Young Aussies are rocking the ‘mo and mullet’ but is it on the way out? Experts share their inside tips

Love it or loathe it, the “mo and mullet” is making its mark but experts reveal a change could be on its way. Take our poll.

It is the trend being sported by young men most mums loathe but is the “mullet and mo” really here to stay?

Leading barber Tom Wynn of Adelaide’s Atta Boy Barbers, whose clients include Formula One star Valtteri Bottas and Port Adelaide’s young talent Lachie Jones, hopes so.

The UK-born stylist who moved to Australia aged 16 tells the Sunday Mail: “I love it, yeah, I rate it – I think it’s great and it’s one of my favourite haircuts to do.”

He said the “mullet and mo” had been increasingly popular among young men for several years popularised by AFL players (think, North Melbourne’s Finnbar Maley and Geelong’s Bailey Smith).

“It’s huge … ‘the mo and the mullet’ is a good Aussie combo; at the moment, a lot of men are rocking a shorter beard with a thicker mo or just a clean face with the mo,” he said.

“We get a few Port boys come into the shop for (the mullet and mo), Lachie Jones is one.”

So too, regular visitor to South Australia, Finnish-born Bottas, the partner of SA cyclist Tiffany Cromwell.

“I’ve had him in the chair a few times and he’s got the blonde mullet and the moustache … young men see people like that who are in the public eye a lot and want the same hairstyle ... it’s the same with footy players – it’s where trends start,” Mr Wynn said.

Attaboy barber Tom Wynn working on Formula 1's Valtteri Bottas. Picture: supplied

Valtteri Bottas rocking his mo ahead of the F1 Miami Grand Prix. Picture: Clive Rose, Getty Images/AFP

And what makes a good mo?

“Obviously it varies with what kind of facial hair men can grow, if they can grow a good mo the current trend is still quite a thick mo but just not too bushy … you want to trim it down a bit and keep it off the lips,” the stylist of 13 years, and manager at the unisex barber with locations at Hilton, Prospect, Kent Town and Henley Beach, said.

Mr Wynn said young male clients often referred to the hair styles of AFL players when they came in.

“Coming from the UK, I’ve often got to look them up,” he said.

The mo Finnbar Maley of the Kangaroos is among the crowd favourites. Picture: Josh Chadwick/Getty Images

Bailey Smith is a long-established ‘mo and mullet’ footy favourite. Picture: Alison Wynd

TAFE hair and beauty lecturer Emma Kleinig agreed.

“(The mo and mullet) is very much a cultural thing and really popular among young men who are into their footy … it’s really big in the sporting space.”

The almost 30-year industry veteran said she had seen trends come and go.

“In terms of the mo, it kind of comes with the mullet and then goes with the mullet …

the type of mo changes as well,” she said.

“When it is paired with a mullet it tends to be a shorter, less manicured mo.”

And what’s the tip on the trend moving forward?

“I do feel mullet … is kind of now going out a bit and we’re seeing a lot more of the skin fade … and beards as well,” Mrs Kleinig said

While 2024 Adelaide-based Australian Hairdresser of the Year, SJ Establishment’s Sam James, tips the “beard ‘stache” is making a comeback.

”It’s a lazy, not-so-manicured approach, so it’s more ‘lived in’ ... Aussie rules faves Peter Wright, Marcus Bontempelli and Tom Boyd all wear it well,” she said.

Jordie Wittervan, 24, who rates the mo of Swans star Nick Blakey, says his moustache is here to stay.

“I can’t get rid of it … I feel it is a part of my personality — I love it,” the Mitcham Hawks footballer said.

And sorry Mum but he reckons “my girlfriend loves it”.

Originally published as Young Aussies are rocking the ‘mo and mullet’ but is it on the way out? Experts share their inside tips