The mullet, the “business in the front, the party in the back” phenomenon, has returned. But, with a twist. Think Farrah Fawcett, Jane Fonda, Mick Jagger and David Bowie. All of these pop culture icons sported a shag cut during the height of their career. The key is the layers, aka the anchorage. Where the classic mullet has a clear separation from front to back, the shag is a little more wispy, like waves on a beach flowing down, framing the face. 

And while the traditional shag cut and mullet has somewhat dissipated, they still persevere in today’s society. Only now, in the form of the “shaggy mullet.” Don’t confuse this with one or the other; it’s a clear combination. And, it seems like everyone has it. Well, many young women, at least.

The shaggy mullet combo is sort of like a combination of George Harrison circa 1967 with bangs and a little shoulder length cut, whilst verging on the edge of 70s Harrison right around his submergence into the Hare Krishna religious movement. The shaggy mullet is retro, yet modern. It’s androgynous and explorative, yet classic. In short, I believe it to be the perfect hairstyle for that anxiety inducing, thrilling segment of life where you’re not quite an adult or a kid, which may seem ironic considering the aforementioned models and icons above were well into their twenties during their layer phase. 

Nonetheless, I’m here to advocate for this haircut. Because it’s not only a style, it’s a statement of rebellion. And, isn’t that why we live, folks? To rebel against the norm, at least while we’re young and have the time. In my humble opinion, it’s the new “alt” symbol. That, and flared corduroy jeans. It’s not so much early 2000s emo, 80s goth, nor 90s grunge. Like all trends, it’s a submergence of the past and the present. But, this time, I think it’ll stick around a little longer. 

 Miley Cryus, Billie Eilish, Debby Ryan, Natasha Lyonne, Florence Welch and Selena Gomez. These are just a few of the recent celebrities who’ve donned a variation of this style. Like I said before, it’s all about the bangs and the anchorage. You can have it long, you can have it short. Depending on hair texture, it’s curly, wavy, or straight. This hairstyle is anything you want it to be, not so limited as the traditional mullet. And, unlike the mullet, it’s a symbol of femininity mixed with masculinity- something bold, explorative and free. 

So, don’t be perturbed by the mention of the mullet, shag inspired cut, own it. Its endless variations allow the wearer to wield any sort of style. This hairstyle is a powerhouse of possibility and statement, so in short, go try it out.

Gallery • 16 Photos

Abby Lincks

Dante Dhar poses with their shaggy cut. "I follow this person on Instagram," Dhar said. "Their name is Vas. And, I like the style they have, like more of an androgynous look so I just really wanted to capture that."