Men’s Mullet: 9 Styles, Guard Sizes & Barber Guide

The men’s mullet has come a long way from the long, disconnected cuts most people associate with the 1980s. The basic idea has stayed the same: more length at the back. Pretty much everything around it has changed.

You can leave the sides fairly natural, clean them up with a low taper, or go much sharper with a fade. That is why two men can both ask for a mullet haircut and walk out with completely different styles.

In this guide, we will look at nine men’s mullet styles, guard sizes, hair types, face shapes, and maintenance. You will also find practical barber instructions, because simply saying “give me a mullet” leaves quite a lot open to interpretation.

What Does a Modern Mullet Actually Look Like?

A mullet is easiest to recognize from the side.

There is more length through the back and nape, while the front and sides are kept shorter. How dramatic that difference looks depends on the version you choose.

A classic mullet hairstyle usually makes the contrast obvious. The back is noticeably longer, and the sides may simply be cut with scissors.

A modern mullet is usually more blended. Texture through the top, layers around the crown, and a taper or fade on the sides can make the whole haircut feel cleaner.

Four areas make the biggest difference:

Top: This controls volume and how you style the haircut.

Sides: These decide whether the mullet looks soft, clean, or aggressive.

Crown: This connects the top with the longer back.

Nape: This is where the length that gives the haircut its mullet shape sits.

The crown is easy to overlook. Cut it too short and the top can suddenly look disconnected from the back.

That is one reason a side view reference photo is often just as useful as the front.

9 Men’s Mullet Hairstyles Worth Knowing

You do not need the most dramatic mullet to make the haircut work.

Start with your natural hair, decide how much contrast you actually want, then choose what happens around the sides.

1. Modern Mullet

If you like the idea of a mullet but do not want something extreme, start here.

A modern mullet keeps visible length at the back but uses texture and layers to soften the transition through the crown. The sides can stay relatively natural or receive a light taper.

It works particularly well when the top has enough movement to avoid sitting completely flat.

Good for: Straight, wavy, and moderately curly hair.

Tell your barber: Keep visible length at the back, add texture through the top and crown, and connect everything without taking the sides too short.

2. Low Fade Mullet

The low fade mullet cleans up the bottom of the sides while keeping more hair above the ears.

Because the fade starts low, you do not lose as much side weight as you would with a higher fade. From the side, the longer back still remains the main feature.

This is a useful middle ground if you like fades but do not want the sides to dominate the haircut.

The shortest section can be very close, but there is no single guard combination that every low fade mullet should use.

3. Low Taper Mullet

This one is more subtle.

Instead of fading most of the side, a low taper focuses mainly on the temples, sideburns, and neckline. Most of the hair above the ears stays intact.

The result grows out more softly and keeps the mullet looking fuller around the sides.

If you already know you want this type of finish, our Low Taper Fade guide explains the taper itself in more detail.

Tell your barber: Keep the taper low at the temples and nape. Leave weight above the ears and preserve the length through the crown and back.

4. Burst Fade Mullet

This is where the shape becomes much more obvious.

A burst fade curves around the ear rather than travelling straight across the side. Hair behind that curved fade remains longer, which naturally works with the shape of a mullet.

Look at it from the side, and the difference is easy to spot.

The important detail is fade height. If the burst travels too high, you can lose more side weight than you expected.

For that specific style, see our full Burst Fade Mullet guide.

5. Skin Fade Mullet

Want the sides considerably sharper? A skin fade creates the strongest contrast in this list.

The shortest section is taken down to skin before being blended into the longer hair above. Put that next to a longer back, and the separation becomes very noticeable.

There is a trade-off.

A fresh skin fade looks extremely clean, but regrowth becomes visible quickly. If you do not want frequent barber visits, a low taper or longer fade may make more sense.

Read our Skin Fade guide if you want to understand the fade before combining it with a mullet.

6. Curly Mullet

Curly hair already has something a mullet needs: movement.

Rather than forcing texture into the haircut with styling products, the natural curl pattern can create volume through the top, crown, and back.

The tricky part is length.

Curly hair can appear significantly shorter once it dries. If too much is removed while the hair is wet or stretched, the finished shape may end up shorter than expected.

A barber also needs to control bulk without thinning away the curls that make the style work.

Our Curly Mullet guide goes deeper into curl-specific cutting and styling.

7. Textured Mullet

Straight and wavy hair can sometimes sit too flat for the shape you have in mind.

That is where texture helps.

A textured mullet uses layers and controlled weight removal to create separation through the top and crown. It should still keep enough weight to connect properly with the back.

This does not mean thinning everything.

Too much thinning can leave the back wispy and make the crown look disconnected. The goal is movement, not simply less hair.

A small amount of matte clay, paste, or texture spray is usually enough for definition.

8. Short Mullet

Not ready for a long back? You do not need one.

A short mullet keeps the same basic proportions but makes the difference between the sides and back less dramatic. There is still extra length around the nape, just not enough to create a long tail.

It is also easier to move into from a normal short haircut.

One mistake is trimming the back every time the rest of the haircut is cleaned up. Keep doing that, and you will never actually develop the shape you are trying to grow.

9. Taper Fade Mullet

A taper fade mullet sits somewhere between a natural-sided mullet and a sharper full fade.

The sideburn and neckline areas gradually become shorter while more hair remains through the main side panel.

That usually means a less exposed scalp and a softer grow-out than a skin fade.

One small warning here: do not assume your barber uses “taper” and “fade” to mean exactly the same thing you do.

A photo solves that problem quickly.

Mullet Guard Sizes: What Should You Ask For?

There is no universal mullet guard size.

The shape of a men’s mullet comes mainly from the length left through the crown and back. Clipper guards are more relevant to the fade, taper, and sides.

Here is a practical reference:

Guard systems and blade setups can vary slightly, so millimeters are useful when you want to be precise.

The longer back is normally shaped with scissors rather than taking one clipper guard through the whole area.

For a softer finish, you might keep the sides around a #2 to #4 equivalent or simply have them scissor cut.

Want more contrast? The fade might begin around #0.5 or #1 before gradually blending into the longer hair.

A skin fade goes shorter again at its lowest point.

Treat those numbers as reference points rather than a recipe. Hair density, head shape and the amount of contrast you want all affect the final blend.

Which Mullet Suits Your Face Shape?

Face shape matters, just not as much as people sometimes think.

You will often see haircuts assigned to one specific face shape as though everyone with that face needs the same haircut. Real hair does not work quite that neatly.

Face shape is useful for deciding where you want volume and where you might want to reduce it. Your hair density, texture, and growth pattern can matter just as much.

Round Face

Keeping some height and texture through the top can add vertical structure.

If the sides become very bulky, the overall shape can appear wider. A controlled low or burst fade can reduce some of that weight while preserving the back.

Oval Face

There is usually plenty of flexibility here.

A short mullet can keep things subtle, while a fade can create considerably more contrast. Hair texture and personal preference are likely to matter more than the face shape itself.

Square Face

A strong jaw can work with both softer and sharper mullets.

Texture and a more gradual transition can soften the overall look. A skin fade does the opposite and puts more emphasis on the angular shape.

Neither is automatically right or wrong. They simply create different results.

Long or Rectangular Face

Be careful about adding too much height on top.

Keeping some width through the sides and using a controlled fringe can stop the haircut from adding even more visual length.

Heart or Triangular Face

Some texture around the fringe and a little weight through the sides can help balance the shape.

Taking the sides extremely short creates much stronger contrast, so make sure that is actually what you want before choosing a high or skin fade.

Choosing a Men’s Mullet by Hair Type

The same reference photo can behave very differently on two heads of hair.

That matters with a mullet because so much of the haircut depends on movement through the crown and back.

Straight Hair

Straight hair shows the outline clearly.

If it sits flat, layering and texture through the top and back can create more movement without taking away the shape.

Wavy Hair

Natural waves already provide movement and often suit a softer mullet.

Be careful about removing too much weight from the back.

Curly Hair

Leave enough length for the curl pattern to form properly.

Shrinkage means wet or stretched hair can give a misleading idea of the finished length.

Thick Hair

Thick hair may need controlled weight removal around the sides and crown.

Take away too much, though, and the transition into the back can suddenly look disconnected.

Fine Hair

Fine hair usually benefits from keeping more density.

Heavy thinning can make the back appear even less full. A shorter textured mullet may create a stronger shape than trying to grow an extremely long back.

Exactly What to Tell Your Barber

Here is the part worth getting right.

Do not walk in and say only:

“Give me a mullet.”

That tells the barber the general haircut family, but very little about the version you actually want.

Try something closer to this:

“I want a modern mullet with visible length at the back. Keep the crown connected to the back and add some texture through the top. I want the sides natural, tapered or faded, with the shortest section around my preferred guard length. Keep the fade below the height shown in this photo.”

Bring reference photos too.

Ideally, show the front, side, and back.

The back photo is easy to forget, but it matters. Two male mullet hairstyles can look almost identical from the front while having completely different lengths behind the ears and at the nape.

What Not to Say

“Same as this photo.”

Point out what you actually like. Is it the fade, fringe, texture, or back length?

“Short on the sides.”

“Short” could mean scissors, 4, 2, 1 or skin. Be specific.

“Make the back long.”

Where should it finish? Just beyond the neckline or considerably lower? Agree before cutting.

“Do whatever looks good.”

That gives away decisions you may care about once the hair is already gone.

How to Style a Men’s Mullet

A mullet does not need to look heavily styled.

For straight or slightly wavy hair, start while the hair is damp. Work in a light-texture product, then blow-dry the top into position using your fingers.

Once dry, a small amount of matte clay or paste can add separation.

Do not start with a large scoop. You can always add more.

Curly hair needs a different approach.

Apply curl cream or mousse while damp, then let it air dry or use a diffuser. Try not to repeatedly brush curls once dry because that can separate the curl pattern and create frizz.

And the back?

Usually, less product is better there. Heavy wax through longer hair can quickly make it look flat or greasy.

Men’s Mullet Maintenance Schedule

This depends heavily on what you did to the sides.

You do not necessarily need to cut every area at every appointment.

That is especially important if you are growing the back.

Tell your barber before the cut that you are trying to preserve length. Otherwise, a normal tidy-up can take off hair you have spent weeks growing.

How to Grow Out a Mullet Without Losing the Shape

This is usually the awkward part.

At some point, the sides may feel too bulky while the back still does not look long enough.

That does not necessarily mean you should cut everything back down.

Keep the length through the nape and back. Clean excessive bulk around the sides when needed. Let the crown maintain enough length to connect both areas.

Damaged ends can still be trimmed without repeatedly shortening the entire back.

The fringe and top may also need small adjustments as the proportions change.

If you are starting from a very short haircut, there is no shortcut here. The back simply needs time to grow.

How Much Does a Men’s Mullet Cost in the UK?

There is no single UK price for a mullet.

A barber may charge it as a standard men’s haircut, a restyle, or a haircut with a fade depending on how much work is involved.

Location matters too. So does whether the appointment includes a wash, styling, a skin fade, or a major change from your existing haircut.

That makes a nationwide fixed price misleading.

Before booking, check the barber’s current service menu and ask which service matches the style you want.

You can also use our UK Barbershop Price Calculator for a rough estimate based on the type of service and location.

5 Mullet Mistakes That Can Ruin the Shape

Some mistakes grow out in a couple of weeks. Others change the entire haircut.

Taking the Fade Too High

Once too much side weight is removed, you cannot put it back.

Agree on the fade height before the clippers start.

Cutting the Crown Too Short

This can leave a visible step between the top and back.

The crown needs enough length to connect both sections.

Copying a Different Hair Texture

A mullet shown on straight, dense hair may not sit the same way on fine curls.

Use reference photos with a reasonably similar texture whenever possible.

Thinning Everything

Thick hair sometimes needs weight removal.

That does not mean every section needs thinning. Too much can leave the back looking wispy.

Choosing a Mullet You Will Not Maintain

A natural sided mullet does not grow out the same way as a skin fade mullet.

If you know you will not visit a barber every few weeks, choose a version that still works as it grows.

Men’s Mullet vs Burst Fade Mullet

These are related terms, but they do not mean the same thing.

A men’s mullet is the broader haircut. The sides might be natural, tapered, faded, or skin-faded.

A burst fade mullet is one particular variation. Its fade curves around the ear while the hair behind it remains longer.

So a burst fade mullet is a mullet, but a mullet does not need a burst fade.

If that curved fade is specifically what you want, use our Burst Fade Mullet guide for the detailed version.

Men’s Mullet FAQs

Is a mullet still fashionable for men?

Modern mullets continue to appear in contemporary men’s hairstyling. Many current versions are softer, more textured and more blended than the traditional high-contrast mullet.

The more useful question is whether the particular version works with your hair and the look you want.

What is the best mullet haircut for men?

There is no single best version.

A short or low taper mullet gives a subtler result. Burst fades and skin fades create much stronger contrast.

Choose based on your hair texture, preferred look, and how often you want to maintain it.

What guard should I ask for with a mullet?

There is no standard mullet guard.

Guards mainly control the sides and fade. The longer crown and back are usually shaped differently.

Show your barber the length you want and use millimeters or a guard number to describe the shorter areas.

What is a mullet fade?

A mullet fade combines longer hair at the back with faded sides.

The fade itself can be low, mid, high, skin, or burst depending on the shape and amount of contrast you want.

Can curly hair have a mullet?

Yes.

Curls can add natural volume and movement to a mullet. The main considerations are shrinkage, bulk, and preserving enough length for the curl pattern to form.

Is a low fade mullet easy to maintain?

It can grow out more softly than a high or skin fade, but the faded area will still lose definition as the hair grows.

How often you refresh it depends on how sharp you want the sides to look.

How long should the back of a mullet be?

There is no required length.

A short mullet might extend only slightly beyond the surrounding hair. Longer versions can go well past the neckline.

Choose the silhouette first rather than chasing a particular measurement.

Can you get a mullet with straight hair?

Yes.

Straight hair makes the shape particularly visible. If it naturally sits flat, layers and texture through the top and crown can create more movement.

How often should I get a mullet cut?

A tight fade may need attention every two to three weeks if you want it consistently sharp.

The overall mullet can usually go longer between full reshapes, particularly when you are intentionally growing the back.

Before You Choose Your Mullet

Do not choose a mullet based only on the name of the style.

Look at the side profile. Look at the back. Check how short the sides actually are and compare the model’s hair texture with your own.

Then decide how much maintenance you are realistically willing to do.

That usually tells you more than asking whether a modern mullet, low fade mullet, or burst fade mullet is “best.”

If the fade is the part you are still unsure about, use our Fade Comparison Tool to compare the options before your next barber visit.