Key Takeaways
- Keke Palmer showed off three icon-inspired bobs in a new photoshoot.
- Her muses this time around were Whitney Houston, Josephine Baker, and Eartha Kitt—and each of their short styles suited her perfectly.
Happy hot summer nights, mid-July! It’s time to be forever wild, and sometimes that means chopping your hair into a bob.
Right, Keke Palmer?
On July 16, the actor’s new Who What Wear July cover story dropped. In the piece and a corresponding Instagram Reel, she wears her hair in numerous short styles as she pays homage to various women who inspire her. Each and every Kira Dior-styled bob is fabulous, which is not a surprise at all. It’s an easy look to pull off when you’re… young and beautiful.
Keke Palmer’s ’20s Bob
Forgive all the Gatsby x Lana Del Rey nods, but I hade to: one of the bob inspos is famous flapper Josephine Baker, which means we got plenty of retro ’20s hair inspo from one of our modern ’20s hair muses.
Dark and sleek as can be, the classic ultra-short cut was worn slicked down against Palmer’s head and featured a number of looping curls. Back in May, Betty Boop Bangs took over the red carpet at the 2025 Met Gala. Here, the finger-waved fringe appeared again, which makes sense: so many of those styles were also paying tribute to Baker.
Getty Images
Keke Palmer’s Whitney Houston Bob
There’s more where that comes from, obviously. This is Keke Palmer.
In another major bob moment, the 31-year-old transformed into Whitney Houston with the cutest blunt bob with bangs. As dark as her Baker style, the wig swayed as she grooved—and honestly looked as of-the-times as anything.
Something to think about when it comes time for an actual chop, perhaps? Though we love Palmer’s long copper hair, too.
Keke Palmer’s Eartha Kitt Bob
For her last trick, Palmer wore her short hair in an Eartha Kitt-inspired style that combined the best of both the Baker and Houston looks. Romantic curls hugged her face, a little more voluminous this time around, while one perfect swooping bang held court in the middle of her forehead.
Keke Palmer, I promise that I will still love you when you’re no longer young and beautiful. But for now, you are! And I’m glad you’re sharing all your glow with us.
