The mullet is a bold, masculine hairstyle for men who want to express themselves and stand out. It blends retro vibes with modern styling trends, offering a unique and attractive look.

Whether short, long, curly, or straight, the cut can be tailored with faded or tapered options to fit personal style, making it a memorable, eye-catching choice.

What Is A Mullet Haircut?

This hairstyle features longer hair in the back and shorter hair at the front and sides. It became popular in the 70s and 80s, linked to rebellion and individuality, and was embraced by celebrities like David Bowie, Billy Ray Cyrus, and Hulk Hogan.

Initially popular among working-class and rural men in the United States and Australia, it has since made a comeback in the 2020s with a more modern twist. Today, the style often includes tapered, faded sides, a thicker fringe, and can be customized with spiked, swept, or tousled finishes.

It’s best to consult your barber to adjust it to your hair type, face shape, and lifestyle.

History of the Mullet

The hairstyle dates back to the sixth century with the Hunnic style. It gained popularity in the 1970s thanks to icons like David Bowie and Rod Stewart, with the “business in the front, party at the back” look becoming iconic in the 1980s. The term was coined in 1994 after the Beastie Boys released the song “Mullet Head.”

How To Style Them

When styling this, you can easily customize it to your liking, whether you prefer a textured style or a more conservative option for professional settings. You can opt for a highly blended or classic version depending on your preference.

Even with limited variety, you can still achieve a guaranteed good appearance with a subdued style that’s easy to maintain.

Ready to explore the different mullet styles, from the modern mullet to the textured fade mullet hairstyle? Let’s get into it.

Types of Mullet Hairstyles

Classic Long Mullet

For a timeless look, men with straight, wavy, or curly hair can achieve a bold style by keeping the back untouched and shaving the sides shorter. The right fringe can complement your face shape, and using a #1 shaver on the sides and #6 on the crown creates the perfect balance between short and long sections. This style works great for medium or long hair, offering a unique, confident appearance.

Mullet With Long Fringe & Taper Fade

"Man with mullet hairstyle, long fringe, and taper fade in a romantic setting, wearing a leather jacket."

This style combines a bold, stylish front with a modern contrast, making it suitable for all hair types—curly, straight, or thin. The bangs can be styled into curtain bangs or slicked back, while the back remains long for a man bun or flow. The shorter sides highlight the unique look, offering an edgy contrast to the longer back. This style is both bold and easy to maintain.

Short Slick-Back Mullet

Faded or shaved sides, with longer hair on the top and nape, create a sleek, rounded look. Styled with gel for a smooth, slicked-back fringe, it works well with any beard style for added effect.

French Crop Mullet

This haircut combines a short fringe at the front with longer hair at the back, making it ideal for men with any hair type, whether curly, straight, or wavy. The classic mullet features faded sides and a longer crown, creating a sharp, yet relaxed look.

Curly Mullet With Long Fringe

"Man with curly mullet hairstyle and long fringe, dressed in casual white t-shirt, romantic outdoor setting."

For a bold look, consider a style with a mullet and fringe that covers the forehead, showcasing natural curls and thick hair. The sides are usually shaved or faded, drawing attention to the bangs and creating a clean flow to the back of the head. This combination gives the style both volume and personality.

Long Slick-Back Mullet

If you want a clean yet professional style while keeping your long hair, consider this hairstyle. It combines shorter sides with long hair at the back, offering a balanced and neat look. Whether your hair is straight, wavy, or curly, this modern hairstyle works for all. Simply slick back your hair with gel for a stylish, wavy mullet that’s easy to maintain without the hassle of a fringe.

Skin Fade Ponytail Mullet

The style is a great choice for those who like tight sides but want to keep long hair in the back. The style features a tight fade or shaved sides, with longer hair at the nape of the neck that can be styled into a low-hanging ponytail. A French crop and undercut complete the look. To achieve this, use beard trimmers for a smooth shave on the face and head.

Blonde Mullet With Man Bun

Combining a casual touch, this style features shaved or faded sides and long hair on top that can be slicked back or tied into a man bun. It works well for friendly gatherings, happy hours, or corporate jobs and is ideal for men with long, thick, or fine hair. It’s a versatile style that fits both relaxed and professional settings.

Straight Bang Mullet

This trendy variation features a cut with a sharp, modern vibe that works for all hair types, including coarse, thin, or thick hair. The sides are shaved or shortened, leaving the back longer. It offers a clean yet manageable aesthetic, customizable to match your hair texture and design.

Caesar Cut With Mullet

Man with a Caesar cut and mullet hairstyle, wearing a light blue shirt, set against a romantic background.

The boldness of a Caesar cut with a tight fade on the sides highlights healthy hair flowing down the back of the neck, making it suitable for all hair types, whether fine, coarse, or curly.

Mullet With Curtain Bangs

Man with mullet hairstyle and curtain bangs, casual outfit, romantic background

Keeps the fringe long to frame your face, with shorter sides. The long hair at the back contrasts with the front, making it suitable for various face shapes like diamond, oval, round, or heart. Curtain bangs highlight your facial features and work with different hair types, including straight, wavy, or curly hair.

Permed Mullet

For men with hair, a bold, textured style. This semi-permanent haircut uses chemicals to create ringlets for a curly, mohawk-like look. The sides are short, while the top and back have flowing curls, offering a trendy yet professional look.

Spiky Mullet With Angular Fringe

Try a v-shaped fringe with a faux hawk and short hair at the sides with long hair at the neck. Use hair gel for vertical spiky hair and add texture. Ask your barber for a creative cut and finish with dramatic colouring using hair dye.

Textured Mullet With Skin Fade

Realistic photo of a man with a textured mullet and skin fade in a romantic background.

For a bold, modern look, try a style with a skin fade. This works well with long or medium-length hair, featuring faded sides and longer hair on top for contrast. It adds volume and texture with the right hair products.

Short Quiff Mullet With Taper Fade

"Realistic photo of a man with a short quiff mullet, taper fade, and beard in a romantic setting"

This hairstyle features a fade on the sides with long hair on top and back, drawing attention to the quiff or pompadour look. It works well with any beard style, whether you have a full beard or are freshly-shaven. Ideal for medium to short, straight hair, it gives a sharp yet easy-to-maintain style.

Curly Mullet With Fade

Young man with curly mullet and fade hairstyle, dressed in a black shirt, looking confidently with a romantic background.

For those with natural texture curls, a mullet works well, with longer hair on top and back and shorter sides. A skin cut or buzz cut keeps the look sharp. Regular maintenance with gel or mousse helps maintain the style’s freshness.

Flowy Mullet With Disconnected Undercut

This style combines long hair at the back with a sharp contrast created by a undercut on the sides. It blends flow and movement with an edgy feel, making it perfect for those who want a bold, individualistic appearance. It’s a great way to express confidence and stand out with a stylish yet rebellious style.

Textured Mullet With Dyed Tips

Textured mullet hairstyle with dyed tips, showing confidence and style in a romantic outdoor setting.

Texturing gives it a natural flow, while the color at the tips creates a striking contrast, letting you stand out with a bold or subtle look. It’s all about expressing individuality with confidence.

Horseshoe Flat Top Skin Fade Mullet

The Horseshoe style with a flat top and skin fade on the sides creates a unique contrast between the neat top and the longer back. It’s a striking choice that requires regular upkeep for a clean, confident style.

Layered Mullet With Dyed Tips

"Realistic image of a young man with a layered mullet haircut and vibrant dyed tips, exuding confidence."

The layers add depth, while tips introduce color for an edgy, personalized touch. Whether subtle or vibrant, the color enhances the layers and makes a statement, showing confidence and individuality.

Flat Top Mullet With Quiff

"Realistic image of a young man with a flat top mullet hairstyle and quiff, showing textured, clean lines with a soft romantic background."

The flat top and quiff create a structured appearance with a longer back. It offers versatility for different styles, adding texture and a clean, sharp look.

Advanced Mullet With Curtain Bangs & Tight Fade

"Advanced mullet with curtain bangs and tight fade hairstyle for men, perfect for a clean, structured look."

Creates a sharp blend of retro and contemporary styles. The bangs add softness while the sides are sharply trimmed, giving a clean, structured style. It’s a flexible, standout hairstyle that can be both polished or textured, making it perfect for those looking for a unique yet manageable haircut.

French Crop Mullet With Skin Fade & Exposed Sideburns

"French crop mullet with skin fade and exposed sideburns on a confident young man, casual look with romantic background."

On top with a sharp skin fade and exposed sideburns, it creates a clean contrast and adds a rugged edge to the overall look. It’s a unique take on a classic haircut.

Comb-Over Mullet

Young man with a combed-over mullet hairstyle, dressed in smart-casual attire with a romantic sunset background.

The style features a combed-over top with a longer back, offering a balance of professionalism and boldness. It’s perfect for those who want a laid-back look that works for both casual and formal settings.

Mullet With A Full Beard

Man with mullet hairstyle and full beard wearing black leather jacket, exuding confidence.

When pairing a full beard with this hairstyle, it creates a balanced and striking appearance. The beard enhances the style, adding a grounded feel and making the overall vibe more noticeable. It requires confidence, but when done right, this combination stands out and makes a strong statement.

Colourful Mullet With Taper

With a tapered cut, this hairstyle blends vibrant style and clean lines. The taper keeps the sides and back neat, while the colourful hues create a striking contrast. It offers a modern, confident look without being too overwhelming.

Faux Hawk Mullet

This hairstyle blends the boldness of a spiky top with short sides and a distinctive back. It offers rebellion and coolness, making it a great choice for anyone wanting a head-turning style.

Straight Mullet With Curly Fringe

I went for this look to get something bold yet balanced—the defined back contrasts perfectly with the soft curly front, adding shape and texture without trying too hard. It’s easy to style, gives character, and always draws the right kind of attention.

Permed Mullet With Fade

Man with permed mullet and fade hairstyle, confident expression, casual black leather jacket, sunset background.

My cousin once had this look with styled ends and a sharp cut that made the tapered sides pop against the full curly top—what stood out was the bold contrast, giving it a sharp yet carefree vibe that really turned heads.

Modern Mullet

Getting a taper with shorter sides and a longer top gave me a surprising boost of confidence—it’s an edgy, clean-cut style that blends texture, color, and messy flow into the neck. It suits various hair types like curly, wavy, fine, or straight, and is easy to personalize with a subtle fade and tapered detail, making it a trendy and modern update recommended by barbers.

Long Mullet

A bold cut with tapered sides brings contrast and effortless flow, while the longer back adds a rebellious edge. Details like hair coloring and a burst over skin enhance the style, giving it a rockstar vibe that grabs attention and keeps the focus.

Mullet Taper Fade

With years of barbering, I’ve found that blending sides into a brushed-forward top adds dimension and a cool, modern touch while keeping a traditional feel. A low, mid, or high cut creates the right graduation and offers numerous options for personalization. A brushed-up fringe adds whimsy, and the shift to a clean scissor cut brings contrast that still resembles a familiar style.

Mohawk Mullet

The undercut buzz with a thick, long strip of hair from forehead to nape, plus messy fringe and texture at the crown, gives bold style, confidence, and rugged masculinity, while the short beard adds balance to this bold haircut rooted in traditional flair.

Short Mullet

For men wanting an easy style with minimal effort, this cut keeps the top, fringe, and back short while allowing texture, shine, and a cool finish. With loose, thick curls, a low skin fade on the sides, and a groomed beard, it’s adaptable, distinctive, and easy to pull off for most guys who appreciate a clean, styled look.

Burst Fade Mullet

Curving around the ear in a soft circle, this cut offers a neat, functional finish that blends retro charm with contemporary edge. With razor precision, the hair gradually shifts into a clean form, perfect for guys who want a bold yet subdued style that allows easy styling and quiet elegance.

Curly Mullet

Bold, natural-looking curls can look larger than life when styled to follow the head and flow back. A razor fade just above the ear gives a subtler transition between lengths, and a blended beard helps balance the final aesthetic.

Mullet Fade

A bold cut with shorter, blended sides and longer top and back creates a sharp look that feels trendy. The finish gives younger guys an attractive, modern edge that people instantly notice, thanks to its clean transitions and strong visual appeal.

Shaggy Mullet

This hairstyle is perfect for those who want to embrace a bold, rebellious look with short sides. It works great for fine hair, requiring just a touch of mussing and teasing to add volume, especially on top. It gives a windblown effect with minimal effort.

Two Block Mullet

This hairstyle features a longer block with shorter sides achieved through a buzzed look. It’s a bold, versatile choice that allows for customization. The contrast between the two sections creates a fashionable, edgy look that works well for any occasion.

Mullet Haircuts For Men Tips & Tricks

The mullet has made a comeback, especially since the 2020 pandemic, and requires proper care to maintain its iconic look. With shorter hair at the top and longer at the back, it’s important to avoid common mistakes and manage the length well to keep it looking healthy and stylish. Whether inspired by Beastie Boys or Cameron Smith, a well-maintained mullet can boost your self-esteem.

Blow Dry Instead of Air Dry

Using a blow dryer instead of air drying your hair helps style it more precisely, especially with a quiff and long flow. It pushes your hair into place, ensuring it dries the way you want, making styling quicker and more controlled.

Use Hair Products

To keep your hairstyle in top shape, these hair products work wonders: Hair spray, Hair gel, Mousse, and Hair elastics. Hair spray helps hold your look in place after blow-drying, ensuring your style stays intact. Hair gel adds shine and firmness, perfect for spiky or slick-back styles. Mousse is great for enhancing natural curls and giving them extra volume. Lastly, hair elastics make it easy to tie your hair into a man bun or mullet ponytail, offering a simple yet stylish solution.

Use Conditioner

Conditioner is crucial as it adds shine, nutrients, and keeps your hair healthy and soft. For those with a long mullet, it helps the flow look glossy and reduces split ends. Regular use ensures your hair stays in great condition without looking weighed down.

Regularly Visit Your Barber

To keep your hairstyle looking great, visit your stylist every two to three weeks for a trim. This ensures the length is just right for an effortless and attractive style. Regular visits make all the difference.

Final Thoughts

The mullet hairstyle is a bold, confident look that lets you express your personal style. Whether it’s a shaggy, modern fade, or wolf cut mullet hairstyle, this look has endless possibilities. Celebrities like Jeremy Renner and Sergio Ramos have popularized it, proving that the mullet can be both edgy and stylish. The key is owning the mullet definition and wearing it with confidence, no matter the variation you choose.