How to Style a Mullet (2024)

Being under lockdown for most of last year due to the coronavirus pandemic saw the rise of some new trends we saw coming, like loungewear and house dresses. And some we didn’t, like the revival of the mullet. The resurgence of iconic hairstyle made popular by rebellious rock stars and athletes in the eighties and nineties is coming out of quarantine hot. Likely because growing our hair out and experimenting with it gave us something to do in lockdown. We’re breaking down everything you need to know about this hot hair trend, including how to style the modern mullet below.

When you hear the word mullet, it’s safe to assume you think of Billy Ray Cyrus and the classic mullet haircut. But the iconic business in front, party in back style has gone mainstream. Characterized by longer locks in the back and shorter strands upfront, the modern mullet is gaining a whole new following. Today’s mullet is way less severe than the ones of the eighties and nineties. The modern version is totally wearable for everyone. The sides are longer and there’s less of a graduation from short to long hair. The modern mullet relies more on styling to play it up. Slick back the sides and it’s obvious, but mess it up and it looks just like long hair. So if you’re ready to get on board with the modern mullet trend, let’s take a look at what it’ll take to get you there.

Here’s everything you need to know if you're ready to rock the modern mullet hair trend.

1. You need long hair to start. In order to optimize your hair needs to be a decent length. A true mullet isn’t as simple as shaving your sides and not touching the back. You have to start with longer hair the whole way around in order to shape it.
2. Decide on the type of mullet you want. If you’re going for shock value, a traditional mullet that’s closely-cropped or shaved on the sides and long and flowing in the back is probably what you want. But it’s the least versatile. Have an idea of how long you want the back, and how drastic you want the sides to look in comparison.
3. Make an appointment with a barber or hairstylist. If you’re going for a drastic mullet, you can likely DIY- just shave down the sides and top till you reach your desired length. But if you want one of the hottest mullets of the season (and we’ve got a whole list below!) it’s best you leave it to the professionals. A modern mullet haircut is achieved with scissors, and you shouldn’t be doing it yourself unless you know what you’re doing.
4. Style your mullet. The best mullet has lots of texture, so style yours with a beach hair spray on damp hair and as it’s air drying, mess it up a little with your fingers. Mullets also look better on second or third day hair, so skip the daily hair washing. Use dry shampoo between washes to soak up excess oil. To style, add a pomade for short hair at the front and mold your hair into the shape of your choosing, or use a strong hold gelfor a spiky effect. Davines Regional Master Trainer Lauren Knox sums it up well: "The thing that I would tell anyone that and a mullet would probably be “the more tousled and messy, the better. You don’t want it to look too done with a funky cut like that. This is a Dry Texturizer and This is an Invisible Serum would be great!"

Now let’s take a look at some of the hottest modern mullets trending this season.

The mullet fade is one of the most popular versions of all the modern mullet hairstyles. Mullets and fades work well together because the short hair on the sides gives the front and back contrast. And because there are so many different types of fades to choose from, this style is totally customizable.

The undercut mullet is an alternative to the mullet fade. Undercut hairstyles are cut high and short on the sides but all one length as opposed to tapered. The mullet undercut works well on all hair types, and can be worn spiky, combed over, or messy.

The short mullet is simple to style and doesn’t require much maintenance. Still trendy and rugged, mullets don’t have to be long to look good. Neatly trimmed with a fade or undercut on the sides and back, a short mullet haircut is clean-cut compared to messier styles.

Long mullets are the quintessential 80s mullet. This classic style is a bold look for sure, but it works in so many different ways. You can wear a long mullet with straight, curly, thick, and fine hair. Plus, it’s super low-maintenance. All you need to do is style the hair at the front and let the back flow freely. Ask your barber or hair stylist to take the layers down at the end to prevent your hair from looking limp.

A spiky mullet looks best with short and medium length hair. Smooth your short hair on top by spiking it up with pomade, but let the hair in back grow out organically.