How to Ask Your Barber for a Mullet (the Modern Kind)

5 min read · Glowmaxx

Here's how to ask your barber for a mullet in one breath: "Modern mullet, please. Low taper on the sides, about two to three inches on top with texture, and leave the back long, around three inches past where it's cut now. Blend it, no hard step." The key word is modern. Without it, some barbers will hand you a full 1980s look, and nobody's asking for that.

If you're mid grow-out and can't tell if the mullet is working or just messy, Glowmaxx scores your hair from one selfie and tells you straight. Start my glow-up

Modern mullet vs the 80s one

The old mullet was "business in the front, party in the back": short everywhere, then a long curtain at the back with a sharp jump. The modern mullet keeps the idea but blends it.

So what is a modern mullet? It's a mullet with a fade and texture. That's the whole meaning.

How long does your hair need to be for a mullet?

You need length at the back more than anywhere else.

• Back: at least touching your collar, ideally a bit past.
• Top: two inches or more, so there's something to texture.
• Sides: any length, since they get tapered anyway.

How to grow a mullet if you're starting short

Tell your barber: "I'm growing a mullet. Keep the sides tidy, trim the top a little, don't touch the back." Go every five to six weeks just for the sides. Two or three months of that and you're there. The awkward stage is real, but tidy sides make it look deliberate.

The script: what to tell your barber for a mullet

A Reddit thread tops Google with "what do I tell my barber?" because people freeze in the chair. Use this.

1. Name it: "Modern mullet."
2. Sides: "Low taper" or "burst fade" (more on that below). "Take the sides tight around the ears."
3. Top: "Keep about two to three inches, textured and choppy."
4. Back: "Leave the length at the back. Just clean the ends and add a bit of layering."
5. Blend: "Blend the top into the back so there's no step."
6. Neckline: "Don't square off the back. Keep it natural."
7. Photo: a side and back photo of someone with your hair type.

How to ask for a modern mullet haircut at a salon

Same words work at a salon. If your stylist hasn't cut many mullets, add: "Short around the ears, length at the nape, layered so it flows."

Taper, burst fade or neither?

This is the choice that makes it yours.

Low taper fade mullet

The safe, clean choice. Short just above the ears and around the sideburns, with length left at the back. It looks tidy for school or work. Here's a full breakdown of what a low taper fade is.

Burst fade mullet

A burst fade curves around the ear in a half-circle and leaves the back long. This is the most "mullet" mullet: sharp around the ears, full length at the neck. Say "burst fade around the ears, keep the back long."

No fade (scissor mullet)

Scissors only, sides layered short, back left long. Softer and closer to a shag. Great for straight or fine hair that shows fade lines too clearly.

Mullet variants: fringe, middle part, wolf

Textured fringe mullet

Top pushed forward into a choppy fringe, back long. Pair the mullet script with the fringe script from how to ask your barber for a textured fringe.

Middle part modern mullet

Top grown long enough to part down the middle, curtains falling either side, back long. Say "keep enough on top for a middle part, about four inches at the front." The middle part mullet works best on straight to wavy hair.

Wolf cut mullet for guys

More layers everywhere, less contrast. It's halfway between a wolf cut and a mullet.

Fluffy hair mullet

Loads of volume on top, usually on wavy hair, blow-dried up and out. Ask for heavy texture on top and "leave the top fluffy, don't thin the back."

Mullet on curly or straight hair

A curly mullet looks incredible. Ask for it cut dry, and have the barber leave extra length because curls shrink. A mullet on straight hair needs more texture to avoid the "helmet" look.

This is where it gets hard: a mullet lives or dies on proportions, and you can't judge the back of your own head. Glowmaxx scores your hair out of 10 from one selfie with a one-line note, and the glow timeline lets you see whether each trim moved it forward. Start my glow-up

Styling and upkeep for a modern mullet

Daily styling (about 3 minutes)

1. Dampen hair.
2. Sea salt or texture spray through the top and back.
3. Scrunch the back upward for movement. Push the top forward or into a part.
4. Air-dry or rough blow-dry.
5. A little matte paste on the top only. The back should move.

How often to get it cut

• Sides: every three to four weeks, since tapers grow out fast.
• Back: every eight weeks, just the ends.
• Top: whenever it starts falling in your eyes.

Tip: book "sides only" appointments in between full cuts. Many barbers charge less.

See if your mullet is actually a glow-up

Knowing how to ask your barber for a mullet gets you the cut. Knowing whether it works on you is the next part. Take one selfie and Glowmaxx scores your hair and four other levers, gives you a glow score out of 100, and suggests three moves for today aimed at the weakest one.

Start my glow-up

FAQ

What do you tell a barber for a modern mullet?

Say "modern mullet," then specify a low taper or burst fade on the sides, two to three inches textured on top, and the back left long and blended. Bring a side and back photo. "Blend it, no hard step" is the phrase that keeps it modern.

How long does it take to grow a mullet?

It depends on your starting length and how fast your hair grows. For most people starting from a short cut, it's a few months. Keep the sides tidy while the back grows, and the in-between stage looks fine.

Is a mullet or a wolf cut better?

A mullet has more contrast (short sides, long back). A wolf cut is layered all over and softer. Go mullet if you want a sharp shape, wolf cut if you want shaggy and blended.

Can you get a mullet with straight hair?

Yes. Ask for texture on top and layers at the back so it doesn't lie flat. A scissor mullet or low taper usually looks better on straight hair than a hard burst fade.

Are mullets allowed at school?

Most schools allow them as long as there are no shaved designs or extreme colors. Some have rules about hair length at the collar. Check your handbook if you're in a strict school.