Belly's bob from 'The Summer I Turned Pretty' is post-breakup haircut goals

Do you remember the revenge dress immortalised by Princess Diana in 1994? In 2025, we are doing revenge haircuts! Partially thanks to The Summer I Turned Pretty’s Belly, who chopped off her long locks into a sleek, Parisian bob, this hairstyle has taken over and become the symbol of a fresh start.

Belly’s bob haircut is a symbol of moving in

In ‘The Summer I Turned Pretty’, Belly chopped her hair off after spending some uneasy months in Paris - away from her family, and after a breakup.

Ahead of her birthday - her first in Paris, and her first without family - Belly gives herself a bob.

Soeaking on the same lines, she had told Vogue, “I was excited when I earned that Belly was getting a bob. “It’s nice to see her make that decision for herself, almost as a physical representation of the growth and change she’s experienced.”

Jenny Han, the show’s executive producer and author of the novels that the series is based on, agrees. For Han, the haircut signals Belly stepping into herself.

“I was excited when I learned that Belly was getting a bob,” Lola Tung, who plays Belly, told Vogue about her new look in the show. “It’s nice to see her make that decision for herself, almost as a physical representation of the growth and change she’s experienced.” Jenny Han, the show’s executive producer and author of the novels that the series is based on, agrees.

Speaking to Vogue Han said, “I think women often cut their hair after a break-up or when they want to let go of old baggage and signal to people that they’re ready for change. The idea is that if you look different, then you can feel different.”

Not just in movies...

Getting a haircut post-breakup is not new. Gigi Hadid also leaned into the look after her breakup with Joe Jonas. Selena Gomez also got revenge bob after her breakup with Justin Bieber in 2018.

Even in the Netflix show ‘Fleabag’, who can forget Claire and her iconic bangs cum bob?

There’s something powerful about this hair trend, and the data backs it up. A 2021 survey by All Things Hair found that 68% of women cut their hair after a breakup as a way to move on. Whether it’s a full-on chop, bangs, or a dramatic color change, hair becomes a canvas for reclaiming control when life feels like it’s unraveling.

What does a breakup have to do with a haircut?

To understand more, we spoke to Psychotherapist Jyoti Das, who explained how a haircut feels empowering.

She said, “Changing your appearance post a heartbreak has been one of the most common ways of processing grief for decades. Hitting the gym and focusing on fitness, getting a new hair style, updating your wardrobe have all been examples of altering one’s appearance post a loss of a romantic relationship.”

She further added, “This could be because of various reasons. For some it signifies change and moving forward, for some it denotes bodily autonomy and taking control of life, for some it could mean letting go of an older version of self and reinventing themselves. In all cases, however, it means dealing with and growing around grief.”

So, the next time love leaves you reeling, consider taking a cue from Belly, Selena, or Gigi. A trip to the salon might not heal a broken heart, but it could help the process!