The first time I grabbed shears and cut a mullet, I swear I thought it was illegal. I was on a client, and I was about twelve years younger, and nobody on Instagram had been using the ‘modern mullet’ hashtag. There was a girl at a concert, and one of the girls snapped a picture of her. Just before the photo, one of the girls said to me, ‘It’s not a mullet.’ I remember that photo and I remember thinking that girl had a nice shag cut. Like one of those shags where you let the shag grow out. Shaggy front and back gross. I really like that it didn’t look reference to any trends. It just looked like her.
Even after so many years, that is still what I look for in a mullet. They feel more like a haircut, and they allow for more length and edge to be kept than a standard cut. I’ve done so many variations at this point, and what’s always surprised me is how much the end result differs depending on someone’s hair texture, face, demeanor etc. To me, I think these fifteen examples represent that range the best.
#1: Wispy Bangs with That Long-to-Short Drama
It is fun when clients walk in and ask for contrast because they mean it. This look gives a shorter fuller shape in the front with light important see-through bangs. There is a lot of textured length in the back which is great on medium density and straight hair because it allows the layers to really shine. It does require regular maintenance to keep the shape from getting muddy, but the contrast front and back is what makes it worth it!
#2 Tousled Brunette Bob with a Little Something Extra
This person’s hair is done so well that you don’t even realize what was done, which was the goal. There is just the right amount of dimension to keep the color looking good, but not so much that it looks overdone. The cut has almost a crooked line, which has a modern effect without being too strong. The layers of light hair mean that you don’t have to work for volume each morning and the balayage grows out nicely, which a lot of my clients don’t realize is more important than the technique you choose.
#3 Warm Chestnut Waves That Just Fall Right
Some hairstyles are great because you can tell that the person does not have to battle with their hair when taking pictures. This shoulder length style features a wave pattern that adds movement and volume but doesn’t go overboard. The fringe is soft enough so it doesn’t overtake the style, it just sits there and does its job. I will say, you’d want a little texturizing spray to keep those waves defined between washes, so it’s not completely hands off. I always appreciate a color melt as it goes from chestnut to warm brown because it is forgiving on regrowth.
#4 Curly Bob That Actually Works With Your Curls
The stylist knew what they were doing and didn’t try to hide the client’s curls. Each layer allows a different curl to come out. Most of my curly clients like to finish with some curl defining cream. However, curly layers can be a lot of work because the shape changes quickly when the weight shifts.
#5 Tousled Pixie with Quiet Highlights
Highlights and short hair can be tricky. There can be too many highlights or too few. This one seems to have highlights spaced just right! A simple cut and some color can keep some texture in. This one looks effortless and getting a pixie cut to look like that means the stylist really planned out the details. The shape will be back in the chair every five to six weeks to keep it clean, but the daily styling commitment will be close to nothing.
#6 Caramel Waves and That Perfect Wispy Fringe
I absolutely love the softness on this one! The caramel color really warms everything up, and the waves are perfectly defined to look intentional and not just stiff. The bangs are wispy which really brings everything together so effortlessly, like, if you have finer hair, you would most likely need to use a medium-barrel curling iron to create those waves, along with a light texturizing spray to hold the waves. With thicker hair, this style really comes to life on its own!
#7 Textured Bob with a Sweeping Fringe
I have done many bob hairstyles on clients with finer hair who desire their hair to appear thicker. The secret lies in the layering. When done right, layering gives the appearance of having more hair to work with and style. The sweeping fringe adds personality to the style without the extra work. It’s a haircut that gives the impression of high maintenance, but ultimately is pretty low maintenance which is exactly what most people are looking for when they say they want something “edgy”.
#8 Textured Mullet with a Sharp Fringe
I love the combination and thought process behind the design. I especially appreciate the shorter layers with added texture. Those give movement and flow to the look. The bangs really create the shape and finish to the design, and the chop, as you mentioned, does tie everything together. This style will require a minimum of medium density to really showcase the design, and I think it is definitely standing out. For those who want to keep that lived-in look, you will need a texturing paste to maintain the separation, and a daily disruption of the natural flow will help keep the style.
#9 Red-Tipped Pixie with Layered Texture
I like the color first. Dark rooted, red tipped hair is a fun look. More than the color, the hair cut is also great. The layers are cut so that they are shaped and voluminous, and the length is also a part of achieving that look. This style will do great because the color and the cut are both doing something interesting on their own, but they are complimenting each other well.
#10 Gentle Waves on a Soft Brunette Mullet
I think this is a more subtle mullet, if that’s a way to describe it. The flowing shorter to longer shift is so soft it doesn’t scream mullet at anyone, it just looks like a nicely shaped haircut with intention in the back. The wispy layers and the soft waves give it a pretty soft flowy texture. On medium density hair it sits at the perfect level not getting too light or too heavy. This is a balance that is softer to achieve than it looks. The regular trims on this haircut help it look purposeful vs just grown out.
#11 Short Modern Mullet with Face-Framing Pieces
For people looking to go shorter, but keep some length, I recommend this. The face framing layers soften the look around the cheekbones and jaw, while the back keeps some of that length you’re not ready to let go of. It works with your natural texture, and on most days, a little bit of light styling cream is all you’d need.
#12 Chestnut Layers with Soft Curls Through the Back
What stood out to me about this is how the curls are not the whole story. They expertly blended the curls with the layers of the cut so the movement looks spontaneous. The mid-length keeps it manageable. The chestnut colour is warm without being too heavy. If your hair has any natural wave at all, this cut will encourage it to wave in a generous rather than fussy way.
#13 Slate Gray Layers with Side-Swept Bangs
It is easy to appreciate wanting the right cut to go gray hair, and for a lot of women, the desire for a chic way to transition to gray is understandable. Layered mullet shapes are becoming more commonplace, and side-swept bangs are a great way to balance polished and structured. There is enough ethereal texture so the cut does not feel heavy. While some grays can be a bit high maintenance, this one should be really low. Beyond maintenance, appointment to appointment, a good purple shampoo is all you need. I appreciate the overall sophistication that embraces a woman’s age.
#14 Auburn Tousled Shag with Sun-Kissed Pieces
Her auburn color looks lovely! It’s warm and golden which complements her skin tone. The style has some great things going for it. The transitions from the messy and textured top to the longer back is smooth and free of any harsh lines. Thick hair like this is naturally wavy and tends to style itself into shape. Apart from the back getting a little messy and forming tangles, which for me is the trade-off with any mullet that keeps its length, this hair is great. This is an ideal do for a day to night look with little thought required.
#15 Wavy Mullet with Natural Silver Threading
For my last pick, I chose the most lived-in hairstyle. The soft waves and the cut look pretty real, especially the gray touches mixed in with brown. The layers give great framing, and the longer back is not too short, nor too long. It’s soft and relaxed, and works with tons of different hair types, which is very versatile. It comes with this more practical approach that assumes you know how to use a curling wand, but otherwise it is super easy to do.
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