The Mullet Haircut: 25 Modern Styles and How To Get The Look
The mullet, an iconic hairstyle reserved for the bold and rebellious, is a cool, masculine look for men who like to express themselves, push boundaries and turn heads in the process. The modern mullet haircut, the latest and most popular variation requested in barbershops, blends retro vibes with new styling trends to create an unforgettable silhouette. This attractive option can be tapered or faded, short or long, and curly or straight, accommodating different styles and preferences with unique charm.
If you’re ready to rock the look, we’ll share some stylish examples of trendy men’s mullet hairstyles that will inspire you to experiment with the cut while demonstrating the best styling tips on how to get the look easily.
Trending Types of Mullet Hairstyles
Modern Mullet
The modern mullet is a trendy men’s haircut combining shorter sides with a longer top and back, creating a more subdued style than its classic counterpart. The edgy, confident cut is easy to personalize with a taper fade, added texture, or color. For a clean-cut, versatile approach, most barbers recommend embracing modern mullets with tapered sides and messy, textured short-to-medium length hair that flows into the neck. The style works well with various hair types, ranging from thick and wavy or straight to curly and fine.
Long Mullet
A long mullet is a stylish hairstyle that embraces textured layers with a longer back, extra volume on top and often tapered sides for maximum contrast, providing drama and flow for men who appreciate the attention. The significant length in the back infuses a rebellious element and exudes a cool rockstar vibe that draws focus. Highlights, hair coloring and burst skin fades can amplify the style.
Mullet Taper Fade
The mullet taper fade is an attractive, modern choice for anyone who wants to incorporate low-maintenance contrast with blended sides while adding a cool dimension that complements the traditional style. Talk to your barber about a low, mid or high taper to achieve the level of graduation you desire, providing numerous options for personalization. The lower the tapered cut, the more subtle the result will be. In this example, the brushed-up fringe adds whimsy, while the rest resembles a typical brushed-forward scissor cut.
Mohawk Mullet
The mohawk mullet is a powerful look that exudes confidence and style, making it a popular haircut in barbershops. Like a traditional mohawk, a long, thick strip of hair flows from forehead to nape, forming a messy fringe in front while adding texture at the crown and back. The undercut buzz connected to a short beard breathes new life into the cut, adding balance and rugged masculinity.
Short Mullet
A low-maintenance, short mullet is an easy haircut for those wanting to minimize their styling routine in the morning but still appreciate the cool look. The shorter top, fringe and back make the style adaptable, allowing most guys to pull off the mullet. In this example, a thick fringe and short, loose curls flow into a low skin fade at the sides, gradually blending into cropped hair at the back to achieve a distinctive yet polished look. The cut is the perfect canvas for shine and texture, and wearing it with a groomed beard delivers some brawn and burl.
Burst Fade Mullet
A thick burst fade mullet blends retro style with contemporary elegance. The cut is ideal for guys who appreciate the shape of the style but prefer a subdued approach. The razor fade starts at the ear and moves outward in a circle, gradually blending into the rest of the hair. The resulting look is functional and neat, lending to various styling options.
Curly Mullet
A natural-looking curly mullet embraces thick, bold curls, making them appear larger than life. A thick fringe in front follows the shape of the head back to the nape, creating the classic mullet shape. A razor fade at and above the ear lends itself to a subtler transition between lengths, and a blended beard balances the overall aesthetic.
Mullet Fade
A mullet fade is a popular, modern haircut characterized by shorter, blended hair on the sides to contrast the longer top and back with a heavy fringe, creating an attractive, trendy variation for younger men. In most cases, the daring faded cut transitions sharply into the skin, offering visual appeal that emphasizes the textured top. The mullet and fade combination boasts a sleek finish that people will notice.
Shaggy Mullet
A tousled, shaggy mullet embraces the audacious rockstar mentality with its long, choppy layers and short sides. The cut works very well for fine hair, requiring only a touch of mussing and teasing to achieve ample volume – particularly on top. A long, rebellious fringe mimics the windblown effect at the nape for a balanced look.
Two Block Mullet
A two-block mullet is characterized by two distinct blocks of hair – one longer and one much shorter. The top and back of the hair serve as the first and longer block, while the undercut and buzzed block of hair at the sides is much shorter. The cut is versatile and lends itself to bold colors and wild textures.
Trendy Short Mullet with Low Taper Fade
A trendy short mullet with a low taper fade combines the rebellious nature of a spiky brush-up with the shape and feel of a mullet. Thick hair on top flows upward and slightly outward, forming soft spikes. The low taper fade at the sides adds character and shape, and the blended beard pulls the look together.
Mullet Faux Hawk
A mullet faux hawk blends the general shape of a mullet with the height of a faux hawk to create a confident, edgy style. A strip of hair along the center of the top stands straight up, while the sides and back are cut much shorter to blend in. The low fade at the sides and neat edge-up at the temple and hairline infuse a refined yet audacious vibe.
Temp Fade Mullet
A low-key temp fade mullet with well-defined curls combines sex appeal and devious rebellion into an attractive style. The shapely cut utilizes a high temp fade for structure and class, and the short, stubbly beard adds a touch of rugged masculinity.
Faded Mullet with Fringe
A faded mullet with fringe is ideal for fine, straight hair as it keeps it close to the head. To create the shape, the stylist lined up the fade with the length of the side-swept fringe, creating dimension and interest. The hair at the back is slightly shorter than the top, and a simple goatee pulls everything together.
Fluffy Mullet
A fluffy mullet relies on thick, coarse hair for its choppy and spiky appearance. The hair along the center of the head is the longest, and it gradually gets shorter along the sides and in the back. A mid-length fringe balances the length at the nape, and a high razor fade creates the illusion of even more height.
Sexy, Modern Mullet From The Back
When looking at a modern mullet from the back, the hair is significantly longer at the crown and nape than at the sides and fringe, mimicking the 50s greaser vibe. Styling gel or cream can help achieve the wet look, and a wide tooth comb pulled through stick-straight hair is essential for creating the desired texture.
Messy Mullet with Texture
A messy mullet with texture takes a youthful approach to the iconic style, making the most of thick waves and natural curls. A long, wavy fringe falls over the forehead, nearly kissing the brow, and the hair at the back of the head gradually gets shorter toward the nape. The mid taper fade at the sides solidifies its attractive, classic shape.
Edgy Mullet with Beard
An edgy mullet with a beard features wild, untamed sections of hair resembling a spiky mohawk flowing from front to back. Unlike the modern version, this cut features a short fringe that curls slightly upward to match the vibe. The taper is relatively high and covers quite a bit of area, and the thick beard complements the messy hair on top.
Classy Mullet
A classy mullet is an understated, sophisticated hairstyle defined by tapered sides and subdued elements. It is ideal for working professionals who need a less edgy, polished appearance but still want to express themselves. This elegant look starts with thick flowing curls, stretching from hairline to nape, with a toned-down taper fade that blends beautifully into the thick beard.
Quiff Mullet Fade
A quiff mullet fade combines the height and volume of the trendy quiff with the overall shape and style of a modern mullet. The hair in front flows upward and back rather than falling forward over the forehead, blending beautifully into the thick waves that gradually get shorter at the back and sides. Worn with a blended beard that is thickest at the chin and mustache, the cut exudes confidence and style.
Permed Mullet Taper
A permed mullet taper is about embracing voluminous curls in a classy, attractive manner. The cut requires expert layering and cutting skills, particularly at the fringe and nape. The taper starts low and blends into the patchy beard, mixing edgy masculinity with just the right amount of softness.
Medium Mullet
The medium mullet is all about harmony and style, using feathery, side-swept layers to create an edgy and daring look. Short and long, the modern cut allows men to embrace their individuality and confidence without being too over the top.
Spiky Mullet
A spiky mullet may require more styling prowess (and products) than other cuts, but the result is original and bold. The medium-length hair flows from forehead to nape, with spikes moving in every direction. The shorter hair at the sides is a stark contrast, adding a visual lift, and the stubbly goatee adds a touch of maturity that works well with the look.
Choppy Mullet Taper Fade
A choppy mullet taper fade is all about playing with texture and shapes. A thick, shaggy fringe matches the length along the sides, and an angular undercut that turns the sideburns into a V-shape mimics the texture of the cut. The resulting look is neat and clean yet visually interesting, thanks to the thick texture at the back.
Flowing Mullet
A flowing mullet is the opposite of the classic mullet, with shorter hair at the back of the head and much longer locks in the front. Rather than a fringe falling over the forehead, the hair flows back toward the crown, blending in with the rest at the back. Tapered sides, a patchy, short beard, and a single lock of hair flowing over the forehead give the cut plenty of sex appeal.
How To Style A Mullet
Apply A Volumizing Shampoo and Conditioner
A high-quality shampoo and conditioner can make all the difference in styling, and in the case of a mullet, volumizing haircare products ensure a healthy, stylish finish. These products nourish and thicken the hair, making it appear fuller while enhancing styling aids.
Add Texture with A Sea Salt Spray
Because most modern mullets feature texture, a sea salt spray should be your next step in styling. Spraying damp or towel-dried hair adds a touch of grittiness, making it easier to achieve a beachy or even spiky look. Spray it on, then scrunch, tousle, or otherwise manipulate the hair with the fingertips while drying to achieve the desired look.
Use A Hair Diffuser
A diffuser attachment on your favorite blow dryer can add even more volume while speeding up the drying process, enhancing curls, and creating volume. For even more volume, flip the hair over and dry from underneath. Always use a low heat setting and low or medium speed when diffusing to achieve the best possible results.
Apply Styling Clay, Matte Pomade or Texturizing Powder For All-Day Hold
Clays, pomades, and powders are excellent for finishing a modern mullet and providing lasting staying power. Clays offer a flexible matte finish with reworkability, which makes them especially easy to use. Matte pomade is slightly less flexible but ideal for choppy or spiky styles.
Texturizing powder adds further volume and texture, and it can be an excellent choice for men who work in warm, humid conditions as it absorbs excess moisture to keep the hair fresh throughout the day.
What Is A Mullet Haircut?
The mullet is a retro men’s hairstyle defined by longer hair in the back with a shorter cut in the front and on the sides and back, making it a bold, edgy look symbolizing rebellion and individuality. It became iconic in the 70s and 80s, influenced by fashion and music culture and popularized by celebrities like David Bowie, Billy Ray Cyrus and Hulk Hogan.
The classic variation, known as the “business in the front, party in the back” style, was mainly adopted by rural and working-class men in the United States and Australia who appreciated its rugged yet playful aesthetic.
In the 2020s, the modern mullet, with taper faded sides and textured styling, became trendy and stylish again, embraced by younger generations who liked its retro charm and effortless vibe.
The contemporary version often boasts a low taper or mid skin fade paired with a thicker fringe, but most fashion-conscious men are tailoring the style by spiking the top, sweeping the front or tousling the finish. Talk to your barber about the simplest way to customize the mullet haircut to suit your hair type, face shape and lifestyle needs.
