Gabrielle Union's Wavy Side-Parted Bob Is Giving Me 2011 Flashbacks — See Photos

don't take me back thereGabrielle Union's Wavy Side-Parted Bob Is Giving Me 2011 FlashbacksThis style is near-identical to one she wore 12 years ago.  

By Gabi Thorne

October 6, 2023

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Gabrielle Union seems dedicated to taking me back to my high school days with her recent hairstyles. In September, she showed out with an asymmetrical bob, a coveted haircut for my younger self. Now almost a month later, she has a new style of bob that is taking me back to the 2010s once again. 

Union showed off her curled bob in an Instagram video posted on October 5. She is standing in front of a mirror, wearing a white maxi dress while sharing the importance of healing before becoming a mother. Union's hair was parted on the side and fell to her shoulders in big curls. Some of her hair at the front was flipped away from her face, so it fell over part of her forehead, almost obstructing one eye. 

There was a second mirror behind Union, so we could even see the back of her hair. It's hard to make out each curl, but as Union talks, you can see how her hair moves. It actually looked like it was bouncing at some points, if that tells you just how voluminous it was. 

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A curled bob isn't the most unique hairstyle, so it's unsurprising that Union has rocked the look before. However, her hair looks nearly identical to the curled style she wore at the 2011 Essence Black Women in Hollywood Luncheon. She arrived at the event with a side part and several rolls of hair surrounding her. Unlike her current bob, the one she had back then appeared shorter; it didn't even graze her shoulders. 

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Though thinking about high school makes me feel like I'm having war flashbacks, at least the reason I'm reminded of it is Gabrielle Union's cute bouncy bob.

Read more stories about short hair:

• Internalized Fatphobia Prevented Me from Getting the Short Haircut I Always Wanted
• 21 Styling Products People With Short Hair Really Love
• 50 Short Haircuts and Hairstyles to Inspire Your New Look

Now, cover star Billie Eilish explains how she created “What Was I Made For?”: 

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Gabi Thorne is the associate news editor at Allure. Since graduating from Harvard University, where she received a student writing fellowship from The Nation to research political news and social media as they pertain to students and communities of color, Gabi has covered beauty, pop culture, news, and more... Read moreAssociate News Editor

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