It started as a mistake. Honestly. Hassan Emilio Kabande Laija—the global superstar better known as Peso Pluma—didn't actually sit in a barber chair and ask for the world's most polarizing haircut. He was in Medellín, Colombia, and the barber just... did it. In several interviews, Peso Pluma admitted that he initially hated the look. He looked in the mirror and thought it was a disaster. But then he filmed a music video, saw how it moved on camera, and realized he’d accidentally stumbled onto a cultural phenomenon.
Now, you see the Peso Pluma mullet everywhere. It’s in the stands at World Cup qualifiers. It’s all over TikTok. It’s even showing up in high-fashion editorials where "regional Mexican aesthetic" was once ignored.
This isn't just a haircut. It is a massive shift in how young Latino men, and honestly guys everywhere, are reclaiming an old-school "shag" and making it look expensive.
What Actually Defines the Peso Pluma Mullet?
If you walk into a shop and just say "give me a mullet," you’re going to regret it. There are a dozen ways to do a mullet, from the 80s hair-metal fluff to the "modern mullet" with a high fade. The Peso Pluma version is specific.
Basically, it’s a mix of a classic mullet and a traditional "shag" or muff cut. The front is chopped into straight, heavy bangs that sit just above the eyebrows. This is the "edgy" part. It’s blunt. It’s intentional. The sides are tapered, but not usually skin-faded like a typical buzz. You want some bulk there to connect the front to the back.
Then you have the tail.
The back is long—often reaching the nape of the neck or the shoulders—but it’s thinned out with shears so it doesn't look like a solid block of hair. It needs to flow. When Peso Pluma performs, that hair moves. That’s the "corridos tumbados" energy. It’s chaotic but controlled.
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Why the Texture Matters More Than the Length
If you have pin-straight hair, you’re in luck. This cut was literally made for you. However, if your hair is curly or super thick, your barber is going to need to use thinning shears or a razor. You don't want a "helmet" effect.
The goal is a piecey, almost wet look. Most guys are using a sea salt spray or a light pomade to give it that "just off the stage" grit. If it looks too clean or too brushed, it loses the vibe. You want it to look like you haven't seen a comb in three days, even if you spent twenty minutes styling it.
The Cultural Weight of the "Pelo de Peso"
For a long time, the mullet was a joke in Mexico and much of Latin America. It was seen as "naco" or low-class. It was the haircut of the 90s that everyone wanted to forget. Then comes Peso Pluma. He’s blending traditional regional Mexican music with trap, hip-hop, and urban aesthetics.
Suddenly, the haircut became a symbol of this new movement.
It’s a middle finger to the polished, "pretty boy" look that dominated Latin pop for decades. You don't need to look like a soap opera star. You can look a little rough around the edges. You can look like you’re from the street even if you’re selling out stadiums.
Barbers in Guadalajara and Los Angeles report that kids as young as five are coming in asking for the mullet Peso Pluma haircut. It’s become a rite of passage. It bridges the gap between the older generation who grew up on Chalino Sánchez and the Gen Z kids who are listening to "Ella Baila Sola" on repeat.
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How to Ask Your Barber for This Without Ruining Your Life
Don't just show a photo. Well, show a photo, but explain the mechanics. Barbers are humans; they interpret things differently.
- The Bangs: Ask for a blunt fringe. Tell them you want it heavy but not wide. It shouldn't wrap around your temples; it should stay focused on the forehead.
- The Sides: Ask for a "taper" rather than a "skin fade." You want some hair around the ears so the transition to the back doesn't look like a mushroom cap.
- The Back: Specify that you want the length, but you want "texturizing." This is the secret. If they don't take the weight out of the back, you’re going to look like Joe Dirt. You want it to look "shredded."
Maintaining the Look at Home
You can’t just roll out of bed. Well, you can, but it might look flat.
- Sea Salt Spray: Spray it on damp hair and scrunch it. This creates the "separated" look Peso Pluma is known for.
- Avoid Heavy Waxes: They’ll weigh down the back. You want movement.
- Monthly Trims: The bangs grow fast. Once they hit your eyes, the look is ruined. You’ve got to keep that blunt line sharp.
Common Misconceptions About the Peso Pluma Style
People think it’s just a "dirty mullet." It’s not. It’s actually a very high-maintenance cut because of the precision of the bangs. If the bangs are off by half an inch, your face shape looks completely different.
Another mistake? Thinking you need a certain face shape. While it definitely suits guys with more angular or "diamond" face shapes, the volume in the back actually helps balance out a rounder face. It draws the eye vertically.
Also, it's not just for Latinos anymore. In late 2024 and throughout 2025, we saw a massive uptick in this specific silhouette in Seoul and Tokyo. The global influence of "La Doble P" is real. It’s a global "wolf cut" variation that just happens to have its roots in Mexican rebellion.
The Evolution of the Mullet in 2026
We are seeing a shift now where guys are adding color to the Peso Pluma mullet. Platinum tips on the "tail" or even subtle "peek-a-boo" colors under the bangs.
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But the core remains the same. It’s about attitude.
The mullet Peso Pluma haircut works because the guy wearing it doesn't care if you like it. That’s the whole point. It’s a haircut that demands you look at it, whether you think it’s stylish or "too much."
Actionable Steps for Your Next Haircut
If you’re ready to pull the trigger, follow this checklist to ensure you don’t end up with a regular, boring mullet.
- Grow your hair out first: You need at least 4-5 inches on the top and back before a barber can truly shape this. If you go in with a buzz cut, you’re just getting a mohawk.
- Find a barber who understands "texture": Ask if they use a razor or thinning shears. If they only use clippers, walk out. This cut requires hand-work.
- Buy a blow-dryer: You don't need to spend an hour, but blowing the bangs forward for 30 seconds helps them sit flat against your forehead.
- Check the back profile: Use a hand mirror. The hair should follow the curve of your neck, not stick out like a shelf.
The Peso Pluma look is here to stay because it’s the first time in a long time a haircut has felt truly "new" by being unapologetically "old." It’s a throwback that feels like the future. Whether you love it or hate it, you can’t deny that it has redefined masculinity for a whole new generation of music fans.
Before you head to the shop, make sure your hair is clean and product-free so the barber can see your natural growth patterns. This helps them decide exactly where those blunt bangs should land to frame your eyes properly. Keep the back long, keep the sides tight, and keep the attitude high.