Many 70s hairstyles have found their way back, and most men, celebrities included, are embracing them. The mullet is one of the few vintage hairstyles that never go out of style.
Modern mullets combine short and longer lengths, creating less dramatic contrast between the two, unlike the 70s mullets. Still, the hair at the back is kept longer and slightly shorter at the sides and front. Mullets work well on naturally thick, curly, or wavy hair.
How To Grow a Mullet
The best thing about modern mullets is that they are easy to style; if you get them right, you can have a low-maintenance routine.
Step 1 – Choosing an appropriate style
From curly mullet hairstyles to wavy hairstyles, there are so many ways you can style a modern mullet. Today’s mullets feature much shorter lengths at the top, just as stylish and sharp as the 70s and 80s hairstyles.
Regardless of the style you choose, start by growing out your hair; you need at least hair that is an inch long before you can begin trimming. Next, consider the lengths you want. Ask your hairstylist to keep the hair at the back to a comfortable length.
If you have longer hair, an appropriate length will reach the midpoint of the back of the neck. When trimming, ensure the length at the front and back balance to complement one another well.
The secret to modern mullets is to avoid that dramatic styling that was common in the 70s. Finally, you can wear a mullet as a casual or formal hairstyle, so ensure that you don’t end up with an overly long rat tail.
Go for a mullet with good balance. If you have curly, textured hair, you can leave the sides just about the same length as the hair at the top. This works well, especially with the longer hair at the back, making it look more uniform and not like you were trying to go for a faux hawk hairstyle.
Step 2 – Styling
Like many layered haircuts, styling a mullet is straightforward if you have the right tools and products. Depending on the direction of hair growth, comb or brush the hair on the sides backward or forward. Most men brush their hair back.
Next, apply gel or pomade to keep the sides in place and add shine. The next step is molding the style into a pompadour-like style by combing the top hair backward.
For a spiky effect, apply some wax or gel and then run your hands through the hair combing the sides of your top hair inwards. If you have curly or wavy hair, apply matte wax and slick the hair back using your fingers to create volume.
The final step involves applying hairspray to keep the strands in place all day.
Step 3 – Maintaining your hairstyle
The secret to a good-looking modern mullet is grooming and maintenance. The most important thing is to ensure you trim your hair at least weekly or every two weeks, especially if you have a low fade.
Your mullet won’t look excellent or professional if you allow the hair to grow too long. Using stylers will help keep the mullet in check for men with wavy or curly hair.
Photo from: Tinseltown / shutterstock.com
Step 4 – Best products to use
To maintain a mullet, you must get it right with hair products. The biggest debate regarding mullets and other layered or mohawk hairstyles has always been over the use of pomade vs wax vs gel vs clay and which product works best. All products will work when you have a mullet.
Hair pomade works on spiked-up hair, slicked-back hair, and most messy hairstyles. Hair wax is another styling product you can use when you have a mullet to hold your preferred mullet hairstyle.
Most people would instead use hair wax than pomade since some pomades tend to be too greasy. Hair gel works on all hair types and can be applied to wet or dry hair. It is ideal for styling when you want to hold a specific style.
If you want spiky hair, use hair gel because it hardens and stiffens hair strands for that spiky effect. Hair clay is an ideal styling product for many men since it produces a cleaner feeling and better hair density.
It’s a good choice if you don’t want your hair to have that sticky feel typical with pomades and waxes. Hair supplements might come in handy if you are experiencing hair thinning or hair loss. While supplements are not a miracle cure, some can make a difference in how your hair feels and looks.
What Is Mullet
The mullet is a classic 70s and 80s hairstyle featuring longer hair at the back and short or medium hair at the sides and front. Described simply as “business in the front, party in the back,” the combination of longer and shorter hair was seen as a “rebel” style hence the description.
Mullets became prominent in the 70s and 80s, with celebrities rocking the style back in the day. During that period, like many punk hairstyles back then, mullets were heavily styled with voluminous and blown-out hair tied back into a ponytail or worn loose.
Dos and Don’ts
- Add texture by using products like hair pomade or gel to maintain a more celeb-than-hillbilly look.
- Do maintain the balance and transition between the longer hair at the back and the shorter hair.
- Do add layers to connect the different sections for a more modern look.
- Do consider going for regular trims once a week or every two weeks.
- While you want to tone it down, don’t lose the fun business at the front, party at the back vibe
FAQ About How to Grow a Mullet
How long does it take to grow a mullet?
For most people, it can take at least six months to grow a mullet, but it depends on your hair growth rate.
Are mullets coming back in 2022?
Mullets are coming back even bigger in 2022 after gaining mainstream popularity in 2019.
Can people with straight hair grow a mullet?
Mullets are versatile and can work on all hair types, including straight hair.
How do you know if a mullet will suit you?
To know if a mullet will suit you, consider your face shape and choose an appropriate style.
What face shapes can pull off a mullet?
Fortunately, mullets can work on all face shapes; you need to choose a style that goes with your face shape.
How do you deal with mullets when growing out hair?
The best way is to trim the back every four to six months.
Conclusion
Hairstyles come and go, but only very few make a stronger comeback. The modern mullet started gaining mainstream popularity in 2019 among celebrities.
Since then, this 70s and 80s hairstyle has not shown any signs of slowing down in popularity and only keeps improving as people find clever ways of wearing this trendy hairstyle.
Anthony Giannotti is a senior writer and editor for Beardoholic and a licensed barber for more than 13 years. He owns 3 barbershops and has his own hair care product line that is sold in barbershops worldwide. Known for his impeccable technique and skills, Anthony is an expert in hair and beard care and he knows the best products and tools to get rid of all beard problems and have an amazing beard.