Writer Elizabeth Day has embraced a bob haircut in her early 40s, a significant change after years of trying to maintain long hair. Day, who previously struggled with fine, long hair that often split and required frequent trims, found herself drawn to shorter styles.
Her journey began with her mother, who cut her hair into a bob until Day was 18. However, a negative experience with a stylist in her early twenties led Day to grow her hair long throughout her twenties and thirties, despite its tendency to become frizzy and split. "Haunted by the memory of that South African cut, I kept growing my hair," Day wrote.
She recounted how her stylist, Olivia, patiently worked with her to grow her hair out. Eventually, Day decided to try a more significant chop. The initial experimentation led to a shoulder-length 'lob,' which evolved into a bob that tucks just below her ear. "I love my bob because it feels fresh and witty and very me," Day stated. "I love it because it makes my hair look thicker and requires hardly any styling."
Beyond the personal satisfaction, Day observed that cutting her hair short has prompted unsolicited opinions from others. She noted that strangers online and acquaintances alike have commented on her hair, with some suggesting it would be "prettier" if it were longer. "What I’ve noticed since cutting my hair short is how many other people will proffer their unsolicited opinions about it," she wrote.
Day contrasted the practicality of the bob with what she described as "porn star" hair, which she believes is popularized by toxic masculinity and requires extensive time, money, and effort. She sees the bob as a liberating style that frees women from hours of styling.
When faced with criticism, Day has learned not to defend her choices regarding her appearance. She recalls an interaction with TV presenter Emma Willis, who also sports short hair and frequently receives comments about growing it out or wearing dresses. "Isn’t that insane? In 2026! That’s how embedded patriarchal notions of femininity remain: we want our women in long hair and dresses," Day commented.
She finds inspiration in women like Willis and her own mother, both of whom have short hair. Day concluded that her chosen hairstyle is a personal expression of her womanhood, not something that needs external validation. "And any time I begin to doubt whether short hair looks good, I think of Emma and my mother who, by the way, also has very short hair," she wrote.
