By India Espy-Jones · Updated March 20, 2026 Getting your Trinity Audio player ready… Bobs and pixie cuts have been neck-and-neck this year (literally!). While pixies are short and versatile, bobs are a classic power cut for the most dominant women. We’ve seen Monica and Beyoncé convert to blonde bobs, Issa Rae and Kelly Rowland in blunt black cuts, and old Hollywood >Danielle Priano told ESSENCE back LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – MARCH 15: Mary J. Blige attends the 2026 Vanity Fair Oscar Party Hosted By Mark Guiducci at Los Angeles County Museum of Art on March 15, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Dia Dipasupil/FilmMagic) Viola Davis LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – MARCH 01: Viola Davis attends the 32nd Annual Actor Awards at Shrine Auditorium and Expo Hall on March 01, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Monica Schipper/WireImage) Ryan Destiny LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – MARCH 17: Ryan Destiny attends the Los Angeles Premiere Of A24’s “The Drama” at DGA Theater Complex on March 17, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kayla Oaddams/WireImage) Lizzo LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – MARCH 15:Lizzo attends the 2026 Vanity Fair Oscar Party Hosted By Mark Guiducci at Los Angeles County Museum of Art on March 15, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Jamie McCarthy/WireImage) Danielle Brooks LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – MARCH 15: Danielle Brooks attends the 2026 Vanity Fair Oscar Party hosted by Mark Guiducci at Los Angeles County Museum of Art on March 15, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Steve Granitz/FilmMagic) Chelley Bissainthe LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – MARCH 12: Chelley Bissainthe attends the 2026 ESSENCE Black Women In Hollywood Awards at Fairmont Century Plaza on March 12, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Julian Hamilton/FilmMagic) Skye P. Marshall LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – MARCH 12: Skye P. Marshall attends the 2026 ESSENCE Black Women In Hollywood Awards at Fairmont Century Plaza on March 12, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Julian Hamilton/FilmMagic) Crystle Stewart LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – MARCH 12: Crystle Stewart attends the 2026 ESSENCE Black Women In Hollywood Awards at Fairmont Century Plaza on March 12, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kayla Oaddams/WireImage) Lynn Whitfield LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – MARCH 12: Lynn Whitfield attends the 2026 ESSENCE Black Women In Hollywood Awards at Fairmont Century Plaza on March 12, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kayla Oaddams/WireImage) Jackie Aina LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – MARCH 12: Jackie Aina attends the 2026 ESSENCE Black Women In Hollywood Awards at Fairmont Century Plaza on March 12, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kayla Oaddams/WireImage) Sheryl Lee Ralph LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – MARCH 12: Sheryl Lee Ralph attends the 2026 ESSENCE Black Women In Hollywood Awards on March 12, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Arturo Holmes/Getty Images for ESSENCE) Karen Pittman LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – MARCH 12: Karen Pittman attends the 2026 ESSENCE Black Women In Hollywood Awards on March 12, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Leon Bennett/Getty Images for ESSENCE) Teyana Taylor PARIS, FRANCE – MARCH 09: (EDITORIAL USE ONLY – For Non-Editorial use please seek approval from Fashion House) Teyana Taylor attends the Chanel Womenswear Fall/Winter 2026-2027 show as part of Paris Fashion Week on March 09, 2026 in Paris, France. (Photo by Stephane Cardinale – Corbis/Corbis via Getty Images) KJ Smith Black PASADENA, CALIFORNIA – FEBRUARY 28: KJ Smith Black attends the 57th NAACP Image Awards at Pasadena Civic Auditorium on February 28, 2026 in Pasadena, California.(Photo by Julian Hamilton/FilmMagic) Issa Rae PASADENA, CALIFORNIA – FEBRUARY 28: Issa Rae attends the 57th NAACP Image Awards at Pasadena Civic Auditorium on February 28, 2026 in Pasadena, California.(Photo by Julian Hamilton/FilmMagic) Lovie Simone PASADENA, CALIFORNIA – FEBRUARY 28: Lovie Simone attends the 57th NAACP Image Awards at Pasadena Civic Auditorium on February 28, 2026 in Pasadena, California.(Photo by Julian Hamilton/FilmMagic) Dominque Jackson LONDON, ENGLAND – FEBRUARY 23: Dominque Jackson walks the runway at the Conner Ives show during London Fashion Week February 2026 at Claridge’s Hotel on February 23, 2026 in London, England. (Photo by Jeff Spicer/Getty Images) Monica NEW YORK, NEW YORK – FEBRUARY 11: Monica attends the Public School fashion show during New York Fashion Week at Storied NYC on February 11, 2026 in New York City. (Photo by Michael Loccisano/Getty Images) Kelly Rowland NEW YORK, NEW YORK – FEBRUARY 04: Kelly Rowland visits the SiriusXM Studios on February 04, 2026 in New York City. (Photo by Noam Galai/Getty Images) Lauryn Hill LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – FEBRUARY 01: Lauryn Hill attends the 68th GRAMMY Awards at Crypto.com Arena on February 01, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images for The Recording Academy) Ayo Edebiri BEVERLY HILLS, CALIFORNIA – JANUARY 11: (FOR EDITORIAL USE ONLY) Ayo Edebiri attends the 83rd annual Golden Globe Awards at The Beverly Hilton on January 11, 2026 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Matt Winkelmeyer/GA/The Hollywood Reporter via Getty Images)TOPICS: bobs celebrity hair The post The Best Bobs Of 2026 appeared first on Essence .
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The Best Bobs Of 2026
Bobs and pixie cuts have been neck-and-neck this year (literally!). While pixies are short and versatile, bobs are a classic power cut for the most dominant women. We’ve seen Monica […] The post The Best Bobs Of 2026 appeared first on Essence .