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This controversial style is making the cut for the hottest hairstyle of the year.
The mini mullet — a short, textured style described as having a “’70s/’80s rockstar vibe” — is shaping up to be one of the most popular haircuts among the hunks of Hollywood and their Gen Z admirers on social media.
Paul Mescal — a master of minis from mullets to shorts — has adopted the more subdued version of the “business in the front, party in the back” look as part of his signature style.
Meanwhile, actors Jacob Elordi and Austin Butler have started rocking the cut, and Harry Styles’ new summer look has drummed up buzz among fans who swooned over his tresses.
In Tinseltown, the proliferation of the updated mullet — a traditionally controversial and oft-ridiculed cut once associated with a rebellious edginess — has spurred a larger trend at barbershops around the world, as customers clamor for the hottest new ‘do.
In the UK, Club 13 owner Ryan Lewis told The Independent that one-third of his clients request much-maligned mullets, while Bristol barber James Doyle has seen the style spread beyond “musicians and creatives” to accountants and beyond.
In addition to the cool factor of a mini mullet, the style is also popular among the ladies.
One anonymous woman, who was named under the pseudonym Mia, said she’s a fan of “guys with mullets,” telling GQ they’re “funny and naughty.”
“A mullet kinda says that they’re confident, and down with the times. And probably fun. And probably a bit cheeky,” 27-year-old Sally, who declined to provide her last name, told the outlet.
Meanwhile, 26-year-old Megan, who did not provide her last name to GQ, said a mullet is a “signpost that you’re not … well, basic.”
The popularity of the cut has even tempted celebrity hairstylist Halley Brisker to try it himself, although he’s refrained.
“People often assume that male haircuts are much easier to navigate than women’s, but the opposite is often true,” he told Vogue.
While industry professionals say the style can allow young men to express themselves through hair, a mullet — even a mini one — tends to require hair texture that is, unfortunately, up to the genetic lottery.
“The problem with me getting a mini mullet was that while I can change my haircut, I can’t change my hair texture in any meaningful way, which naturally affects the cut I was attempting to achieve,” Brisker said.
“You can’t put a round peg in a square hole and my texture wasn’t naturally suitable for the cut, so it was an uphill battle.”
Men eager for some curls, waves or just a bit of structure to their hair have begun spending hundreds of dollars for perms.
Even teens have flocked to the hair salon for the chemical curling treatment in order to achieve another popular hairstyle, the “broccoli cut.”
Gen Z boys who always wanted curly hair but were destined with pin-straight tresses have saved up or begged their parents to fork over funds for perms, as the shaggy mop hairstyle proliferates on platforms like TikTok.
