How to Rock a Girl Mullet, According to Hairstylists

It’s the rare haircut that is edgy and wearable. But the mullet is both. A far cry from its retro roots, today’s mullet is “a hybrid of several styles,” says celebrity stylist Adir Abergel (whose clients Kristen Stewart and Charlize Theron have sported versions of a mullet). Whereas yesteryear’s mullet was a slightly jarring blend of a short bowl cut with a long tail in the back, today’s iteration simply “emphasizes shorter layers around the face, which lengthen toward the back,” says Claire Malarkey, owner of Voe Studio in Brooklyn. Consider it the mutt of haircuts: a loveable mix of looks.

Evoking images of Pati Smith, Pat Benetar, and David Bowie the androgynous style is not only flattering to every gender, it is eminently customizable. Read on for ways to make the look your own. 

The Difference Between a Shag and a Mullet

Both Abergel and Malarkey note that the mullet often gets confused with its cousin the shag. Like a mullet, a shag is a highly layered cut that is shorter in front than in back, but the mullet is more “disconnected” (stylist-speak for a sharp delineation between lengths). The shag, on the other hand, is more connected so there is some graduation between lengths. 

How to Personalize Your Mullet

For Abergel, the mullet is a canvas of limitless possibilities. “You can intermingle favorite elements from the haircuts that have looked best on you, such as shorter bangs, shaggy layers, or longer perimeters, to tailor it to your face.” The trick is to understand what suits your face and incorporate those elements into the cut.

Malarkey advises bringing your stylist pictures of the look you’re after to ensure a successful result.

Who is a Mullet Right For?

This is actually a true wash-and-wear style, Malarkey says. In other words, you shouldn’t have to style it to give it a personality; the cut itself is the statement. She says that all hair types can rock the look, provided that if you’ve got wavy hair “you’re okay with curly bangs.” 

How to Style a Mullet

Because the mullet is an air-dry style, using products with soft hold is essential to maintaining its shape. Clare recommends using volumizing mousse on the roots and mid-section of the hair, and balm on the ends to create definition. (Try Kerasilk Volumizing Styling Foam and Kerasilk Taming Balm.) Finish with a light misting of flexible hairspray, such as Verb Ghost Hairspray.

Types of Mullets

Looking for some mullet inspiration? Here are eight ways the girl mullet has been interpreted—then and now.