Hair texture and how often you’ll see a stylist decide which of the 4 styles suits you, from the matte, piecey Textured Mullet with Slick Back to the gel-set Shiny Wet Look Mullet, and from easy upkeep to the Edgy Mullet with Bangs and the Slicked-Back Mullet with Shaved Sides, which go stale fast.
Deep or saturated color makes a slick-back finish look its sharpest, though shaved sides demand frequent clean-ups if the edge is going to stay crisp.
1. Edgy Mullet with Bangs
Short, textured bangs are what make a mullet read as edgy instead of nostalgic.
Cut them around the brow line and keep the ends a little textured, since the shorter the fringe, the more it needs some softness to sit well with the choppy back.
Dark brown hair shows that contrast well. A light texturizing spray at the fringe keeps it from lying flat.
The trade-off: bangs this short need regular trims, so tell your stylist you plan to maintain them before the first cut.
2. Textured Mullet with Slick Back
Deliberate disarray is the whole idea here: the top and sides are slicked back, while the back stays rough and piecey. Shaved sides make the length behind them look even more intentional.
A matte paste or clay works better than gel for the textured part. Work it through the back with your fingertips, then smooth only the top with a comb.
A softer version works too: keep the sides tapered instead of shaved.
3. Shiny Wet Look Mullet
Wet-look hair works best when the cut is clean, and a mullet gives you a clear line from crown to nape. Purple shows the shine well, because light catches on color that is already saturated.
Apply a strong-hold gel to damp hair, then comb it straight back or down so the shine looks even. Use a light hand: too much leaves the strands stiff and flaky once dry.
Gel does the work, so no heat is needed.
4. Slicked-Back Mullet with Shaved Sides
Smooth hair on top, bare sides and a long nape: that contrast is the entire look, and it shows best in profile. Dark hair gives the slick-back a polished, solid finish.
Ask for the sides clipped close and the length left at the back. Comb a pomade through damp hair from the front to the crown, so no strands lift.
Shaved sides grow out quickly, so expect regular clean-ups to keep the edge sharp. A longer clipper guard cuts down on upkeep, since the sides need touching up less often.
Styling Tips for Mullet
Salt spray is the pick for wavy hair. A few spritzes on damp strands, scrunched and left to dry, bring out the bend that a mullet’s back length can hide.
Straight hair needs a little grip to hold a mullet’s shape, and a light texturizing spray or a dab of pomade adds that without weighing the strands down. Work either one through the ends rather than the roots.
Curls get the most from layers of different lengths.
Cut that way, the hair falls in defined pieces, and a light spray sets them so the shape holds. This makes daily styling simpler, since the cut does much of the work.
Regular trims keep the shape from going shapeless.
Face Shapes for Mullet Styles
Oval and oblong faces take a mullet with volume and depth best, and a textured back adds that without cutting length.
Strong jawlines and triangular faces suit an undercut version.
The shaved sides against the long back create angular symmetry, and the line is stark, so it needs a confident cut. Coarse, straight hair holds this cut best.
A bolder short mullet suits straight, wavy and curly hair alike.
A long, feminine version suits thick, wavy or curly hair, while a softer feminine cut fits straight or wavy hair. A shaggy mullet works on any hair type.
Pick the length and layering for your hair type first, then adjust the shape around your face.
Fierce and sure to turn heads, the modern mullet is perfect for a bold and rebellious look.
Maintenance for Mullet Haircuts
Trims matter most where the shape is sharpest. A faded or shaved section loses its clean line first, so book the next appointment before you leave the chair.
Styling product needs to be as steady as the trims. A slicked top only stays slick if you use the same product the same way each day, so choose one and stick with it.
Curly hair makes upkeep easier. A medium-length layered cut with a light hair spray for definition cuts down on styling effort, since the layers do the shaping for you.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are mullets still cool in 2026?
Yes, the modern mullet is still a bold, stylish pick, and it has moved well past its nostalgic image.
More women now wear it, from everyday life to the red carpet, and that has given the cut a more polished feel than it had in the ’80s.
Short textured bangs or a slicked-back top push it toward edgy rather than retro.
What is a female mullet called?
It is usually just called a mullet, sometimes with a descriptor like feminine, shaggy or modern.
Softer, blended layers give the feminine take on a mullet its shape, and it sits best on thick, wavy or curly hair; straight to wavy hair can work too if the layering is kept gentle.
What are the 2026 slick back hair styles?
The slick-back mullet is the main one: the top and sides are combed back and the length stays at the nape.
A textured version leaves the back rough and piecey with a matte paste or clay, while a shiny wet-look version uses strong-hold gel on damp hair. A shaved-sides cut makes the contrast sharpest, and a tapered version softens it.
Do girls find modern mullets attractive?
Yes, modern mullets are widely seen as attractive and stylish, especially softer versions with blended layers.
A cut that suits your hair type and face shape matters most. Volume and depth flatter oval and oblong faces, and an undercut version tends to suit a strong jaw or a triangular face.
