The hairstyle popular in the 1920s characterized by short, sleek hair was the bob cut.
A bob is generally cut around jaw level or shorter, often exposing the neck and sometimes paired with bangs. It became fashionable in the early 20th century, helped by women’s wartime work, changing social expectations, and the practical appeal of shorter hair.
The style became strongly associated with flappers and modern independence. Hairdressers such as Antoine de Paris helped popularize short bobs, while entertainers including Clara Bow, Louise Brooks, and Colleen Moore made variations famous. By the middle of the 1920s, bobbed hair was widespread across the Western world.
A pageboy is a related but usually longer style, commonly curling under near the shoulders. A pixie cut is much shorter and became especially associated with later decades, while a mullet has noticeably longer hair at the back. The bob has remained adaptable, inspiring chin-length, French, layered, and inverted versions.