The Modern Mullet: What It Looks Like Now and How to Get It

The mullet — short sides and front, longer back — returned to mainstream barbershop requests starting around 2020 and has maintained consistent popularity since. The modern version is a significant evolution from the 1980s original. Understanding what changed helps you communicate what you want and know what to expect.

What Makes It Modern

The 1980s mullet was characterized by a sharp, abrupt contrast between very short sides and a very long back, often with little graduation between the two. The modern mullet uses a graduated transition from the short front and sides to the longer back, with visible texture throughout. The front is typically styled with a fringe or textured crop, the sides are faded rather than just short, and the back is longer but usually ends above the collar with layers and texture rather than a single uniform length. The contemporary version is closer to a texturized disconnected undercut than the classic party-in-the-back silhouette.

Length Proportions

A working modern mullet typically has 2 to 4 inches on top and at the front, close or faded sides (guard 0 to 2), and 3 to 6 inches at the back. The back section has visible layers and texture. The neckline on the modern version is usually left more natural than in the classic version.

CADMEN Training

Disconnected cuts, texturizing, and contemporary styles are part of CADMEN's hands-on barbering program. academy.cadmen.ca/in-person-training.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the mullet still in style?

The modern mullet has maintained consistent popularity in barbershop culture through 2024 and 2025. It is not a fleeting trend at this point — it has established itself as a legitimate style option in the current men's haircut landscape rather than a retro novelty. Context for what "in style" means for haircuts: haircut trends operate differently from seasonal fashion. A specific haircut style cycle typically takes 5 to 10 years to build, peak, and then soften back to a steady-state level of demand rather than disappearing. The mullet revival started building around 2019 to 2020. It peaked in visibility around 2022 to 2023. By 2024 to 2025, it had moved past peak trend status into established-style territory — meaning it is now a recognized, legitimately requested style in barbershops rather than specifically a trend piece. Men who want a mullet can get one at a modern barbershop without the style reading as explicitly nostalgic or ironic. The modern execution (faded sides, textured back, front fringe or crop element) is distinct enough from the 1980s version that it reads as a contemporary haircut rather than a throwback. Whether it suits a specific person is a separate question from whether it is "in style." The mullet works on specific face shapes and hair textures and looks out of proportion on others. A barber who assesses your face shape, hair texture, and how you want to present yourself can tell you whether the modern mullet will work for you specifically better than any general trend observation.

How do I ask for a modern mullet at the barbershop?

Asking for a modern mullet at a barbershop is straightforward if you use the right communication approach. The challenge: "mullet" is a term with significant baggage, and different barbers may have different default interpretations of what version you want. Communication approach: bring a reference photo. This is more important for the modern mullet than almost any other style because the variation in what "modern mullet" means is large. A photo showing the specific front-to-back proportion, the fade tightness on the sides, the back length, and the texture level gives the barber a precise visual target. Specify the key measurements in your own words alongside the photo: how short the sides (skin fade, guard 1, or softer), how much front or fringe length (crop style, slight fringe, or longer), how long the back (just below the collar, mid-neck, or longer), how textured vs. clean you want the back section. The term to use: "modern mullet" is widely understood in contemporary barbershops. You can also say "textured mullet" or "disconnected undercut with a longer back" for barbers who may have a more traditional interpretation of "mullet." Questions to ask the barber: "Have you done modern mullets before?" — a barber comfortable with the style will say yes immediately. If they seem hesitant or unfamiliar, showing the reference photo and asking if they can execute it is a fair test. What to avoid: showing a photo from the 1980s or asking for the classic version and expecting a modern result, or vice versa. The two are different enough haircuts that a clear reference image is the single best communication tool.

What hair types work best for a mullet?

The modern mullet works across a range of hair types, but the execution varies significantly based on texture and density. Straight hair: the cleanest execution of the modern mullet is typically on straight hair, where the contrast between the faded sides, the front section, and the longer back is clearly visible and the texture in the back section can be added deliberately with cutting and styling. The front crop or fringe element sits cleanly. Wavy hair: wavy hair produces one of the most attractive versions of the modern mullet. The natural wave in the longer back section adds organic texture and movement that looks intentional rather than processed. The front section with wave adds body to whatever fringe or crop element is used. Wavy-to-slightly-curly hair is arguably the best texture for the modern mullet because the natural movement reduces the need for styling products to create the textured back appearance. Curly hair: a mullet on curly hair is a more committed style. The shorter sides still fade close, but the longer back section will display the curl pattern rather than falling in layers. The result is a distinctive look — tighter curl close on the sides and looser curl growth in the back. Some men with curly hair execute this intentionally as a "curly mullet" and it reads as a deliberate style. It is not a default or easy-to-manage result, however, as curly back sections can grow with more volume and less control than the non-curly version. Fine hair: fine hair can execute the modern mullet but may lack the visual weight and texture in the back section that makes the style distinctive. Using texturizing products (matte clay, texture paste) on the back section is more important for fine hair to create the layered, textured appearance. Very fine or thin hair may make the longer back section look sparse rather than textured. Thick hair: works well, though the back section may need significant thinning shear work to prevent the longer back from becoming too heavy and dense.