What is a ‘pageboy’ cut? Everything to know about the classic bob

Viral Trends

By Brooke Kato

The Middle Ages called – they want their hairstyle back.

The hilariously dated pageboy cut is somehow rising through the ranks as a hair staple for fall — decades after a stint in the technicolor limelight of the ’70s.

A dangerously close cousin of the detested bowl cut, the blunt ‘do is a sleek, round bob with bangs that has been praised by hairstylists for its chameleon nature — it can be modernized by adding layers or a different style of fringe.

“It is a sleek and geometric cut that is tailored to the individual’s specific hair type and face shape, ensuring a flattering and polished look,” hairstylist and artistic director of Balmain Hair, Ilham Mestour, told Popsugar.

“One of the key factors that contribute to the enduring popularity of the page bob is its versatility.”

Cut just above the jawline, the short French bob has a certain Parisian charm, while natural curls can add texture.

The “pageboy” is the latest rendition of the bob to take the internet by storm since Hailey Bieber’s chin-length trim this year inspired a wave of women to seek a big chop.

Then, Jenna Ortega and Mindy Kaling debuted chic lobs, while Kim Kardashian shocked fans with drastically shorter hair this summer when promoting her new SKIMS line.

Despite the so-called “bobmania,” the bob has long divided beauty gurus as the style teeters between chic and tacky.

First, there’s the Lord Farquaad-esque “f–k ass bob,” or “FAB” for short: A bang-less cut, similar to that seen on Willy Wonka, that is just too rigid, too corporate or just trying too hard.

The name, explained self-titled ‘FAB historian’ and TikToker Namila, was popularized after season one of HBO’s “Euphoria,” in which Kat Hernandez, played by Barbie Ferrera, sported the short ‘do.

“If this is the Genesis where FAB comes from, this is the meter by which we need to judge all other bobs,” Namila says in the viral clip.

Then, there’s the “jellyfish” cut, which attempts to give the person the best of both worlds — Mia Wallace in the front, Rapunzel in the back — by chopping bob-esque face-framing pieces and leaving the rest of the hair long, mimicking the shape of its namesake.

“It’s essentially a version of a mullet that plays on shapes and contrasting lines,” celebrity stylist and Sally Beauty’s color and style expert Gregory Patterson told Popsugar.

Lastly, the final boss of all bobs: The “F–k Ass Robert,” a relative of the classic “Karen” cut that screams “I want to speak with a manager.”

The dramatically angled bob — if it can even be classified as one — means business, with the shortest layer in the back hitting just at the ear, and the longest strands, only cascading down one side, reaching the collarbone.

“That’s not a bob, that’s a Robert,” TikToker @drcasanovabrown said in a clip that amassed over 10 million views this week. “She got three biracial kids, and they all late for soccer practice, and it’s your fault.”

He described the woman, who he quipped must be named “Staci with an ‘i’,” as someone who would send her entree back at a restaurant “even though it’s exactly what she ordered.”

“I just know she is the villain of the homeowner’s association,” he joked.