Men have spoken: the mullet is here to stay. According to a recent survey conducted by OnePoll on behalf of Sport Clips Haircut, 1 in 5 American men (out of 2,000 surveyed) are totally here for the “business in the front, party in the back” haircut’s revival.
We can’t say that we’re surprised by this news. As of late, the mullet has been sweeping the hair world, with celebs like Zac Efron, Jacob Elordi, and Troye Sivan even getting in on the action. So, just what’s causing all of this mullet mania among men in particular? According to Kayla Zaiatz, master barber at Bostonian Barber Shop, blame it on quarantine and our obsession with Tiger King.
“With the covid lockdown, barbershops and salons were closed, so people grew their hair out. With the addition of Netflix’s Tiger King special, the world was reintroduced into the glory that is a mullet,” Zaiatz explains. “As the world started to heal, the face to face meetings were still not happening, so on a Zoom call you could look professional from the front while having the satisfaction of knowing that you are all ‘party in the back’.”
The mullet that we’re currently seeing in 2021, is a major departure from the style first popularized in the ‘80s and ‘90s. The modern mullet is more relaxed and shaggier — think more Miley and less Billy Ray Cyrus.
While the mullet can work for just about any hair type and texture, Zaiatz stresses the importance of bringing some inspo photos to your hair appointment if you’re thinking about trying out the cool look.
“A picture is worth a thousand words, so if you look online for any pictures of what kind of mullet you’re looking for, your barber has a better idea of what you want,” she said. “Ultimately your barber knows your hair the best and will guide you correctly through your mullet journey.”
As for styling your mullet? It’s pretty low-key, according to Zaiatz. “Mullets are like wild mustangs and are meant to be untamed,” she said. “But, a sea salt spray, a texture powder, or spray are your best styling products for mullets.”
To see more of Kayla Zaiatz’s work, be sure to follow @kzthebarber on Instagram.
