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Joe Keery mullet hairstyle

20 Best Mullet Hairstyles For Men


Call it an Ape Drape, label it a Kentucky Waterfall, just don’t touch the party at the back. Whether it’s curly, straight, shaved or wavy, the best mullet hairstyles cut an imposing figure and what’s more, they’re becoming more and more popular. Long-gone are the days of the teased out ’80s monstrocity, instead today’s modern mullet haristyles embrace a unique blend of traditional, new, and somewhere in between. We took a look at all things mullets, what they are, their history, how to style one, and the best mullet hairstyles for men right now.

Best Mullet Styles at Glance

classic mullet hairstyle for men

1. Classic Mullet

  • Length: Short
  • Styling: Minimal
  • Product: Sea-salt spray, matte clay

The classic mullet is easy to achieve and as iconic as ever. It’s quite a long haired look, so you’ll have to grow your hair out to shoulder length, and the hair on the top and front of the hair gets cut to a medium length. The back and front hair then blend together in one seamless, shaggy look.

modern mullet hairstyle for men

2. Modern Mullet

  • Length: Short
  • Styling: Minimal
  • Product: Matte clay

A modern take on the classic mullet, this haircut is a more subtle version of the famed haircut. This means that there is less contact between the lengths of the front and the back hair. Therefore, the haircut is less of a statement and makes it easier to blend into the crowd.

undercut mullet hairstyle for men

3. Undercut

  • Length: Medium
  • Styling: Moderate
  • Product: Pomade

This is one of the best mullet haircuts that pairs well with a slicked-back look. The hair at the front will need to be grown out, and then the sides should be shaved in a fade style. This look is versatile as you can fade as much as you like!

mullet fade hairstyle for men

4. Mullet Fade

  • Length: Medium
  • Styling: Moderate
  • Product: Matte clay

A very modern twist on the mullet hairstyle, the fade takes it to a new level of trend and style. The soft fade can be made at any height according to your preferences and face shape but will undoubtedly add a fresh, modern edge to your mullet. If you want to look like you have a bit of attitude, this haircut may be the one for you.

shaved sides mullet hairstyle for men

5. Shaved Sides

  • Length: Short
  • Styling: Minimal
  • Product: Sea-salt spray

A mullet with shaved sides is as about as “HEY! I HAVE A MULLET!” that you can get. This look is somewhat similar to a mohawk haircut, except the hair on the top remains flat, not spiked up. The shaved sides give the cut a fresh, badass feel. Another great thing about this look is that the shaved sides can be at whatever length you desire.

french crop mullet hairstyle for men

6. French Crop Mullet

  • Length: Short
  • Styling: Minimal
  • Product: Sea-salt spray

A daring haircut, to say the least, the French crop mullet is an interesting take on the traditional hairstyle. The party at the back is a BIG party at the back, with the hair grown out long so that it flows down past the neck. The sides are very short or shaved. This look best suits those with straight or wavy hair.

short mullet hairstyle for men

7. Short Mullet

  • Length: Short
  • Styling: Minimal
  • Product: Matte clay

The short mullet is one of the easiest and best mullet styles to pull off, as it doesn’t require much maintenance. The hair at the back is kept relatively short, so this look could almost pass as a shaggy haircut. Offering more of an average, clean cut lock, you could even rock this hairstyle in a corporate job!

long mullet hairstyle for men

8. Long Mullet

  • Length: Long
  • Styling: Moderate
  • Product: Fibre creme

The quintessential 70s and 80s mullet style, long mullets are a classic hairstyle. Keeping the hair at the back and on the sides fairly long, is convenient as it means it works with plenty of different hair types, including straight, curly, thick and fine hair.

mohawk mullet hairstyle for men

9. Mohawk Mullet

  • Length: Medium
  • Styling: Moderate
  • Product: Matte clay

The mohawk is a universal haircut that screams edgy, and combining it with a mullet creates a stylish, daring look. This is one of the best mullet looks if you’re a guy who wants their long hair on top to be concentrated in the middle of the head. You can choose to spike it, let it flow or gel it back.

afro mullet hairstyle for men

10. Afro Mullet

  • Length: Short
  • Styling: Minimal
  • Product: Curling sponge

New kid on the block, the afro mullet is definitely a look that you should try if you have been blessed with a luscious fro. The sides are generally faded, and the hair on top is the same length from the front to the back. Kanye West once rocked this lock, which means it’s definitely cool.

Joe Keery blown out mullet hairstyle

11. Blown Out Mullet

  • Length: Medium
  • Styling: Moderate
  • Product: Sea-salt spray, matte clay

A blown out mullet is a safe look that is a good one to try if you’re new to the mullet game. If you have long hair, you can blow it up and backwards in a way that resembles a shaggy mullet. This look suits those with wavy, thick hair.

wavy mullet hairstyle for men

12. Wavy

  • Length: Medium
  • Styling: Moderate
  • Product: Sea-salt spray, matte clay

Wavy hair is great for most hairstyles and looks, even mullets! Having wavy hair makes for a mullet that appears effortless and stylish, all in one. It offers a relaxed look and calls for minimal styling; a simple brush over the back and the sides is enough.

mullet with bangs hairstyle for men

13. Mullet With Bangs

  • Length: Medium
  • Styling: Moderate
  • Product: Sea-salt spray, matte clay

Bangs with a mullet is a new trend in the world of mullets and one of the best mullet hairstyles right now. Adding a statement fringe at the front is almost entirely separate from the party at the back, creating a cool, futuristic look. The fringe provides texture, layers and extra volume depending on the fringe style, and more than anything, a unique look.

faux hawk mullet hairstyle for men

14. Faux Hawk Mullet

  • Length: Medium
  • Styling: Moderate
  • Product: Matte clay

The faux hawk mullet is a modern take on the traditional mohawk mullet, and we love it. The hairstyle looks like faded sides and long hair on top that is usually spiked up. This is a good look if you want a mohawk but don’t want to look too extreme, as the faded sides soften the look.

pompadour mullet hairstyle for men

15. Pompadour Mullet

  • Length: Medium
  • Styling: Moderate
  • Product: Pomade

A beautiful combination of classic and modern makes this hairstyle effortlessly cool and timeless. The hairstyle incorporates faded sides to accentuate the longer hair on top. You need to use a matte styling product for this look to create a textured pompadour in the front.

perm mullet hairstyle for men

16. Perm Mullet

  • Length: Medium
  • Styling: Moderate
  • Product: Sea-salt spray

The classic perm is another example of an 80s trend that’s making a comeback in modern times, and we aren’t complaining. Pairing the 80s perm with the 80s mullet is double-time 80s and is guaranteed to add excitement, texture and a cool vintage edge to your overall look.

feathered mullet hairstyle for men

17. Feathered Mullet

  • Length: Medium
  • Styling: Moderate
  • Product: Sea-salt spray

This is another hairstyle that screams the 1980s. The feathered mullet is like a regular mullet in length, but the hair is brushed out to create a soft, feathered look. You will have to have medium or long hair for this look, and the straight and wavy locks seem to work best.

surfer mullet hairstyle for men

18. Surfer Mullet

  • Length: Medium
  • Styling: Minimal
  • Product: Sea-salt spray

Australian surfers created a look of their own with the surfer mullet, skyrocketing the mullet to an iconic signifier of Australian beach culture. Also known as a long-haired mullet, the hair on top is relatively short, with the hair at the back falling well past the shoulders. The hair is usually sun-bleached, too.

spiky mullet hairstyle for men

19. Spiky Mullet

  • Length: Medium
  • Styling: Moderate
  • Product: Matte clay

If you have short hair, the spiky mullet may be the look for you. Spike up the hair on the top of the head to create volume and height. To do this, you will need a styling product that will hold the hair in place. You can spike the back of the hair, too, if it’s short enough to create a relaxed and rugged look.

side mullet hairstyle for men

20. Side Mullet

  • Length: Medium
  • Styling: Moderate
  • Product: Matte clay

The side mullet can mean one of many things, which is why we love it. You can choose to part your mullet at the side, have side-swept bangs at the front, or have the hair at the back-combed to one side. It offers a trendy take on the traditional mullet haircut and is versatile enough to make it one of the best mullet hairstyles right now.

What Is A Mullet?

The traditional mullet haircut is defined by shorter hair at the front and sides of the head, with a much longer section of hair at the back of the head. Today, however, you will see various mullet hairstyles, each with its unique touch. Mullets today can come in the form of a perm, an afro, with bangs, and even with a fade. Due to its versatility, it’s become a popular, timeless haircut that has survived the test of time.

History of the Mullet

The mullet haircut has had a long and colourful history. If you go way back, the first documentation of a mullet was in the sixth century. During this time, men donned a haircut called the ‘Hunnic’, which denoted very similar features to what we know as today’s mullet. The 1970s was the beginning of the modern mullet, when stars like David Bowie and Rod Stewart started rocking the business at the front, party at the back hairstyle. This is when the mullet truly took off and was popularised in the 1980s. However, the term mullet wasn’t coined until later on when the Beastie Boys released their single ‘Mullet Head’ in 1994.

Is the Mullet Coming Back?

Unless you’ve been hiding under a rock, it’s pretty apparent that the mullet is well and truly making a comeback. Although they may not be as widespread as in the 80s, they are versatile haircuts that work for most hair types and are timeless. Mullets are also a unisex haircut, which is why they have made a comeback in modern times.

How to Style A Mullet

There are so many ways to style a mullet, which is why the popular hairstyle is making such a comeback. The most popular ways to style a mullet include the classic, messy look, combing it back, combing it to one side or even gelling it up into spikes. With so many styling options, we have narrowed down the 21 most popular Mullet styles.

Whatever hairstyle you’re a fan of, you have to choose the best one that suits your hair length and face structure for the best look. Check out some more of our hairstyle articles below along with a few grooming products to keep your hair in shape :

Alternatives to Mullet Hairstyles

Hair Products for Men

Mullet Haircut FAQs

What face shape suits a mullet?

While it might not necessarily be considered the epitome of style, you might be surprised to learn that the mullet haircut suits practically any face shape. This is due to the hairstyle’s unique dual-length structure, which elongates the neck and jawline, whilst also keeping the forehead small by keeping the temple edges tight. A truly balanced hairstyle, the mullet is a layered choice for the modern man.

What is a nickname for a mullet haircut?

A beacon of pop-culture style, the mullet goes by many names, but a few of our favourites are: the Kentucky waterfall, the beaver paddle, the ape drape and the neck warmer.

Why is a mullet called a mullet?

The term mullet was reportedly coined by Mike D of the Beastie Boys. This came from the song ‘Mullet Head’ on 1994’s ‘Ill Communication’ album, which described the haircut and its wearers.