Spring Break
Ian Grogan Does the 80s
An in depth look at an element that made the eighties so radical
Casey Grogan
Issue date: 4/4/08 Section: Diversions
I guarantee that if you were to walk into a nightclub in the 80s you'd notice a few things: bright lights, a robot dance-off and a sea of mullets.
What is a mullet, you ask? Let me explain.
A mullet is a hairstyle known as "business in the front with a party in the back," and it is easily recognizable for featuring short hair in the front while long hair dangles in the back.
In the 80s, every man, woman and child sported the mullet, also known as a Kentucky Waterfall, a 10-90, or a Neckwarmer. Numerous film and music stars rocked what they had, and most of it was in the back.
An urban legend believes that the mullet originated from fishermen in the 19th century to keep their necks warm, hence its name that matches that of a bottom-dwelling fish. Although it didn't take off as a style until sometime in the 70s, by the 80s the mullet became a highlight of hairstyles, as people began to put their own spins on the classic, thereby requiring a range of classifications for the hairdo.
Aside from the original, mullet styles can also include the skullet, a bald head with hair the clung to the sides. There's also the 'frolet, an afro cut arranged in a form that resembles a mullet. The rattail is also a classic variation of the mullet, where one long braid hangs down the wearer's neck. Even women have their own style, known as the femullet.
It seems the mullet has all but died off since its heightened fame of the 80s. The mullet still remains in some parts of the country - mainly in the South, at state fairs and anywhere Pabst is sold. So if you are ever walking down the street and you see a Camaro with Whitesnake blaring from its speakers, think of the mullet. Think of what it has been through. And don't forget to get the number of the guy driving that car, because I guarantee he knows how to party.
Ian Grogan
diversions@dailybarometer.com
What is a mullet, you ask? Let me explain.
A mullet is a hairstyle known as "business in the front with a party in the back," and it is easily recognizable for featuring short hair in the front while long hair dangles in the back.
In the 80s, every man, woman and child sported the mullet, also known as a Kentucky Waterfall, a 10-90, or a Neckwarmer. Numerous film and music stars rocked what they had, and most of it was in the back.
An urban legend believes that the mullet originated from fishermen in the 19th century to keep their necks warm, hence its name that matches that of a bottom-dwelling fish. Although it didn't take off as a style until sometime in the 70s, by the 80s the mullet became a highlight of hairstyles, as people began to put their own spins on the classic, thereby requiring a range of classifications for the hairdo.
Aside from the original, mullet styles can also include the skullet, a bald head with hair the clung to the sides. There's also the 'frolet, an afro cut arranged in a form that resembles a mullet. The rattail is also a classic variation of the mullet, where one long braid hangs down the wearer's neck. Even women have their own style, known as the femullet.
It seems the mullet has all but died off since its heightened fame of the 80s. The mullet still remains in some parts of the country - mainly in the South, at state fairs and anywhere Pabst is sold. So if you are ever walking down the street and you see a Camaro with Whitesnake blaring from its speakers, think of the mullet. Think of what it has been through. And don't forget to get the number of the guy driving that car, because I guarantee he knows how to party.
Ian Grogan
diversions@dailybarometer.com
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