The mullet may be one of the most divisive hairstyles there is, but if you were in doubt about its appeal today, look to Charlize Theron sporting the cut in the chicest way possible.

At the Africa Outreach Project (CTAOP) 2022 Summer Block Party, the actress debuted a jet-black mullet, dressed in top-to-toe Dior. While the hairstyle may be for professional reasons – she’s reprising her part as Andy in The Old Guard – Theron is not the only A-lister to have recently pulled off the cut with aplomb.

charlize theron marriage

From Kristen Stewart to Miley Cyrus, the red-carpet mullet is increasingly commonplace, but the resurgence in Hollywood and beyond can be contributed to several factors.

Read Next

Firstly, pop culture references, from Tiger King to Stranger Things, have played a part. As has high-fashion – the mullet has been sent down major runways over the last few years, including Balenciaga and Kenzo.

miley cyrus children childless celebrities
Mike Coppola//Getty Images

Then there’s the role social media plays in the popularity of a hairstyle. According to analysis by hair brand Cloud Nine, the mullet is currently the leading Eighties hair trend on TikTok, with 6.7 billion views of videos baring the hashtag, a 90 per cent weekly increase. The more you see it, the more you want it, so it seems.

Plus, there’s the impact of the pandemic. Spending so much time indoors left many of us craving a transformative look, and the Marmite-esque mullet demands attention. With its rebellious nod, it requires guts. In turn – as Charlize et al demonstrate – it oozes confidence. And who doesn't want that?


From: Harper's BAZAAR UK
Headshot of Bridget March
Bridget March

Bridget March is the Multiplatform Beauty Birector at Harper’s Bazaar, overseeing all beauty and wellbeing content on the UK website and YouTube channel.

From news and interviews to tutorials and treatment reviews, she answers the beauty questions you’re searching for with expert advice (see the renowned #SkinSchool franchise for evidence), taking deep dives into the latest trends (from polynucleotides to Profhilo), and sharing the products A-listers really use (via the ‘Inside my beauty bag’ video series).

Bridget has written for various brands within the Hearst portfolio and beyond, and was formerly Digital Beauty Editor at Cosmopolitan. She lives with her husband and two sons (plus a baby on the way!) in the Cotswolds.

Follow Bridget on Instagram @bridgetmarch