Ultimate Mullet Haircut Guide – Men & Women
There was a distinct short-on-top, long-in-back hairstyle that was popular with men in the 1980s, which was later termed as Mullet. Although, the Mullet has a much longer history than most people realize. In fact, according to History.com, mullet hair cuts can be dated back to the 18th century. Fast forwarding to the 80s, one of the most well-known mullet-heads of the time includes Michael Jackson, who graced the cover of “Thriller” with a classic mullet.
What’s more interesting is that this hairstyle carried a slogan with it which stood the test of time and is being used even today – Business in the front, party in the back. For a hairstyle to be classified as a Mullet, it must have short hair in the front and on top and long hair in the back, especially at the nape area. If your face is rounder or you want to bring attention to your eyes and cheekbones, opt for this hairstyle. It’s also a great way to make your neck look longer. What’s even greater is that this hairstyle is making a comeback like never before.
The re-emergence of hairstyle trends of the 80s and 90s (mostly with a modern twist) can be connected to the 2020 pandemic and TikTok. How? you might wonder. The logic behind that is simple. As hair salons were closed for the most part of 2020, and people had more alone time, many of them decided to experiment with popular hairstyles from the past. The next natural step was to spread their new look with everyone on a trending platform like TikTok. Now that you know how this trend came back to life after decades, let’s learn how you can wear one and what version of mullet will help you rock the year 2021.
Mullet Ideas for Men & Women
1. Classic Mullet for Men
Mullets were everywhere in the 80s. Famous personalities with mullets included Billy Ray Cyrus, Brad Pitt, Patrick Swayze, Kurt Russell, Jerry Seinfeld, and many more singers, actors, and even athletes. The above classic mullet look helps you bring back the same nostalgia from the 80s.
2. Modern Mullet for Men
The haircut that defined the 1980s is a lot less severe today, as you can notice in the above images. The medium length hair at the top and front, combined with longer hair at the back results in a mullet that progresses naturally and has a more relaxed feel to it. This modern touch allows you to rock the style no matter where you are. You can also choose to go for side fades to make it look even more modern.
3. Mullet with Beard
Level up your mullet game by supplementing it with your facial hair, like a stubble beard and long mutton chops, or even a full beard.
4. Mohawk Mullet
This variation of mullet includes a taper fade, instead of shaved sides, making the progression look more blending. The overall look is still edgy and unique but can be seen as less dramatic.
5. Modern Mullet for Women
The best thing about mullet is it can be worn by any gender. The above image was taken recently at our salon, here in Birmingham. This modern version of mullet for females is definitely a cut above the rest.
6. Mullet with highlights (Women)
Take the modern mullet to the next level with caramel highlights. You can also upgrade the mullet by combining it with other trendy highlights known as money piece.
7. Textured Shaggy Mullet
This envy-inducing variation of mullet combines three different hairstyle possibilities into one. If you are a woman who loves experimenting with something unique and trending, then this look will surely satisfy your desires.
FAQs
Is the mullet hairstyle coming back in 2021?
Mullets may never return to the height of their popularity, but there is a renewed interest for this hairstyle. Not only are mullets original and a great way to stand out from the crowd, they are versatile and trendy. Originality aside, mullets are really trendy right now. All thanks to celebrity singers like Miley Cyrus, Rihanna, Billie Eilish who decided to boldly wear mullets and spread the joy of wearing it with their fans. And looking at the resurgence of this trend on Tiktok as well, it’s clearly back.
What type of hair goes well with a mullet?
This cut is perfect for both people with thin and thick hair. People with thicker hair types should consider a longer style as this cut allows for a naturally textured look without sacrificing thickness. Those with fine hair can use wax to bring some texture to their locks and keep it in the right shape.
How to grow a mullet?
When going to a salon stylist, make sure you have the necessary length of hair around your head first. Growing a mullet is fairly simple as long as you start with roughly three inches of hair on the top and back of your head. This is to ensure there is enough room for errors and slight modifications if needed during the process.
The key to having a perfect mullet is to pick just one variation. Tons of styles exist, and we know it can be hard to choose one. Let us help a bit. So, if you are trying to achieve the modern look, the difference in length between the top and the bottom should not be as pronounced, and you can visit the stylist without having to have very long hair. Some people may like to use a fade or contrast between the sides and the top so we suggest they have a cut prior to mullet cut in a similar fashion and let the hair grow.
One tip shared by mullet lovers is that one should avoid a rat tail at the back. Because with that your mullet loses the right balance between front and back and it’ll not have the same pop vibe. To style your mullet in a pompadour or spiky effect, you can use a good hair wax and mold it in the shape of your liking.
Need more inspiration?
Intrigued by the mullets and want to explore more mullet styles? Or maybe you want to dive deep into history and learn more about this style?
Check out this Pinterest Board filled with hundreds of awesome mullet images for inspiration. Also check out the book review of The Mullet: Hairstyle of the Gods, on GoodReads.
So, what are you waiting for? Wear your favorite mullet look. Visit us at Nalu Salon, 887 E. Maple Rd, Birmingham, MI 48009. Call us for enquiries and appointments on 248-566-3900
P.S. In case you missed it, we discussed curtains hairstyle in our Jan 2021 article. It’s one of the popular hairstyles from the past which is trending in 2021, just like the mullet. Be sure to subscribe to our newsletter to receive a surprising new article every month, where we passionately share hair treatment guides, trending hairstyles, new products, and salon updates.
