haircuts because there’s a craving for timeless elegance and glamour,” Helen Reavey, celebrity hairstylist, certified trichologist, and founder of of Act+Acre, tells GLAMOUR. “With the fast pace of trends today, many are drawn to these iconic styles that evoke a sense of nostalgia and sophistication. It’s versatile and polished while still standing out.”
While the Old Hollywood bob is having a moment, it’s not the first history-inspired hair trend of the year: In February, GLAMOUR reported that big hair was making a comeback, as inspired by icons like like Brigitte Bardot, Donna Summer, Dolly Parton, Diana Ross, Tina Turner, and Cindy Crawford. Unsurprisingly, Beyoncé was one of the present-day pioneers; it’s just that now we’re opting for shoulder-length for fall and wintertime.
“A lot of people are looking for more versatile styles that can be easily adapted for different occasions, and longer bobs and mid-length cuts offer more styling options,” says Reavey. “It’s a great in-between length — short enough to feel fresh but long enough to be styled in curls or waves. As we head into cooler months, people also want the flexibility of pulling hair back or layering it under scarves and coats.”
Also of note? A mid-length lob like this is great for all face shapes and hair types, so you really can’t go wrong. “What makes this haircut so major is that almost every hair type, texture, and face shape can wear this style with a lot of ease,” says Gregory Patterson, celebrity stylist and DIY expert at Sally Beauty.
And of course, it doesn’t hurt that it looks so chic. “It says ‘Material Girl,’ or in the vintage sense, ‘Diamonds are a Girl’s Best Friend,’” Amy Abramite, creative director and stylist at Maxine Salon, says of the look’s evolution over the past few months. She’s right on point, too: Carpenter’s own Old Hollywood bob look was inspired by both Marilyn Monroe and Madonna.