The modern mullet hairstyle is an indicator of a person’s attitude before they even sit in the chair. Getting a mullet shows a client is willing to make a bold decision. Just like the clients of mine who go from giggly and nervous to obsessed with how they look after a transformation. That is one of the best things about this job.
New mullets allow for personalization like never before. The core conceptualization of the haircut stays the same. Short on the top and sides, long in the back. However, with new techniques in texturing, layering, coloring, and bangs, everything is changing. One of my clients last year stands out. She held a very posh buttoned-up corporate role and we did just enough layering and added some light warm tinting so her coworkers assumed she got a really great haircut. That shows the versatility of this shape and trust me, the 25 examples coming up will show just how wide the range is.
#1: Light Copper Mullet with Soft Layered Movement
The selected copper color is a good choice for its lightness which helps the overall feel be fresher and the color contrast beautifully with the layering. The texture in this cut is my favourite thing. It is just enough piece-y separation to give the hair some life and is not over done. The length is also current, sitting just above the shoulders. On medium to thick hair, this would fall into place almost by itself after a rough dry and with some texturizing spray.
#2 Layered Mullet with Soft Waves and Dimension
This looks super laid back. The owner probably doesn’t have to think about it very much in the morning, and that’s a sign of a good cut. The wave pattern does the bulk of the work, and the highlights provide just about enough dimension to prevent it from appearing flat in varying lights. This is the kind of mullet I’d suggest for someone who wants to feel like they’ve made a really daring choice, but still wants to be able to identify herself.
#3 Textured Mullet with Soft Bangs and Gentle Waves
I love this hairstyle. The bangs make the whole cut; they are soft enough to blend in with the other layers, yet striking enough to provide a good frame for the face. I also appreciate how the ends are not overly texturized, because with this wave pattern, too much razor work would have made it wispy in the wrong places. The shoulder length keeps it all grounded. I bet this is the cut that will look even better in 3 weeks from the date of the cut, and that always indicates good structure underneath.
#4 Lavender-Toned Textured Mullet with Playful Layers
There’s something charming about this, the lavender color is subtle enough to not take away from the haircut which is important because the shape does a lot. The chin length layers that frame the face add sweetness and the texture from the back keeps it from being too precious. Also remember, pastel shades on bleached hair are a commitment and will require color depositing shampoo to stretch the time between appointments. However, for those with fine to medium hair, this is a lovely option if you’re looking for some personality.
#5 Softly Layered Mullet with Warm Highlights
I like how calming this one is. The layers are soft and suggested rather than bold, while the highlights warm up the whole thing without looking like a color job at all. For fine hair, this kind of layering works perfectly because it creates the illusion of fullness without taking away weight that you can’t afford to lose. It’s the type of cut where someone would say “did you do something different?” instead of “you cut your hair,” and sometimes that subtlety is the whole point.
#6 Wavy Fringed Modern Mullet with Textured Ends
The fringe on this one makes it stand out. It’s cut just a little bit longer than you would expect, which gives it a relaxed, almost accidental feel, that really suits the soft waves through the body. I wonder what the stylist used for product here, as the hold-to-movement ratio is so well balanced. With hair of this density, a lightweight mousse is often the best option; just scrunch it in while damp and leave it. The less you touch a cut like this, the better.
#7 Curly Modern Mullet with Strong Bangs
It’s the bangs that are the most purposeful (meaning they are made to look as though they have been worn for some time). They also show off the brow nicely, while the curl pattern makes them sit to the sides of the face, rather than in front like a pair of straight bangs would do. What I tell people is that for this look, finding a stylist who specializes in cutting curly bangs is imperative. The amount of body layers in this style will provide enough movement to the curls, without allowing excess bunching, and create a defined style, but you can tell that she has moisture. This is key to a good curl cream.
#8 Bouncy Curly Mullet with Soft Face-Framing Bangs
This style has lots of personality. The bounciness of the curls is really fun. The way the bangs are incorporated into the shape of the style is nice since they don’t stick out like they did previously. It’s a cut that gives off the impression of a “I woke up like this” vibe (even though they probably didn’t), and that actually takes a lot of thought in the cutting than people realize. The volume from the mid-lengths of the hair tells me the layering was done well. For anyone who has a natural wave or curl, this is definitely the look to bring to your stylist.
#9 Sun-Kissed Textured Mullet with Natural Movement
I love how sun-kissed highlights blend beautifully into layered hair. It looks like it falls perfectly into place and gives that warm weather vibe. With medium wavy hair like this, the cut does most of the work, but I think it’s a little bit manipulated to achieve that consistent wave. For this haircut, the color and the shape of the hair work in harmony so neither one is stealing the show.
#10 Layered Mullet with Fine Texture and Soft Highlights
The lightness of the cut is what first stands out. When working with finer hair, all the layers can’t be too aggressive or the mullet can turn out bad really quick. This stylist seemed to understand that. Everything is soft; the layers graduate softly and the highlights are placed to add some visual interest without the hair looking thinner. This is a good, more controlled version of a mullet and honestly, this is the type I’d recommend to a client that’s interested, but hesitant. To keep the shape from growing out too awkwardly, it would need trims every 6 weeks or so, but that’s a small price to pay.
#11 Shoulder-Length Textured Mullet with Airy Movement
The length of the hair at the back, and the face framing pieces at the front, help the cut from looking too extreme which is great. Also, the balayage looks good and adds more depth throughout the mid-lengths and doesn’t make the roots look grown out. I can see this looking good on someone who wears earth tones a lot, as the warmth in the color would complement them. Finally, I also think that the waves would nicely with some sea salt spray and air drying.
#12 Feathered Modern Mullet in Soft Auburn
Auburn is also a lovely warm color and is beautiful. It does a great job of not being too red, and I appreciate that detail. My favorite part is the feathering. It gives a soft versus blunt end and gives a sense of movement to the whole cut, and that is true whether the hair is moving or still. This is a good option for someone whose hair is starting to thin out a little or someone who has finer strands because the feathered layers give the illusion of more hair. With this one, I would skip the face framing highlights. The auburn is doing enough on its own.
#13 Warm-Highlighted Textured Mullet with Soft Layering
Highlights make it easier to see depth in the layers, and they give the eye somewhere to focus. On fine to medium hair, achieving this type of lived-in wave takes a little more effort, and I would guess that a wide-barrel curling iron was used to set the waves before it was all shaken out. It’s a nice cut and that kind of restraint is what makes it work.
#14 Auburn Textured Mullet with Strategic Bangs
I want to emphasize these bangs because they do not demand too much attention to themselves while also serving a softening effect for the forehead and drawing focus to the eyes. These bangs are designed to soften the forehead and draw attention to the eyes. These bangs are not heavy. These bangs are not thick. This is bang on for someone with finer hair as well, a full blunt bang would eat up too much density. The color is a rich, flattering auburn and the layers have a pleasant choppiness that feels modern. Bang trims would be needed every 3-4 weeks to stay in that sweet spot, but the rest of the cut would hold its shape longer.
#15 Chocolate-Toned Modern Mullet with Effortless Layers
The tone of this chocolate color is exquisite. It’s so rich and shiny I can tell the hair is in excellent condition. A color this nice could get overlooked because it’s not ‘doing’ anything dramatic, but a single-process brunette this well done is soooo rare. The layers are soft and fall nicely with no obvious graduation, and the length past the shoulders gives it added versatility. You can pull it back, braid it, wear it down, and it will look intentional every time.
#16 Curly Banged Mullet with Soft Volume
The curls that are done loosely and more softly on the style is unique for a mullet. The bangs guide the rest of the style, and these curls are done loosely and more softly on the style is unique for a mullet. The volume in this style is concentrated in the right areas, most volumns are puffy at the sides, but this one is all aournd the crown and the mid lengths. For those whose hair is naturally curly like this will maintenance be very easy. It will pretty much just be a wash and diffuse day, add a light hold product and then let it be.
#17 Angular Textured Mullet with Ombré Depth
The framing layers are cut beautifully. Instead of just hanging, these layers are angled towards the cheekbone, which really alters the functionality of the entire cut. The ombre is really nice and looks natural with the ends lightened a bit more, showing a less obvious shift in color. The color is really nice with the texture as well. You have a maintenance option that looks lower than it is. The shape will grow out nicely and gracefully in a few months without losing any character.
#18 Defined Curly Mullet with Layered Volume
This is likely the best curly mullet here, and that’s probably because the layers are well balanced for this kind of curl. When you have this size of curls, if there’s too much layering you lose definition. But if there’s too little layering, then the weight will drag everything down. This cut is balanced in that sense. The curls are bouncy, and the volume is deliberate rather than having big hair for the sake of big hair. If that’s your curl pattern, you should show this to your stylist! It shows the proportions very well.
#19 Youthful Textured Mullet with Face-Framing Softness
The way the face framing pieces hit just above the cheekbones gives this an almost 70s vintage feel, but stops short of being costumey. The rest of the texture is cut is natural and uncomplicated which I appreciate. I also think the softness around the face works across a wide age range and is suitable for many face shapes as it is universally flattering. While this may not be the most dramatic mullet of the bunch, I think it is one of the most versatile.
#20 Softly Waved Modern Mullet with Highlighted Ends
This hairstyle has layered tips that reflect light nicely, and the brightness at the bottom third ensures the style doesn’t look heavy. Rather than defined curls, the waves here are more like bends, which makes the style more suited to someone with naturally straight hair who just wants some movement. To get this style, you’d want to use a flat iron loosely to create more bends than curls. Since the ends are lightened, and more prone to damage, you’d want to use a heat protectant.
#21 Bold Layered Mullet with Dark Dimension
When dealing with thick hair, you need to have a clear intention on where the layers go, and this stylist was intentional. The weight has been removed in all the right places so the cut moves without mushrooming out on the sides which is the biggest critique I have with mullets on thick hair. The dark base with a few lighter pieces woven in adds dimension without changing the color too much. This is a bold cut, it doesn’t need color or extras to stand out.
#22 Highlighted Textured Mullet with Soft Layered Movement
These highlights are great because they look balayaged, and depending on how the layers are done, they will fall and catch the light in different ways. With fine hair this detail is especially important as it creates the illusion of having more hair. The wave is soft, the layers are well blended, and with some mullets this sort of sophistication can be absent. For someone wanting this sort of shape but who works in a more conservative setting, I would suggest this.
#23 Vibrant Copper Mullet with Chin-Length Framing
The copper color on this one is truly amazing: it doesn’t attempt to be auburn or strawberry blonde; it’s fully copper, and is stunning. The chin-length layers are doing something specific here: they create a frame that draws the eyes, and on an oval or heart face, that effect is real. Keeping a copper this vibrant means color-depositing conditioner and washes as infrequent as you can withstand, so you will be managing this a lot. The cut itself has great bones, though the type that would still look good even as the color softens.
#24 Versatile Modern Mullet with Flattering Layered Shape
Some hairstyles look better in photos than they do in real life, but that is definitely not the case here! The way the layers are cut makes for a great customized shape that a camera can only capture in part, with each angle highlighting the hairstyle a little bit different. The layers around the face are also long enough for you to be able to tuck them behind your ear, because they are versatile when it comes to styling, and that is something that shorter face-framing layers don’t give you. The wavy texture makes the hair look fuller without adding any extra bulk, so it is the perfect cut and polished enough for a dinner reservation yet relaxed enough for a Saturday morning brunch. Achieving that look is surprisingly difficult with just one cut.
#25 Copper Beachy Mullet with Crown Volume
The extra volume at the crown is the standout feature of this wavy mullet compared to the other pieces in the collection. The extra lift comes from layering that is higher up, meaning the cut speaks for itself even on days two and three post wash. The warm copper tones accentuate the texture better than cooler colors would.
The waves and bends catch light creating a youthful and beautiful effect. While the waves will need a bit of help from a diffuser or scrunch while drying, the maintenance is still reasonable for the impact.
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