Beyond the give-zero-f*cks attitude and consummate ability to make a grown man squirm, there's yet another commonality between Billie Eilish [1], Miley Cyrus [2], and Barbie Ferreira [3] that makes them decidedly cool: the confidence to wear a mullet [4], and to wear a mullet well. You see, the haircut trend [5] has been making a steady comeback these last few months, although the style you can expect in 2020 is a more refined take on its faithfully divisive "Achy Breaky Heart" counterpart.
"The beauty of this modern look is that it can be cut for any hair type [6] – just add texture with an undone feel," said LA-based celebrity hairstylist Laurie Heaps [7], who chopped Ferreira's hair into a mullet just days before the Golden Globes. "You can embrace your natural waves and curls [8], wear it straight, or switch it up by adding extra bends and dimension with hot tools."
But wait, you say, the mullet hairstyle is that versatile [9]? Why yes, yes it is. Ahead, Leaps breaks down the simple styling tricks you need to know to pull off the retro trend with aplomb.
How To Style A Mullet Haircut: First, Know What To Ask Your Hairstylist
If you want Ferreira's exact style of the mullet haircut, you can try asking for what Leaps did: a mix of razor and scissors to chop section-by-section. "We cut about four inches from the sides and top," she said, adding that she then blended the cut into the back, leaving the length there. "For this style, we wanted to really accentuate the short in the front long in the back look."
How To Style A Mullet Haircut: Play Up Your Texture
If you want to give the hair a slight bend, invest in a smaller version of your favourite flat iron. "Chi's Lava Ceramic Hairstyling Iron [10] ($60) comes in a great travel size perfect for shorter cuts like this," said Leaps. "Taking half-inch pieces of your hair or smaller, use a wrist-flicking technique to wave the iron back and forth down the section. This will give it some chic twists and smooth, tousled curves with just the right amount of bend to them."
How To Style A Mullet Haircut: Add the Finishing Touch
If you want to wear your mullet curly, use a cream like the Shea Moisture Coconut Curl Enhancing Smoothie [11] ($14) beforehand to help define your coils. Then, "whether you choose to wear your modern mullet curly or straight, I recommend a great texturizing spray like Redken's Triple Dry 15 Dry Texture Finishing Spray [12] ($11)," said Leaps. "This one gives the style an airy texture and lift."