Mullets have been around for way longer than the 1980s. The first mention of the mullet was in Homer’s The Iliad when he described the Abantes spearmen; however, the term ‘mullet’ wasn’t a word until the Beastie Boys song ‘Mullet Head.’ It used to be referred to as a high-low cut until the Beastie Boys song. During Ancient Rome the mullet was a practical hairstyle because the hair kept their neck warm and dry while also keeping hair out of their eyes during battle. But, who is going into battle with a shield and a sword in the twenty-first century? No one.

Although this cut has been around for ages, is it really business in the front and a party in the back? The simple answer is no. There’s a reason they shift in and out of style. The mullet began gaining popularity in the 1970s when David Bowie debuted it for his Ziggy Stardust persona. The trend died down shortly after the debut, but it came back in popularity during the 1980s when musicians, actors and athletes began adopting the hairstyle. As the 2000s approached, the mullet died down, but it has since begun gaining popularity among many teenagers. 

The mullet has fluctuated as a trend for years now because it is simply unattractive. Red lipstick, for example, has always been a solid trend since the beginning of the 1900s. It has never gone out of style because it is a classic look. Everything looks good with red lipstick. Jeans with a plain white tee, a cocktail dress, or anything in between. A mullet, however, is not a classic. It fluctuates because the people who are wearing a mullet realize how terribly awful they look, so they put the trend to rest for about 20 years. Obviously, future generations do not learn from the mistakes of past generations, which causes grief for all generations before them and all of the women around them. 

As mentioned previously, the Beastie Boys coined the term mullet from their song ‘Mullet Head’ because they were describing the destruction that someone with a mullet left behind. The origin of the term ‘mullet-head’ is an old English insult meaning a stupid or foolish person. Therefore, anyone who has a mullet is automatically deemed a stupid and foolish person. 

Many people around North Forsyth High School agree that the mullet needs to go. In a poll conducted through Instagram, 139 out of 227 people said they did in fact think mullets are ugly. That is sixty-five percent of people who agree that mullets are simply a disgrace.

Various people from North Forsyth have voiced their opinion on the mullet. Junior Camden Edwards said, “No offense, but if you have a mullet you will never get a girlfriend.” Do you hear that boys? You might want to reconsider. Sophomore Emmelyn Harrison voices a somewhat different opinion on the mullet. However, it falls in along the same basis that the mullet is never a good choice. “I feel like they could look good, but I’ve never seen one that looks good. I do not think straight mullets look good at all,” said Harrison. 

Some people show no mercy when it comes to their opinion on the mullet. According to junior Mitchell Dolan, “I don’t have the right words to describe how ugly they are other than that they are just ugly.” Junior Faith Cooper agrees with Dolan. “In my opinion, the mullet is ugly. Nobody that has a mullet has a bright future,” said Cooper. 

Senior Sarah Parker talks about her feelings on the mullet too. “They’re horrible. They’re just so ugly. It looks like a rat coming down someone’s head.” Junior Haelim Adle claims, “They are appalling. Mullets are ugly just like the boys wearing them. I would say that the only mullets I’ve ever seen that actually look good are the ones that girls have been currently getting. Like Miley Cyrus is killing it, but these boys around school are wannabes. They look awful,” said Adle. The take Adle has on mullets only looking good on women is interesting; however, I would like to make the disclaimer that women who wear mullets do not shave the sides of their heads. They have been cutting the front of their hair into a sort of curtain bang hairstyle while leaving the back it’s normal length. 

Most of these interviews have been taken from women; however, guys agree that mullets are ugly as well. Senior Jame Salamanca’s opinion on the mullet is that “It’s just ugly.” Obviously, the mullet is a hairstyle that should have been ostracized from society a long time ago. To quote the wise words of sophomore Evan Goodwin, “It’s a haircut that should have stayed in the ’80s.”