What is a modern mullet?

A contemporary version of the classic short-front, long-back haircut. It uses more texture, softer transitions and controlled length through the back rather than the extreme contrast of the old-school version.

Is the mullet still popular in Sydney in 2026?

Yes. It's shifted from novelty into a regular request. Shorter, more refined, cleaner around the perimeter than the versions that came back as a costume trend a few years ago.

Is this a faded mullet?

Not aggressively. This example uses tighter sides and soft tapering rather than making a high skin fade the dominant feature.

Does a modern mullet work with straight hair?

Yes. Straight hair works particularly well when enough texture is cut through the top and crown to prevent the shape from looking heavy.

Can wavy hair work with a modern mullet?

Yes. Natural wave adds movement through both the top and the longer rear section, and the haircut often needs less product to hold its shape.

How long should the back be?

No single correct length. The modern version is often kept shorter and more controlled than a traditional mullet. Length gets adjusted for the client's hair, head shape and how bold they want the silhouette.

How often should a modern mullet be cut?

Around four to six weeks for a full reshape, though tighter side work may need refreshing earlier if you want the perimeter permanently clean.

Where can I get a modern mullet in Surry Hills?

Fresh By Prince offers men's haircuts and scissor work from its one-chair studio at 216 Devonshire Street, Surry Hills, with the L1 light rail directly outside.

31 August 2026 8 min read Prince

The Textured Modern Mullet

Short enough through the sides to feel sharp. Long enough through the back to still be a mullet.

Textured modern mullet haircut cut by Prince at Fresh By Prince in Surry Hills Sydney

The cut

Style: Textured Modern Mullet
Fade: Soft taper (no aggressive fade)
Top: Choppy, textured, forward
Best for: Straight to slightly wavy hair, medium-to-thick density
Finish: Matte / natural
Maintenance: Approx. 4 to 6 weeks for full reshaping
Cut by: Prince
Location: Surry Hills, Sydney

The mullet used to be a joke people wore to fancy-dress parties. Not anymore.

The modern version has grown up. Less Billy Ray Cyrus. Less footy-trip costume. More shape, texture and control.

For this cut, Prince went with a textured modern mullet, keeping the top loose and forward, cleaning the sides through a soft taper, and leaving enough length through the back to make the silhouette obvious without turning it into a parody.

That balance is the whole haircut. Short enough through the sides to feel sharp. Long enough through the back to still be a mullet. Textured enough through the top that it doesn't look like someone cut two different hairstyles and glued them together.

What he wanted

A modern mullet, not a costume. Obvious silhouette but wearable day to day. Enough texture through the top and crown that the shape didn't sit heavy, and enough length through the back to show the style properly without pushing it into anything extreme.

What we did

Kept the top choppy and textured, sitting forward with natural movement through the fringe
Soft taper through the sides: clean around the ear, enough weight left above so the taper doesn't dominate
Blended the top into the crown without a hard step, so the whole silhouette reads as one shape
Left the back longer with visible movement, not enough to overwhelm the rest of the haircut
Broke up the density through the top so the length reads as movement, not bulk

Why the cut works

Without texture, this haircut would get heavy fast. There's a lot of hair through the top and back, so Prince needs movement. That means breaking up the density through the top without thinning it into fluff. The fringe stays rough. The top doesn't sit flat. The crown transitions into the longer rear without a hard break. The whole thing has to feel like one shape, not a short haircut in front with a party at the back.

Who this cut suits

Straight to slightly wavy hair
Medium to thick density
Enough hair through the crown and back to carry length
You prefer texture over slick styling
You're OK wearing something with a bit more personality
Your work or lifestyle doesn't force a conservative cut
You're transitioning from a crop or taper and want to grow into something different

Maintenance and grow-out

Styling isn't the hard part. Shape maintenance is. The haircut depends on a deliberate relationship between shorter sides, textured top and longer back, and Prince has to keep those proportions working. Around four to six weeks is a sensible full reshaping rhythm for most clients, though tighter side work may need refreshing sooner if you want the perimeter permanently clean. One advantage of the modern version: it grows into itself reasonably well.

At home

Keep the finish dry and natural. Start with damp hair. Use a light texture spray or sea salt spray if you need extra grip. Dry the top loosely with your fingers, don't flatten the crown. You want the transition into the back to keep some lift and movement. Then a small amount of matte paste, clay or styling cream through the top and fringe. For the back, less product is better. You want movement, not a tail glued to your neck.

What to ask your barber

Ask for a textured modern mullet with the sides kept tight, natural texture through the top, and enough length left through the back to show the mullet shape without going too extreme. Then show the photo. "Modern mullet" means ten different things depending on who's holding the clippers. Some want a shag. Some want a faded mullet. Some just want a slightly longer back. The photo tells your barber which version you mean.

What is a textured modern mullet?

A textured modern mullet is a men’s haircut that keeps the sides shorter while preserving extra length through the back, with choppy texture through the top and crown to create a softer, more wearable version of the traditional mullet. It suits men who want a distinctive silhouette without the extreme length contrast of the old-school version.

The top is usually textured. The sides are often tapered. The back is longer, but not necessarily dramatically long. That’s where the style has settled in 2026: shorter, more refined, less theatrical than the versions that came back as a novelty trend a few years ago.

Why the sides stay tight

The sides are doing an important job. They create the contrast that makes the longer back look intentional. Leave too much weight around the temple and above the ear and the whole haircut starts feeling bulky. Take the sides too high or too aggressively to skin, though, and you turn the cut into something much more extreme.

This version stays controlled. Clean around the ear. Enough taper to create separation. Enough weight left above it to connect naturally into the top. That’s what makes it wearable.

Why this is not a traditional mullet

The old-school version usually relied on much stronger length contrast: very short around the front and sides, very long through the back. This one is more blended. The top carries texture into the crown. The sides taper rather than disappearing. The back has length, but not enough to dominate the whole haircut. That makes it much easier to wear day to day.

Can you grow into a modern mullet from a normal haircut?

Yes, and it’s probably the least painful way to do it. If you already have some length through the crown and back, the sides can start being cleaned while growth is preserved through the rear. Each appointment then shifts the proportions a little further. You don’t have to disappear for six months and come back looking like you joined a touring band.

Does it work with thick hair?

Very well. Thick hair provides enough material to create separation and structure. The challenge is removing weight in the right places. Too much bulk and the top becomes helmet-like. Too much thinning and the haircut loses its shape. Texture is not the same as thinning. Prince is cutting movement into the hair, not stripping it out.

What about wavy hair?

Wavy hair can make this style even stronger. The natural bend adds movement through the back and crown, and the haircut can look good with very little product. The key is controlling the shape around the sides so the wave doesn’t expand everywhere at once.

Why get a modern mullet at Fresh By Prince?

A mullet is one of the worst haircuts to hand to someone who only knows fades. The fade isn’t the hard part. The silhouette is. Prince has to read where the crown sits, where the back starts, how much width the sides can carry, how much fringe suits the face, and how long the rear should go before it starts looking like a different haircut. That’s not a guard-number decision. That’s shape.

Fresh By Prince is a one-chair men’s grooming studio at 216 Devonshire Street, Surry Hills. Prince handles the consultation, cut, styling and finish himself. Standard haircut service is 45 minutes and covers skin or zero fades, scissor work and styling.

Frequently asked

What is a modern mullet?

A contemporary version of the classic short-front, long-back haircut. It uses more texture, softer transitions and controlled length through the back rather than the extreme contrast of the old-school version.
Is the mullet still popular in Sydney in 2026?

Yes. It's shifted from novelty into a regular request. Shorter, more refined, cleaner around the perimeter than the versions that came back as a costume trend a few years ago.
Is this a faded mullet?

Not aggressively. This example uses tighter sides and soft tapering rather than making a high skin fade the dominant feature.
Does a modern mullet work with straight hair?

Yes. Straight hair works particularly well when enough texture is cut through the top and crown to prevent the shape from looking heavy.
Can wavy hair work with a modern mullet?

Yes. Natural wave adds movement through both the top and the longer rear section, and the haircut often needs less product to hold its shape.
How long should the back be?

No single correct length. The modern version is often kept shorter and more controlled than a traditional mullet. Length gets adjusted for the client's hair, head shape and how bold they want the silhouette.
How often should a modern mullet be cut?

Around four to six weeks for a full reshape, though tighter side work may need refreshing earlier if you want the perimeter permanently clean.
Where can I get a modern mullet in Surry Hills?

Fresh By Prince offers men's haircuts and scissor work from its one-chair studio at 216 Devonshire Street, Surry Hills, with the L1 light rail directly outside.

Coming from outside Surry Hills?

Coming from the Inner West?

If you're travelling from Newtown, Erskineville, Marrickville, Petersham, Stanmore, Ashfield or Burwood, getting into Central makes Fresh By Prince an easy city-side appointment rather than a cross-Sydney mission.

Coming from the Eastern Suburbs?

Clients coming from Randwick, Kensington, Kingsford and the eastern light rail corridor can use the light rail network toward Surry Hills and Central.

Coming from Western Sydney?

If you're travelling from Parramatta, Strathfield, Lidcombe or further west, get the train into Central and walk up toward Devonshire Street.

Coming from North Sydney?

Metro and rail connections make Surry Hills accessible from North Sydney, Chatswood and the Lower North Shore without needing to drive across the city and hunt for a park.

Like this cut?

Book the Haircut and bring the photo. Consultation covers the rest.

Book the chair

216 Devonshire St, Surry Hills · L1 light rail at the door