One of the most controversial haircuts of all time is back with a vengeance this year. It's the 401k bob.
If everything is clear with the mallet, then what is the point of a 401(k)? – To understand the context of the new hair trend, you need to know: 401k is not a hairdressing term, but an American retirement investment account, a symbol of financial maturity, stable work, “adult life” and responsibility. It is this respectable character that the mallet haircut has in the modern interpretation of 2026.
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The business-in-the-front, party-in-the-back bob haircut has been around since the early 1970s. Since then, the haircut has repeatedly disappeared and reappeared in fashion. Today, its comeback is being welcomed by Hollywood heartthrobs, but the bob has a new interpretation.
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Haircut of 2026 – 401k mullet
This version is much more wearable and respectable than the exaggerated Dirty Joe-esque version from the movie Joe Dirt (2001). The nape is neater here, and the overall silhouette is more textured. It's still “business in the front, party in the back,” but it's no longer a backyard beer party. More like a martini in a closed club with red vinyl couches.
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The hybrid trend has already been embraced by Paul Mescal, Joe Keery, and Austin Butler. Some stars, including Harry Styles, are styling their bangs in a bolder manner, closer to imitating a “mohawk.” The 401k mullet is a logical and stylish evolution of the hairstyle that sharpens the look and never completely goes out of style.
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Stylist Bobby Michael (co-founder of New York salon Maverick House) believes that the demand for the 401k mullet (also known as the mini mullet) is growing rapidly. “The mini mullet is taking over not only Hollywood, but also the streets of New York. We live in an era of nostalgia, so it makes sense that the mullet is making a comeback. It's a modern take on the rock aesthetic of the 1970s and 1980s,” says Michael.
How to get a 401k mullet
To recreate the look, the stylist suggests keeping the back and sides more gathered while working with a textured top and front. “The length difference here is softer than in previous versions of the cut. The sides are textured, the back is cut with a soft transition, and the top of the hair is more fluid. It's a natural evolution,” explains Michael.
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One of the main advantages of the haircut is its ease of styling. All you need to do is blow-dry your hair and add a pomade with a hold. Michael recommends working with your hands, scrunching the strands and emphasizing the natural wave. His favorite is Elastic Styling Pomade by R+Co Bleu. “This look needs a subtle shine, and a matte finish is not the place for it.”
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The 401k mullet has already established itself as an attention-grabbing, compliment-getting haircut, and it's no wonder it's increasingly being hailed as one of the hottest men's hair trends of the season.
Based on material from: Vogue.com