Ariana Grande’s Betty Boop Bob Gives the Classic Cut a Playful Flip
A sleek brunette bob with flipped ends brings retro character to Grande’s look. Stylists share the cut details and tools for recreating it.
Ariana Grande has stepped away from her signature ponytail for a shoulder-length brunette bob, finished with ends that flick up and away from her face. The silhouette reads sleek and polished; the flipped tips bring a playful, retro note that recalls Betty Boop’s curled style. It’s a fresh entry in the season’s growing bob conversation, with a shape that feels wearable because its personality comes from the finish rather than elaborate styling.
Celebrity stylist Brandon Pietsch created the look and joked that “The ponytail is taking a hiatus.” Grande shared the cut in an Instagram post. The shift is striking partly because her hair has been such a consistent part of her public image: she became known for cherry-red strands as a Nickelodeon star, then made an extra-long brunette ponytail her signature as her music career grew. For her role as Glinda in the film adaptation of Wicked, she went platinum blond in 2022 and kept the golden shade through 2025, before returning to soft brown.
Why the flipped bob feels fresh
The cut balances two different moods: a clean outline and a lively finish. “I love that it feels polished but still playful, and the flip gives a classic bob a little retro energy,” says celebrity hairstylist Mitchell Ramazon. Fellow celebrity stylist Hayley Heckmann calls it “fresh, fun, and a little ’90s-inspired,” pointing to the flipped ends as the detail that gives the shape its personality.
That combination is what makes the look a useful reference for anyone considering shorter hair. The perimeter stays strong and tidy, while the ends keep the result from feeling overly formal. Heckmann describes it as a way to go shorter while keeping a youthful look. The flip also makes the bob feel styled without requiring a tightly curled or highly sculpted finish: the movement is concentrated at the tips, and brushing through softens the shape.
Ask for a strong outline
For the salon, Ramazon recommends asking for a bob that sits around the chin, with a clean, strong perimeter so the ends appear full. Grande’s version is shoulder-length, showing how the same flipped finish can work across a little more length; the source’s cut advice centers on the chin-length bob as a useful reference. For a blunt shape, keep layering minimal. Too many layers can interrupt the sleek outline and make the ends look less substantial.
The finish depends on directing the ends up and away from the face, so the cut needs enough length and a clear edge for that movement to register. Bring a reference image and describe the result you want—smooth through the body, with a soft outward bend at the tips. Hair texture and length affect how pronounced the flip looks, so a stylist can tailor the outline while keeping the defining feature in place.
Build the flip with a light hand
Both stylists’ routine starts on damp hair: apply a lightweight leave-in and heat protectant, then blow-dry with a round brush to smooth the hair and add volume. Once it’s dry, use a flatiron or a 1.25-inch curling iron to create a soft bend at the ends, directing them upward and away from the face. Brush through afterward so the tips look relaxed rather than sharply curled, then mist with hairspray to help the shape hold while staying touchable.
The tool choice changes the feel of the result. A flatiron can create a subtle, controlled turn; a curling iron offers a rounded bend. Either way, keep the movement near the ends instead of curling the full length. The styling advice favors softness, so the shape still moves when brushed and doesn’t read as a rigid set.
The featured tools include the Ghd Mini Flat Iron, listed at $211 at GHD Hair, reduced from $302; Nexxus Prep & Protect Heat Defense Spray, listed at $16 at Amazon, reduced from $18, and $20 at Ulta Beauty; and the Bio Ionic Long Barrel 1.25" Curling Iron, listed at $163 at Amazon, Ulta Beauty, and Nordstrom. For the finish, TRESemmé Workable Hairspray is listed at $13 at Amazon and Target. The David Mallett Brush is listed at $195 at david-mallett.com.
Grande’s change makes the bob feel less like a dramatic departure than a switch in styling emphasis: the same polished sensibility, now framed by a shorter, more expressive edge. Keep the outline full, shape only the tips, and brush out the bend for a flip that feels playful without losing its sleek finish.
