When boring Bernice visits her extended family, her glamorous cousin Marjorie decides to make her over, if only to keep her from being a drag on her social life. The transformation is successful and Bernice becomes popular with all the local boys, including Marjorie's beau, Warren. And Marjorie isn't going to stand for that.

"Bernice Bob Her Hair" holds an important place in Fitzgerald's catalog as an early examination of the theme of competition for social success--especially among young women.