The royals are on a roll with bobs this summer. First, Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh wowed the world with her gorgeous new short cut, and now Zara Tindall is showing how to keep a bob full of life, even when your hair is fine and the heat is on.
Zara showcased a beautiful, heat-proof bob at the opening of the 2026 FEI World Championships, the year’s biggest equestrian competition. The sun was shining in Aachen, but Zara’s fine-textured bob remained as poised as any dressage champion. Accessorised with a chic pair of Finlay sunglasses in the style Tavistock, the royal looked hot to trot.
‘Zara’s bob is a great example of how fine hair can still have volume without looking overly done’, says Jason Collier, celebrity hairstylist and Key Opinion Leader at Jerome Russell Bblonde. ‘There’s a lovely bit of lift through the root and crown, but the ends have been kept quite relaxed and slightly undone. That combination stops it looking flat while still feeling really natural and effortless.’
It’s a flattering look for older, thinning hair, too. ‘A little root lift, a soft bend through the lengths, and ends that aren’t too perfectly styled will give the illusion of thicker, fuller hair without making it look stiff. Zara’s is a really good example as it has body, but you can still see movement in it,’ says Jason.
The cut plays a big role here, notes celebrity hairstylist Louis Byrne. ‘For finer hair the haircut needs to be kept blunt and sharp like this. It gives the hair a fuller appearance,’ he explains. ‘Everyone has a sweet spot where their hair will grow and look great, and for finer hair like Zara’s this is shorter. A good haircut is key here, it will make the difference between hero and zero!’
Why is my fine hair bob so bad right now?
The right cut is even more important now we’re being hit with wave after wave of crushing heat, because it’s a ‘bit of a nightmare for fine hair, frankly,’ says Jason. ‘Fine hair naturally has less structure and can lose volume very quickly anyway. Add humidity, sweat and excess oil at the roots and a bouncy bob can suddenly start to collapse and sit much closer to the head.’
But I’m using volumising products and it still looks bad!
Actually, those ‘miracle’ plumpers might be part of the problem. ‘Fine hair can also be easily weighed down by product, so piling on more in an attempt to save the style can actually make things worse,’ says Jason. ‘The trick is to build the volume into the hair rather than relying on lots of product afterwards. Apply a lightweight volumising mousse or root spray like BStyled Root Boost Spray to damp hair, then blow-dry the roots upwards and away from the scalp. Avoid heavy oils and creams around the roots.’
Louis backs the approach, suggesting using fingertips to ‘keep the hair moving when blowdrying. If needed, use a brush to lift just the root’. He likes Olaplex’s volumising spray on the roots only to add lift, not weigh hair down.
And don’t be impatient, even though you probably don’t enjoy using a hairdryer right now. ‘Make sure the hair is completely dry before you finish, as even a little residual moisture can make a style drop much faster when you step into humid air,’ warns Jason.
It’s worth rethinking your wash regime to avoid unnecessary weigh-down. ‘Wash with a natural clarifying shampoo and hold off the conditioner,’ says Louis. ‘If needed for damage, just condition the ends.’
A little dry shampoo applied to clean hair can be brilliant, too, adds Jason. ‘Don’t wait until the hair looks greasy! Using it preventatively at the roots can absorb sweat and oil as they appear and help maintain that airy texture.’
