I never thought I'd see the day Ariana Grande swapped her signature sky-high ponytail for hair this short, but here we are—welcome, Bobiana! ICYMI, the Wicked star took to Instagram to share a fresh new cut, trading her signature lengthy strands for a chin-skimming bob with flicked-out ends and plenty of bounce. [Insert collective gasp here.] Dubbed the ‘malt shop bob,’ this ’60s-inspired style is not only giving old-school Hollywood glamour, but also the illusion of fuller, thicker hair. Well, the curved shape creates the appearance of density through the ends, while the shorter length removes excess weight that can leave thinned-out strands looking limp and lifeless.
It's a win-win: A bouncy, voluminous silhouette that feels perfect for the autumn and winter seasons. Of course, we have to give credit where credit is due with a shoutout to the genius behind this look, celebrity hairstylist Brandon Pietsch. He captioned his own post of the new cut and color “The ponytail is taking a hiatus 🙊.” With Ari's post amassing more than 2 million likes in less than a day, I think it's safe to say that her friends, fans, and followers all love the look just as much as we do.
Plus, she’s not the only celebrity recently opting for chin-skimming ends. Billie Eilish and Taylor Swift both just cut their hair into shorter bobs for the fall season as well. If you’re thinking of leaning into a vintage-esque bob for the colder months ahead, let Ari, the former reigning queen of hip-sweeping hair, be your new haircut inspiration.
Lia Mappoura (she/her) is the Beauty Writer at Cosmopolitan UK, with over four years of experience reporting across the brand's print, social, video and digital platforms. Lia covers everything from emerging trend analysis to viral celebrity hair and makeup moments, making her an expert at spotting the season’s next big beauty look (before it takes over social media feeds). In 2025, she was named The Rising Media Star at the Love Perfume Awards with The Perfume Shop, recognised for her outstanding digital fragrance content and for building genuine authority within the space.
She is passionate about challenging outdated beauty stereotypes, championing inclusive representation in beauty, and educating readers on the trends, products and conversations shaping the industry today. Follow her on Instagram or find her on LinkedIn. Jasmine Hyman is the Assistant Beauty Editor at Cosmopolitan, where she writes about the latest beauty trends and must-have products.
Her most prized beauty possessions are a meticulous skincare routine and salon blowouts. You’ll also likely find her in bed reading a good book or endlessly scrolling TikTok (spoiler: it’s usually the latter) while listening to Harry Styles’ entire discography on repeat. Follow her on Insta to be inundated with pictures of her meals.
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