Belly Conklin, you are so real for that bob.
We hit play on the finale of The Summer I Turned Pretty with a few burning questions (namely, who does Belly end up with?) but second on our list: What haircut does Belly get? The answer brought the show’s final season full circle.
For those who need a refresher, Belly (played by Lola Tung) began the season at a frat party with ex-fiancé Jeremiah, who pointedly tells her, “Never cut your hair, okay?” Flash forward to the series finale episode, which finds her single in Paris—and parked in a salon chair, “ready for a change.”
This season has certainly been a tumultuous one for Belly. As a rising college senior, she rushed into an engagement with her lifelong best friend, battled complicated feelings for his brother (and her other ex), Conrad, planned an August wedding, called it off that morning, and promptly fled to Paris without telling a soul. The final three episodes follow Belly as she forges her own path in a new city, learns the language, fosters new relationships, and—in a welcome cliché—finds herself.
Fans have spent three years waiting to see if the show will remain true to Jenny Han‘s beloved book series and end with Belly and Conrad together. Entering the finale, we knew two things for sure: Conrad was on his way to Paris, and Belly was getting a major chop. And is it bad that we were more excited for the French bob reveal?
Safe to say, Belly’s new haircut delivered. She opted for a soft, texturized lob, which was a total transformation for the character. While her hair has evolved throughout the series, we’ve never seen Belly with short hair. And ironically, it’s giving major growth.
If you found the timing of Belly’s haircut relatable, or even emotional, there’s a reason. “I think women often cut their hair after a breakup or when they want to let go of old baggage and signal to people that they’re ready for change,” Han told Vogue. “The idea is that if you look different, then you can feel different.” The TikTok-viral concept that “hair holds memories” is also at play here. Letting go of a literal part of yourself that was with you through a difficult time is no small thing.
In the same interview, Lola Tung revealed that she didn’t actually cut her signature sleek, long hair into a bob for the show. The team cut Tung’s face-framing layers short to give the but a more authentic look from the front, but used a U-Line wig in the back to give the illusion of a thick, blunt cut. Real or not, we’re still pulling major inspiration from Belly’s new look.
If you’ve been flirting with a bob (or any big hair transformation) of your own, early fall is an ideal time to book the appointment. As work and social routines kick back into full swing, people want to claim control over their lives, which can lead to an itch for reinvention. Plus, we’re all still chasing the high of the back-to-school haircut well into adulthood.
Belly’s cut is a low-maintenance gateway into a bob haircut. It hits just above the shoulder and has lots of styling possibility: with thick, choppy ends, she could easily add texture and volume to create a 90’s supermodel look or even an Old Hollywood bob. It could also easily air dry on days that you don’t have time for styling, unlike more sculptural bobs. Whether there’s a bob in your future or not, we can all get inspired by Belly’s hair transformation. Let it be your excuse to choose yourself in some small way this fall.
Grace McCarty is the associate beauty editor at Glamour.
