Shingle bob
A short haircut with a tapered nape and curled sides.
The shingle bob is a variation of the bob cut introduced in the 1920s by Antoine de Paris. It features hair cut very short at the back to expose the neck, while the sides are styled into distinct curls or points. This style was popular among daring young women of the era.
- Introduced by Antoine de Paris in the 1920s.
- Features a tapered nape exposing the neck.
- Sides are styled into curls or points.
- Popular among flappers for its rebellious look.
- Part of the bob cut family.
What it is
This hairstyle is a specific type of bob cut that prioritizes shortness at the rear. The hair at the nape of the neck is tapered extremely close to the skin, fully revealing the hairline. In contrast, the hair on the sides is left longer and shaped into single curls or sharp points near each cheek. It is a bold look that contrasts the exposed neck with structured side styling.
Where it comes from
Antoine de Paris, a Polish hairdresser based in France, introduced this style in the 1920s. He called it the shingle cut. It became a favourite among flappers and modern women who rejected traditional long hair. The style spread from Europe to the United States, where it symbolised independence and a break from Edwardian norms.
What it means
Wearing this cut was a statement of modernity and rebellion. It signalled a rejection of conventional femininity and the heavy hairstyles of the previous generation. For many women, it represented freedom and a new social identity during the roaring twenties.
How it is made
The cut requires tapering the hair at the back very short to expose the neck. The sides are then shaped into distinct curls or points. This creates a sharp contrast between the bare nape and the styled front sections.
Versions
It is part of the broader bob family. Related styles include the A-line bob, which is longer in the front, and the inverted bob, which has stacked layers. The standard bob keeps all hair above the shoulders, whereas the shingle bob exposes the neck entirely.
In culture
The style was dominant in the Western world during the mid-1920s. It appeared in films and fashion magazines as a symbol of the modern woman. Celebrities and ordinary women alike adopted it to show they were up-to-date with contemporary trends.
Questions people ask about Shingle bob
What is a shingle bob?
It is a bob cut variant with hair tapered very short at the back to expose the neck. The sides are formed into single curls or points on each cheek.
Who invented the shingle bob?
Antoine de Paris, a Polish hairdresser working in France, introduced the style in the 1920s as part of his fashionable short cuts for women.
When was the shingle bob popular?
It became widely popular in the 1920s, particularly among flappers and young women seeking a modern, independent appearance.
Good reading and sources
The facts on this page come from the Wikipedia article "Bob cut", written by its contributors and used under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence, and from its Wikidata record (CC0). EveryHairstyle rewrote the text in its own words, with AI assistance, and compares every page with the article to make sure no passage is copied. It may be reused under the same CC BY-SA 4.0 licence with a link back.
It may contain mistakes, and figures change over time. Nothing here is investment or buying advice. If something is wrong, tell us. Last refreshed 2026-11-15.
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