When you think ‘grey bob haircut’, what comes to mind? Predictable? Flat? Thin? Maybe even… ageing? Well, Jessica Lange, 77, has ripped up the rulebook with a super-bouncy silver bob that’s anything but granny-like.
The iconic actress arrived for a screening of American Horror Story: 13 in New York with her chin-length chop looking beautifully bouffant yet still soft and modern. Her roots were lifted up high and curved softly around her face, perfectly framing her ageless cheekbones.
The hair colour was equally polished, with silver and grey-blonde blended into a seamless shimmering tone that brightened her complexion. Who says bobs are the boring option for mature women? Not us.
The look is the work of hairdresser Michael Silva, who reveals the goal was glamorous hair, not a supersized style. ‘[We wanted it to] look effortless and yet polished and appropriate,’ he told WWD. ‘I even thought of the “new Farrah [Fawcett]”.'
Jessica’s look was created just with volume spray at the roots to give it support and movement without a starchy feel. ‘No other products on the hair; you want max lift without weight,’ he said.
To create her fabulous, curved look, Michael used an aluminum base round brush. The metal holds the heat, acting as a defacto curling irons as it meets the hairdryer. Then, to help the shape hold, he advises using a cool air blast before unrolling the brush.
Jessica’s curled sections were also clipped in place, one by one, to ensure that C curve stayed put. The look was completed by backcombing with a bit of hairspray, and running through the lengths with a wide-toothed comb for a soft finish.
Jessica’s look proves that wearing grey hair in a shorter style really can be chic, and shouldn’t be looked down upon as a safe, ‘age appropriate’ style.
Mitchell Ladbrook, senior stylist at Nicole Clarke salon, says short grey hair can look incredibly chic. The shorter the hair, the more striking the grey colour will be. It creates a more dramatic but cool finish and really shows off the colour and cut,' says Mitchell, who recently gave GH's Linzi a stunning bob makeover.
Jessica’s C-curve also highlights the role of front pieces in grey hair. 'Face framing shapes and fringes can enhance the silver reflections near your face and brighten your complexion,' says stylist Leslie Drummond. 'If you lack tonality in your grey, embrace and enhance your greys by lightening pieces around the face to give you extra dimension.'
In short, a bob can be bigger, brighter and better than ever in your 70s– as Jessica proves.
