Since last year, trend forecasters have been talking about all the ways the bob is going to be big in 2024. And they’ve been proven right, with stars like Ayo Edebiri, Carey Mulligan and Zendaya all living their best bob lives lately.

Bobs are, of course, nothing new. But seeing so many people on and off the red carpet rocking similar haircuts – from the short 90s bob to the Italian variety – is still striking. It’s understandable, though; bobs are chic and fun.

But a trend this big raises the question: why are so many of us chopping our hair off right now? After all, our hair carries a lot of emotional significance, and cutting it off is a big decision with big feelings attached. So when the bob dominates, is there something deeper going on?

Bob life: why does everybody want to chop their hair off right now?