Jessica Alba made major style waves on Tuesday, Jan. 28, when she debuted a new edgy bob at the Hollywood Stand Up to Cancer event in Los Angeles.
In fact, since we can’t stop poring over images of her edgy cut, we decided to go straight to the source: Celeb hair pro Jen Atkin.
The Clear Scalp and Hair Therapy stylist is dishing on why the Spoils of Babylon star wanted the change and how you can copy her new hairstyle.
While drastic haircuts are usually reserved for major life changes, Alba, 32, just wanted to try out a shorter length. “Jessica’s style is always evolving, and she isn’t afraid of a little change,” Atkin tells Us Weekly. “She was ready for something new and fresh.”
Case in point: When Atkin chopped off the nearly five inches of length, the mom of two didn’t even bat an eye. “She was excited. That girl is fearless,” Atkin says.
The new cut is as versatile as Alba’s fashion sense. “This bob can be worn in so many different ways,” Atkin explains to Us. “Sleek or textured, up or down; this cut is all about versatility and can work with any look.” As for the newly coined phrase “fashion bob,” Atkin says it’s “because so many girls in Paris have this look.”
If you’re tempted to try the fashion bob, Atkin says to arm yourself with examples when visiting the salon. “Pictures are always a great way to reference a particular haircut,” she says. “[But] I find that a lot of stylists can get a little carried away with layers when it comes to cutting a bob, so it’s crucial to tell your stylist to keep the layers long, which is what allows for the versatility of this particular cut.”
Then Atkin advises to make sure you add loads of texture to keep the modern feel. For the Stand Up to Cancer event, she used Kevin Murphy’s Beach Resort Spray on towel-dried hair for texture and movement, and blow dried the hair with her hands, twisting sections for natural waves and bends. She smoothed out the ends with her GHD TriZone Flat Iron and finished with Oribe Fiber Groom paste for a piecey look.
To protect hair against the beating hot tools can give to strands, Atkin recommends Clear Scalp and Hair Therapy’s Strong Lengths Shampoo and Conditioner. “It nourishes and fortifies hair, lengths to ends, and helps hair hold up to styling tools and products,” she says.
