Honestly, nobody saw it coming. When the clock struck midnight on January 1, 2020, we all had our own ideas of what the new decade would look like, but I’m fairly certain "the return of the Billy Ray signature look" wasn't on anyone's bingo card. Then Miley Cyrus posted that Instagram photo. You know the one—the sharp, piecey, bleached-out "modern mullet" that basically reset the entire beauty industry's clock.
It wasn't just a haircut. It was a whole vibe shift.
For years, the mullet was the punchline of every bad hair joke. It was "business in the front, party in the back," the uniform of 80s rockers and people who hadn't updated their look since the fall of the Berlin Wall. But Miley Cyrus mullet style changed the conversation. She took something that was widely considered a "beauty sin" and turned it into the ultimate symbol of punk-rock rebellion and effortless cool.
How the Miley Cyrus Mullet Actually Happened
It’s easy to think these things are just random whims, but the birth of this specific look was actually a weird mix of professional expertise and "oops" moments. Back in late 2019, Miley’s longtime stylist, the legendary Sally Hershberger, started easing her into a shaggier look. They were going for something edgy. Something that screamed "I'm about to release a rock album called Plastic Hearts."
Hershberger used a razor—not just scissors—to slice into the hair. This is key. Using a razor gives it that "lived-in," slightly frayed texture that makes a modern mullet look high-fashion instead of just... well, dated.
But then, 2020 happened.
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When the world shut down and salons became a memory, Miley ended up in a situation we all faced: the "quarantine hair" crisis. Her bangs were getting long. She couldn't get to Sally. So, her mom, Tish Cyrus, stepped in. On an episode of Jimmy Kimmel Live, Miley joked that Tish only knows one haircut because she’s been doing it for Billy Ray and the boys since 1992.
The result? A "pixie mullet" born out of necessity. Sally Hershberger actually had to FaceTime in to guide Tish through the process, demonstrating the motions on her own hair so they didn't totally botch it. It turns out, that "accidental" DIY energy is exactly what gave the look its authentic, raw edge.
Is it a Mullet, a Shag, or a Wolf Cut?
The internet loves a label. If you go to a stylist today and ask for the Miley Cyrus mullet, they might ask if you actually mean a "shullet" or a "wolf cut."
Technically, there’s a difference.
- The Classic Mullet: This is all about disconnection. The hair on the sides is cut very short (sometimes buzzed), creating a sharp drop-off between the front and the long hair in the back.
- The Shag: This is more blended. It’s got layers everywhere, but they all connect. It’s more 70s Stevie Nicks than 80s hair metal.
- The Wolf Cut: This is basically the love child of the two. It’s got the volume and heavy top layers of a shag but the longer "tail" of a mullet.
Miley’s version usually sits right in the middle. It’s got enough disconnection to be provocative, but enough shaggy layering to frame her face. Hershberger has mentioned that the "corners" of the haircut are what make or break it. If you leave the corners, it looks conservative. If you texturize them out, you get that rebellious Miley flare.
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Why This Look Actually Works (When it Shouldn't)
Let’s be real: the mullet is a hard sell. It’s aggressive. It’s polarizing. But on Miley, it worked because it matched her "evolution." She was moving away from the bubblegum pop of her youth and the psychedelic era of Dead Petz and leaning into a gritty, Joan Jett-inspired rock persona.
The Miley Cyrus mullet works because it’s high-contrast. The short, choppy bangs draw all the attention to the eyes and cheekbones, while the length in the back balances out the jawline. It’s also incredibly versatile. Miley has worn it slicked back for the red carpet, messy and "crunchy" for performances, and even soft and blown out for more formal events.
Getting the Look Without the Regret
If you're sitting there thinking, "I could totally pull this off," you’re probably right—but you need a plan. You can’t just hack at your hair with kitchen scissors and hope for the best.
First, talk to your stylist about your face shape. If you have a rounder face, you might want more volume on top to add height. If your face is long, keep the bangs a bit wider to create some horizontal balance.
Pro-tip: The products are non-negotiable. This isn't a "wash and go" look for most people. Miley’s team uses heavy-duty volumizing mousses and shaping balms. You need that "grit." If your hair is too soft or shiny, a mullet just looks like a mistake. You want it to look like you've been in a mosh pit, even if you’ve actually just been in a Zoom meeting.
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The Cultural Impact: More Than Just a Haircut
It’s kind of wild to see how one person’s choice influenced an entire generation. After Miley debuted the look, we saw versions of it on everyone from Billie Eilish to Barbie Ferreira and even Rihanna. It became the "cool girl" uniform of the early 2020s.
It’s a "safe" way to be rebellious. It says you don't care about traditional beauty standards, but you still understand fashion enough to know that "ugly-cool" is the highest tier of style.
The Miley Cyrus mullet basically paved the way for the "gender-neutral" hair movement we're seeing now. It’s a cut that doesn't belong to men or women; it belongs to anyone with enough confidence to wear it. It’s about taking ownership of your image.
Actionable Tips for Your Own Mullet Journey
If you’re ready to take the plunge, don't just show up at the salon and say "mullet." That's a recipe for disaster.
- Bring Reference Photos: Specifically, photos of Miley from different angles. One person's "edgy" is another person's "disaster."
- Start with a Shag: If you’re scared, ask for a long shag first. It’s easier to transition from a shag into a mullet than it is to fix a mullet that’s too short.
- Invest in Texture Spray: Dry shampoo and sea salt sprays are your new best friends. The mullet lives and dies by its texture.
- Commit to the Vibe: A mullet requires an attitude. It’s a statement piece. If you’re going to do it, you have to lean into it.
The Miley Cyrus mullet might eventually go the way of the beehive or the "Rachel" cut, becoming a time-stamped relic of a specific era. But for now, it remains the ultimate example of how to take something "dated" and make it feel like the future.
Whether you love it or hate it, you have to respect the hustle. It takes a lot of guts to bring back the haircut that the 90s tried so hard to forget. Miley didn't just bring it back; she made us all wonder why we ever let it go in the first place.
To keep your new cut looking sharp, schedule "dusting" appointments every six weeks. Because there's a very fine line between "fashion-forward mullet" and "I haven't seen a barber in three years," and that line is usually about half an inch of growth.