The modern mullet can refer to quite a few different mens’ hairstyles. While a mulleton its own is defined by long hair all over, especially at the back, a modern mullet is shorter on top and the sides.
The mullet is often seen as an out-of-date, unattractive style, but if you can wear it right then it really does look the part. Here is what you need to know to make the modern mullet work for you.
The quick answer to this is “Yes”. Formal in the front and party at the back is returning.
This hairstyle was first rocked by various athletes and actors as a sign of style and not-mainstream look. It has been a blend of a meeting room with a nightclub due to it’s look which is different from top that to from the back.
Mullet’s focal points are those strands at the back which try to pop out of the cluster making it look like a bunch of strands all over the place where the top is orderly short haircut.
Some people believe that this retro look will look amazing on people having longer face structure as the hair gets area to expand and cluster.
Modern applications of Mullet with faded sides or brushed up top will surely innovate the classic look so get ready for some new versions of mullet.
What is the Modern Mullet?
The modern mullet is characterized by two things, a long mullet (i.e. a lengthy body of back-hair and short side-hair) and medium length front and top hair. The word ‘modern’ in this haircut simply refers to the shorter hair at the front, so you are left free to style it however you please.
Because the term ‘modern mullet’ is so broad, you might see it describing quite a few different cuts. Just remember that it’s a mullet with a short-ish top, however it may be styled.
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How Do You Style This Cut?
The modern mullet takes quite a bit of length off of the standard mullet, but there’s still more than enough to style with. You can do this however you like, but here are some good suggestions to start with:
Brush or comb it to one side
Gel it up and towards one side
If long enough, comb and/or gel it back
Gel it up into spikes (while this may be seen as a bit too ’90s, it’s still a possibility)
While those suggestions only pertain to the top, you can try styling the mullet itself in a few different ways. You can leave it to drop down, bunch it up into a ponytail, or flare it out.
If you want to try the modern mullet, you’re going to need some relatively long back hair to start with. You’ll need to have your hairstylist — or whoever else may be cutting your hair — cut the front and sides to your desired length.
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Typically, the modern mullet involves relatively short sides (up to an inch or two) and a somewhat longer front and top (between one and three inches).
As for the back, you can choose how long you want to keep it. Then, you’ll need your stylist to fade the long back hair into the shorter top hair.
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Beckam's On Field Hand Tossed Strands
This tasteful take on the mullet uses a messy foundation to create a natural appearance all over. While some mullets can look like two hairstyles smashed together, this mullet is seamlessly connected from front to back.
Photo Works / Shutterstock.com
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Toby Keith's Hidden Mullet
For a more subtle look, you might opt for a more trimmed mullet that doesn’t poke out the sides too much. Here country singer Toby Keith sports this kind of hidden mullet.
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Strands All Over The Place
A flashy twist on this 80s classic, this tousled mullet has a bit of a blown-out look that tosses strands all over. This style works especially well with wavy hair.
Here’s a more relaxed style that uses the natural waviness of the hair to create a cascaded mullet. A well-done temple fade adds some tidiness on the sides.
This is an unusual version of the mullet that takes more of a designer approach to the style. The hair creates a tail that swoops to the side and frames the ear in a half-moon.
If you want to go all out and make a fashion statement with your hair, then this mullet might be for you. It features a gradually dyed look and mullet spikes that make this look a definite attention-grabber.
A good way to contrast the length of the mullet is to shorten the sides considerably. The best way to do this is with an extreme fade like the drop fade shown here.
This richly textured mullet pairs a brushed-back style on top with tangled curls in the back. This combination of textures adds an interesting touch that you won’t find in many haircuts.
If you want a haircut that combines today’s high-volume cuts with the longer styles of yesterday, you might like this look that has a quiff in the front that terminates in a short mullet.
For those of you with thicker hair, this style will really let you show it off. This is one of the longest mullets on this list, so if you really want to channel 1987, this one’s for you.
Looking for a shorter, subtler mullet? Give this one a try. The mullet consists of thick curls that only hang past the ear a little, which gives the hair a tidier appearance.
This short and spiky mullet combines the classic spiky look with a short mullet. What’s great about this haircut is that the mullet is a natural extension of the spiky look.
While most hairstyles incorporate one or two “designer” trends, this mullet style incorporates four: two hard parts (on the top and side), a double-flanged fringe, and dyed tips.
This brush-up is an interesting take on the mullet; rather than making the mullet the focus, it places the spotlight on the short quiff and uses the mullet as an accessory.
If you’re after a neat and even style, this mullet might be your cup of tea. The hair on top and in the back is long and thick, but the sides are faded and seamlessly connect the beard and the hair.
For a retro-meets-modern look, try out this style that combines a wavy quiff with a short mullet. This is a great option if you like the mullet but want something a bit formal.
Can it be any more retro than this? The classic mustache with sides faded slapped on with a short top and a long mullet. The top is brushed up with mullet is wavy yet rough-textured. Get on a muscle car and that’s all you need.
We all know the flat top, please welcome flat mullet. This is what one can do with rough dry texture hair. The back is totally flat with sides being mid fade. The line up is sharply carved with the top being pushed back yet brushed up. Can one miss this?
Wow! Where do we start, first is the shaved slit Jesus. That being said the temple is drop faded with a bling low fade. The texture is semi curly with messy tied with the neckline being faded. The Mullet is curled at the end that adds extra panache.
The sides are a very important part of style and that high fade with a temple fade with a semi drop fade is something that cannot be missed. Plus the top is kinda side swept with mullet starting from the top and being pocky all the way down.
Is this what a rockstar should look like in the beginner stage? Absolutely, the pocky strands all over the head are such a style. Plus the volume is quite good with mullet being long is quite a statement, don’t forget the layers and temple.
Does this qualify for the most hippie mullet? Most probably yes! The undercut taper is just the beginning, the peculiar low fade seems so subtle yet so obvious. The line ups are carved with a steep drop fade with mullet being waxed and maintained quite well.
Mullet with longer top with tapered sides with dyed highlights, wow there is so much going on in here. The temple aka sides are tapered but not too short whereas the top is significantly long and dashing. This is the style to go for if you are an aspiring rockstar or a cool person in general.
Can somebody not endorse this as the coolest Mullet? The sides are undercut faded with the top being semi french crop. That’s not it, the mullet has a rough and dry texture with side shaved hair part. All of it yet it is not too bling, amazing job!
Mustache with tattoos and a punky dope mullet, can one ask for more? No! The temple being taper faded makes it all weigh at the back with the top being almost buzz cut. Moreover, the back is tossed and casual. All of it with the oomph of tattoo near the temple, dang this is godly!
Here comes the retro-styled classic mullet. The top as always is a sleek pompadour with the temple being tapered which is just enough to blend with the beard. Next up the mullet itself which has a controlled volume yet, in the end, is longer with curl. Don’t miss the sharp line ups!
Braids with Mullet? Surely the bar has been raised here. The sides being gently tapered and slightly faded towards the end. The braids go all the way along with the end being slightly loose making it a distinct mullet but don’t you miss the line ups and neckline. It’s all in detail folks.
A mullet can be super voluminous or kept simpler by leaving the hair shorter. We all can agree that something in this style blends perfectly with the latest fashion trends.
This mullet is a gem on so many levels, first, the taper faded sides with the top being all long and thick makes an impression. Next, the temple fade, although a subtle move is a good one, next the mullet itself is so long that one can hardly not notice it. All of this and then to top it off with some highlight dye is perfect!
There is just so much to talk about this, first, the temple is faded for that tattoo to shine bright, second, the forehead fringe just reminds of the french crop with that tossed top, it just gets better every time. next the pocky stranded mullet is just perfect to give that retro yet hipster vibe with this hairstyle.
Slight curls are very cool and especially when done this way, which is slightly touseled and yet controlled on the top by short length and tapered on the sides. The temple is faded which is common in a mullet but here it makes more sense as it balances the dense volume on the back.
Long hair is very versatile but this will always be a cool hairstyle as it blends with a very retro look. The slightly curled texture brings everything together with the top being long. The hair is quite thin which makes it easy to grow yet maintain volume. Mullet in these situations is the best.
Slight curls with candy-inspired colors make a very bright and optimistic hairstyle. Moreover, the blend of dye is what makes this one poppy and beautiful. And adding a mullet in this scenario makes it even further exciting. The black stubble beard makes it a balanced look.
The classic masculine look from the ’70s-’80s is herewith some extra styling on top. The top is mix curled brought together with sides kept longer without any taper or fade so as to bring it back. The mullet is the highlight of the show with that extra length and rough texture.
Thin hair is done right, how else could one rock this combination? To start things off the cheeky pompadour on the top with sides pushed back gives a very retro yet classy look. All of that along with straightened mullet on the back makes it very much of a gentleman look.
This mullet is all about the good volume that is used to apply a touseled look which gives a very less maintenance undertone. Moreover, the combination of black to blonde is very hipsterish that adds an extra layer of panache. And to finish things off that stubble comes in handy.
We hardly see two dense spots in one hairstyle but this here looks new and cool at the same time. The quiff at the top is dense and the mullet on the back is quite a balancer haircut. The thin hair makes this look controlled as it also has a tossed feel to it.
We heard of log top and short sides but adding a mullet on the back is certainly a gesture. It shows how one can blend old and new look altogether moreover the dye on top is what separates the flat hair from the spiked ones. The sides are slightly tapered to maintain the volume.
Let’s start with all the fun stuff on top and sides. The undercut is subtle but helps to differentiate sides from the top. That being said the density of the curls is show stoppers. The top is slightly less thick than the back so as to emphasize the mullet.
This is what modern hairstyle looks like, the undercut on the side is just a smart move in order to separate sides with that cheeky taper fade. Moreover, the slit shave makes it more trendy and the curled mullet in the back is where all the attention is.
