At this point, I don't need to inform you that the 1970s are having a big resurgence in the 2020s. During the past two years, curtain bangs, shags, and even full-on mullet haircuts have all dominated social media, and people are only taking that a step further in 2022. I'm convinced of it, thanks to a hybrid pixie-mullet haircut I've been seeing all over my Instagram and TikTok feeds.
If you track the #pixiemullet, #mulletpixie, and similar tags on TikTok, you'll find at least 100 videos accumulating hundreds of thousands of views per tag. In fact, I'm willing to bet that the "mixie," as I've decided to nickname it, will be the official "it" haircut of 2022. And hairstylists are willing to back me up on that.
"I have definitely noticed [this trend taking off], and I'm a fan of it," exclaims Luis Miller, a New York City hairstylist. "I actually noticed it months ago — because I travel a lot for work, I get the treat of seeing trends before they hit mainstream." Even in mid-Missouri, where hairstylist Colissa Nole operates, the trend is blazing a trail. "Specific trends like this one are being broadcasted all over the social digital world and becoming hits because people share them 10 times more than they did before," she explains.
Miller works mostly as an extension specialist, so he doesn't get many requests for mixie haircuts for obvious reasons — but Nole says she gets a request for a mixie "once a week at minimum." For Brooklyn-based hairstylist Andy Judd, it's another story entirely. One look a this Instagram feed and you'll notice that the miniature mullet is highly requested among his clientele, which he's more than OK with. "The best thing about a pixie-mullet hybrid shape is that — not to quote Hannah Montana, but also to quote Hannah Montana — you get the best of both worlds," he jokes. Basically, you get the chic playfulness of the standard pixie with the rock-and-roll edge of the mullet. Hell yeah.
As far as how the mixie is cut, it's understandably pretty similar to the standard mullet, just with a lower-key party in the back. Choosing exactly how short you'd want it to be in the back is the first step, and the rest is shaped according to that back length and the style of fringe you want. "I would first establish the length wanted for the back. From there, it's basically all cut at 90 degrees following the shape of the head," Miller elaborates. As Nole describes it, "theoretically, it's one short haircut laying on top of another medium-length, layered haircut." There's a disconnection between the short front and the long back, she adds, and that's "where its true beauty lies… in the fluff and the disruption."
It's not surprising to the pros in the slightest that a haircut of this nature is booming right now, especially among Gen Z and young millennials. For one, it's intentionally textured, meaning it doesn't require a lot of finesse to style for everyday wear. "These types of styles really represent that disheveled and messy vibe without being unprofessional," Cole reiterates.
Though a haircut this short and this choppy might be scary to those with more conservative hair tastes, young people are rushing to them in droves to establish strong self-expression. "This new pixie-mullet is super creative, empowering, and shows off all your beautiful features — eyes, cheekbones, jawline)," Miller says. "Rebellious and fierce."
Its rising popularity could also be due to the gateway to super-short hair that it provides. "If you're thinking about making the big chop, getting a pixie shape in the front and keeping the length in the back will give you an introduction to short hair and also look chef's kiss," Judd explains. Miller adds that beauty trends of the past will always circle back, too, making this retro cut's return all the more obvious.
The long story short is that the mullet-pixie, pixie-mullet, mixie, or whatever you choose to call it is primed for a renaissance in 2022 — in fact, that renaissance has already started. So if you're looking for a fresh take on a classic to try at your next appointment, look no further.
More on hair trends:
- "Liquid Hair" Is the Super Glossy Trend We Keep Spotting Everywhere
- "Money Pieces" Are the Hyper-Trendy Highlights Anyone With Any Hair Color Can Do
- The "Playground Highlights" Trend Will Rule in 2022
Now, see how short haircuts have evolved within the past 100 years:
