How to get hair like Paul Mescal
Our go-to barber Joe Mills, founder of Woolf Kings X, explains how you can get a mini mullet to rival the Gladiator II actor
Words: Zak Maoui
Ah the mini mullet! It's the hair style of the past few years, and it's not just Australian rugby players or Joe Exotic who are doing it. Whether you like it or not, everyone's gone mad for the mullet again, including Paul Mescal.
Mescal, who will soon be gracing big screens as the lead in Gladiator II, has been repping the mini mullet for a few years now. Mescal was one of the first major figures in the public eye to sport the business-at-the-front, party-at-the-back style, and its come to define his east London laddish charm (it's not rare to see him, mullet and all, fetching coffee on Broadway Market)
And it's a style that we don't expect to go away anytime soon, not now we're hitting peak Paul Mescal mania with the release of the aforementioned Roman flick. So we asked our go-to barber Joe Mills, founder of Woolf Kings X, to show us how you can get a mini mullet as good as Mescals.
"To achieve Paul Mescal's mini mullet, your hair should be about two to three inches long, with the back slightly longer to create the iconic mullet shape," says Mills. "The top is left longer for volume and movement, while the sides are trimmed shorter for contrast. When you visit your stylist, ask them to maintain texture at the top and front while allowing the back to grow out longer. This gives the style its signature look and enhances the natural curl pattern."
"For styling, begin by washing and conditioning your hair with Woolf Kings X Nourishing Shampoo and Conditioner, which is great for defining curls," Mills continues. "After towel-drying your hair, apply a generous amount of Kevin Murphy Motion lotion to nourish and define your curls without weighing them down."
"Next, use a hairdryer with a diffuser attachment and dry your hair on a low heat and speed setting. The Dyson hairdryer is an excellent choice, as it provides gentle, even heat that won’t cause frizz. As your hair dries, scrunch the curls to enhance the texture and movement and work the fringe so it sits how you want it."
"Once your hair is nearly dry, use your fingers to shape and position the hair but try not to pull out the curl and texture. You can use the hairdryer to remove any remaining moisture, but be sure to keep the heat low to preserve the integrity of your curls."
"To finish the look, take a small amount of Horace Cream Pomade - about the size of a two pence coin - work it through your hands, and then evenly distribute it through your hair. This will give your curls definition and hold without making your hair look to set or done as it needs to look and feel unstructured. The result is a natural, polished mini mullet that’s easy to maintain and versatile for any occasion."
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