Different Types of Mullets
Classic mullet A classic mullet is what most people think of when they hear “mullet.” The top and sides are cut short, sometimes layered, and usually worn with a lot of volume, while the back is longer. There’s usually a distinct disconnect between the shorter and longer sections. Best for: Medium to thick hair, straight to wavy texture Styling tip: Use sea salt spray or volumizing mousse on top to get plenty of height, but leave the back product-free so it flows naturally. Celebrity style: Billy Ray Cyrus, David Bowie, John Stamos, Rod Stewart Meet the wikiHow Experts Martin Nepton is a professional hair stylist who specializes in helping clients express their Queer identity through hair. Tiffany Carnevale-Russo is a licensed cosmetologist and the salon manager at Jaxson Maximus in southern Florida. Gina Almona is the owner of Blow It Out Salon in New York City.
Modern mullet The modern mullet—sometimes called a classy mullet—starts with the basic short-in-front, long-in-back shape of the classic mullet, but it’s usually worn a little shorter in the back, with a more subtle transition from the short section to the longer section. It’s often combined with touches like a burst fade or texture on top. Best for: Medium to thick hair, any texture Styling tip: Spritz your hair with sea salt spray or work in a little texturizing cream to add definition to your look. Celebrity style: Timothee Chalamet, Jungkook from BTS, Lil Nas X, and Miley Cyrus
Mullet fade A mullet fade (or faded mullet) is a type of modern mullet where the hair is faded down starting around the temples. The fade may continue around to the back of the neck. The hair in back is left a little longer than the natural hairline, and the top and sides often have added texture. Best for: Medium thickness, straight to curly texture Styling tip: This is commonly designed as a wash-and-wear style, meaning you don’t have to do much to it. But if you want a little bit of a messy look, add sea salt spray or texturizing cream while your hair is damp. Celebrity style: Robbie Williams, Sebastian Quinn
Burst fade mullet The burst fade mullet is a type of faded mullet where the fade curves in a C-shape from the temples all the way down to the back of the neck. The back of the cut is left a little longer than the natural hairline. It’s bold and modern, giving youthful energy to the traditional mullet. Best for: Any hair type, especially thick, wavy hair Styling tip: Like the mullet fade, this one can usually be worn without much styling, but you can add a little texture with sea salt spray or texturizing powder. Celebrity style: Rodrigo de Paul, Post Malone
Taper fade mullet The taper fade mullet is like a mullet fade, but the faded section is left just a little longer, gradually blending up into the longer hair on the sides of the cut. It’s a modern, subtle variation on the mullet—and because the taper won’t need to be touched up as often as a fade, it’s an especially low-maintenance take on the modern mullet. Best for: Any hair type, straight to wavy texture Styling tip: Add a little texture with matte hair clay or sea salt spray. Celebrity style: Zayn Malik
Faded mullet with fringe For an especially dramatic look, pair a faded mullet with a fringe. The fringe can be textured, messy, angular, or shaggy—which makes this a versatile style that can be customized for pretty much any face shape and hair texture. Best for: Medium to thick hair, straight to curly texture Styling tip: Work in a little styling cream or wax to shape your fringe, and leave the sides and back product-free. Celebrity style: Miley Cyrus, Zendaya, Rihanna
Quiff mullet fade A quiff mullet with fade is similar to a mullet with fringe, except the hair is pushed up and back instead of forward. The sides are tapered or faded from the temples down to the ears, and the back is left a little longer. Best for: Short to medium length hair, straight to wavy texture Styling tip: Use sea salt spray, wax, gel, or mousse to give your hair hold. Style your quiff up and back with your fingers or a round brush. Celebrity style: David Bowie, Jesse Plemons, Kristen Stewart
Wavy mullet If you have wavy hair, a mullet is a great way to show off your flowy waves while cutting down on some of the volume at the sides. And because you have plenty of natural volume and texture, styling is pretty minimal. Best for: Anyone with wavy hair Styling tip: Use a little styling cream or sea salt spray for definition, but avoid heavy products that will weigh down your waves. Celebrity style: Timothee Chalamet
Curly mullet / Permed mullet A mullet is a great way to give structure and shape to curly hair. The shorter sides and top keep the cut from looking too bulky, but there’s enough length in the back to show off your curls. If your hair isn’t naturally curly but you still want to rock a curly mullet, try getting a perm. Best for: Anyone with curly hair Styling tip: Curly hair needs lots of hydration, so use a leave-in conditioner after you wash your hair. Work in a little curl mousse or curling cream while your hair is damp, then let it air dry. Celebrity style: Lil Nas X
Shaggy mullet Professional hair stylist Martin Nepton says, “A shaggy mullet has tons of layers and textures through the top and sides, with bangs cut in the middle of the forehead and gradually shorter all the way around to the back of the head. Then, the back is long, and the bottom of the cut still has some bluntness to it.” Best for: Medium to thick hair, especially wavy or curly textures Styling tip: Use styling cream or sea salt spray to add a little definition without weighing down the layers. Celebrity style: Miley Cyrus, David Bowie, Jane Fonda
Wolf cut mullet / TikTok Mullet The wolf cut mullet is similar to the shaggy mullet, but with choppier layers. This creates an edgy, messy, carefree mullet that gives serious rock star vibes. This cut is trending so hard right now it’s known as the TikTok mullet. Best for: Medium to thick hair, straight to wavy Styling tip: Use mousse or curl cream to add volume to fine or thin hair, or use gel if your hair is thicker. Celebrity style: Joan Jett
Layered mullet For a layered mullet, the hair on top of your head is cut with lots of short layers. This adds extra volume and height, adding drama and contrast to a modern mullet. Best for: Thin to medium, straight to curly hair Styling tip: Add definition to the layers with sea salt spray, texturizing powder, or styling cream. Celebrity style: Scarlett Johansson, Kristen Stewart, Timothee Chalamet
Messy mullet with texture This is more of a styling choice than a specific cut—if you ask for a messy mullet, your barber or stylist will probably give you a layered or shaggy cut. Use products designed to give you piecey texture and style your hair with your fingers for an intentionally just-rolled-out-of-bed (but here to party) look. Best for: Any hair type Styling tip: Use hair wax or matte clay to add texture, or go with mousse or sea salt spray for a more subtle look Celebrity style: David Bowie, Scarlett Johansson
Fluffy mullet Like the messy mullet, a fluffy mullet is more of a style than a cut. Let your barber or stylist know that you want to wear your mullet with a lot of volume on top—they’ll cut the top a little longer. Then, style your hair upward as you dry it to create a fluffy look. Best for: Medium to thick, wavy or curly hair Styling tip: Use volumizing mousse for lots of lift, then brush your hair upward as you blow-dry it for a soft, fluffy look. Celebrity style: George Clooney
Textured mullet Textured mullets feature lots of piecey sections on the top, gradually transitioning to a longer section in the back. They can be paired with a fade, taper, or burst fade, so you can customize this mullet to be a look that’s all your own. Best for: Medium to long hair, any thickness and texture Styling tip: If your hair is thin, use volumizing mousse or sea salt spray to add texture and lift. Celebrity style: Paul Mescal, Austin Butler
Flow mullet A flow mullet combines the carefree long look of a flow haircut with the shorter top and sides of a mullet. The result is an effortless, modern take on the mullet—we think it’s giving modern surfer vibes, which may be why this is sometimes called the beach mullet. Best for: Any hair type, but especially wavy or curly hair Styling tip: Wear this style product-free or opt for lightweight mousse or styling cream if you need to tame frizz. Celebrity style: George Clooney, Austin Butler
Comb-over mullet A comb-over or side part mullet is worn parted on one side. While pretty much any mullet can be combed to one side, if you’re planning on wearing your hair like this most of the time, let your barber or stylist know so they can cut the sides to look symmetrical. Best for: Any hair type Styling tip: Apply a little matte pomade or styling cream to help hold your part in place. Celebrity style: Zane Philips, Patrick Swayze
Center part mullet / Curtain mullet A center part or curtain mullet is parted down the middle. The very front is usually left a little longer so it frames the face, while the sides are trimmed shorter. It’s left a little longer in the back, so it still looks like a mullet, but it’s a subtle, classy take. Best for: Thin to medium hair, straight or wavy texture Styling tip: Use a lightweight styling cream or hair serum to add shine Celebrity style: Park Sung-hoon from ENHYPEN
K-Pop mullet The K-Pop mullet features soft, feathered layers, lots of volume, and a gradual transition from the shorter front to the longer back. The back is sometimes worn just a little longer than the hairline, but other times, it’s worn as long as shoulder-length. Best for: Thick, straight hair Styling tip: Add volume and hold with volumizing mousse Celebrity style: Lee Taeyong of NCT
French crop mullet A French crop mullet is a neat, clean take on the modern mullet. The hair on top is trimmed in a classic French crop style, with a taper fade starting around the temples. The hair in back and at the crown is typically left just a little longer than the hairline. Best for: All hair types Styling tip: This one doesn’t require much styling, but you can add sea salt spray or texturizing powder for a little definition if you want. Celebrity style: Paul Mescal
Caesar cut with mullet A Caesar cut with a mullet gives throwback classic mullet vibes. In this cut, the hair in front is cut short and straight across the forehead. The sides are typically faded, transitioning to a distinctly longer section in the back. Best for: All hair types Styling tip: Because the hair is worn fairly short on top, this style usually doesn’t require much styling. Celebrity style: Travis Kelce in “Grotesquerie”
Undercut mullet / Two block mullet An undercut mullet has very short hair on the sides, and longer hair on the top and at the back. The longer and shorter sections are distinctly different—they don’t gradually blend into each other. This look is popular in Korean communities, where it’s often referred to as a “two-block mullet” (because the long and short sections are two separate blocks of hair). Best for: Medium to thick hair, straight or slightly wavy texture Styling tip: Use lightweight matte wax or pomade to add definition and hold. Celebrity style: Zendaya, Paul Mescal, Hoshi of SEVENTEEN
Spiky mullet A spiky mullet is worn spiked up on top, adding even more edge and attitude to this fun style. For the best results, style the spikes so they’re a little messy—mullets are all about the carefree vibes. Best for: Any hair type Styling tip: Use a strong-hold gel or wax to form the spikes on top, but leave the back product-free so it flows. Celebrity style: Joe Dirt
Slicked-back mullet With a slicked-back mullet, the hair in front is worn pushed back from your forehead. This creates a natural cascade down to the longer section on the sides, while the shorter sides give the look structure. It’s a stylish, modern take on the mullet, like a less edgy fauxhawk. Best for: Straight or wavy hair Styling tip: Apply a little gel while your hair is damp, then comb your hair back and let it air dry (or blow-dry it for a more finished look). If you want a wet look mullet, use high-shine pomade and let your hair air dry. Celebrity style: Kristin Stewart, Patrick Swayze
Flat top mullet Flat top mullets are cut very short on top, with the hair worn straight up. This creates a stark contrast with the flowy length in the back, making this a very unique type of mullet. Best for: Any hair type Styling tip: Blow-dry your hair upward, using a strong-hold gel or wax to hold it in place. Celebrity style: Billy Ray Cyrus
Mohawk mullet A mohawk mullet helps solve the problem of where to taper the hair at the back of a mohawk—just let it grow out! The sides of the hair are faded starting at around the temple, going all the way down to the nape of the neck, with just a strip running from the front of the head down to the back. The hair on top is worn spiked up in a traditional mohawk style, while the hair in back is worn combed down. Best for: Medium to thick, straight to slightly wavy hair Styling tip: Use strong-hold gel or wax to style your hair upward into a mohawk Celebrity style: Maynard James Keenan, Robbie Williams
Straight mullet If your hair is stick-straight, don’t worry—you can still rock a mullet. Try a shorter mullet or an undercut mullet for a look that works with your naturally straight texture, or get a shaggy or textured cut and use products to add texture and volume to your straight hair. Best for: Straight hair Styling tip: Use a little sea salt spray or texturizing powder if you want to add texture to your hair. Celebrity style: Scarlett Johansson, Brad Pitt, Harry Styles
Rat tail mullet Take your mullet to the next level by growing the back out as long as you can. This style, known as a rat tail, was popular in the late ‘80s and ‘90s—but it’s been trending again for those who want an extreme mullet variation. Best for: Any hair type Styling tip: Try braiding your rat tail if you want to change up your look. Celebrity style: Shia Labouf, Zendaya, Rihanna
Skullet This one is only for the boldest of the bold. In a skullet, your hair is shaved all over—except for a piece in the back. Skullets can be short or long in the back, but either way, they sure make a statement. This style is especially popular with athletes right now. Best for: Any hair type Styling tip: The skullet is the whole style here Celebrity style: Australian footballer Dustin Martin, rugby player Jai Arrow, American football player James Connor
Mullet bowl cut Love the mullet but want to make it edgy? Try pairing a mullet with a bowl cut. In this cut, the hair is cut straight from the center of the forehead all the way around to the ears, and the temples and sides are shaved. The longer back section starts just behind the ears. Best for: Someone looking for an edgy look Styling tip: Bring plenty of attitude to rock this look. Celebrity style: Zendaya’s recent mullet was a variation of the mullet bowl cut with layers added
Modern mullet with beard Mullets can pair surprisingly well with a beard. Typically, the sideburns are faded, with the beard starting near the bottom of the ear. That creates a gradual transition up into the shorter sides of the mullet. Best for: Anyone with a beard Styling tip: Have your fade and beard trimmed regularly to keep them looking fresh. Celebrity style: Paul Mescal, Jack Harlow
Mullet with design This style features a faded mullet with a design shaved into the sides. It’s great for adding a little extra personality to your look. Best for: Shaved designs typically show up best on thicker hair Styling tip: You’ll probably need to get your fade touched up every few days to keep the design looking sharp. Celebrity style: We haven’t seen any celebrities rocking this yet, but we’re sure we will soon
Colorful mullet Take your mullet to the next level by adding a bright color. If your hair is dark, you may need to bleach it first to get a bold color to show up. Some people prefer all-over tints for their mullets, while others have been spotted rocking just dyed tips. Best for: Anyone who wants a bolder take on the mullet Styling tip: Touch up bright colors regularly to keep them looking vivid Celebrity style: David Bowie, Cara DeLevingne
Mullet Lengths
Short mullet Short mullets are the most subtle option. The top and sides are cropped (the sides are sometimes faded), and the back usually hits just a little longer than the hairline. This is a popular option for the modern mullet, since it’s less extreme than longer versions.
Medium mullet Medium-length mullets tend to be a little more pronounced. The top can be left long or cut a little shorter, but the back is left longer—typically around collar-length.
Long mullet Long mullets are the most dramatic of all. The top can be cut into long shaggy layers or cropped short—but the back is left long and flowy. Major party in the back here.
How to Ask for a Mullet Haircut
Be clear with your stylist about exactly what you’re looking for. Talk to your barber or stylist about how long you want the front and back of the cut to be and the texture you want. Also, let them know how you’re planning to style it. For instance, they might cut it slightly differently if you want to wear it parted to one side or spiked up. Bring pictures of what you want. Hair stylist Tiffany Carnevale-Russo says, “Pictures speak a thousand words. They’ll explain what you’re looking for better than trying to verbally explain it.”
What face shapes and hair types are best for mullets?
Mullets can be customized for any hair type or face shape. Because there are so many different types of mullets, there’s an option that will work for anyone. Just talk to your barber or stylist about what will work best for you, and ask them for product recommendations that will work with your style and hair texture. For instance, if you have a round face, “you should avoid a bang,” explains professional hair stylist Gina Almona. So you’d probably want to avoid a mullet with a fringe—a flow or French crop mullet might work better for you.
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