The Fascinating History of the Female Mullet

It's come a long way.

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Published In Features
mullet hair
(Image credit: Design by Betsy Farrell)

If any look catches a bad rap, it's the mullet. And not for nothing...there really have been some just-plain-wrong iterations. But if these ladies prove anything, it's that the shorter-in-the-front, longer-in-the-back 'do can be cool AF. From Carol Brady's feathery tapered 'do in the '70s to Zendaya's Tweet-provoking Grammy 2016 mullet, familiarize yourself on the female evolution of the shaggy, layered style.

Jane Fonda
(Image credit: Marie Claire)

Jane Fonda

In Klute (1971).

Carol Brady
(Image credit: Marie Claire)

Carol Brady

In The Brady Bunch (1972).

Cher
(Image credit: Getty Imgaes)

Cher

In 1982.

Liza Minnelli
(Image credit: Mafrie Claire)

Liza Minnelli

In 1983.

Kristen Bell
(Image credit: Marie Claire)

Kristen Bell

In the '80s.

Joan Jett
(Image credit: Marie Claire)

Joan Jett

In 1985.

Scarlett Johansson
(Image credit: Marie Claire)

Scarlett Johansson

In 2003.

Jacqueline Follet
(Image credit: Marie Claire)

Jacqueline Follet

In The Devil Wears Prada (2006).

Kristen Stewart
(Image credit: Marie Claire)

Kristen Stewart

At The Twilight Saga: New Moon premiere (2009).

Rihanna
(Image credit: Marie Claire)

Rihanna

In 2013.

Rita Ora
(Image credit: Marie Claire)

Rita Ora

In 2015.

Zendaya
(Image credit: Marie Claire)

Zendaya

At the 2016 Grammys.

Lady Gaga
(Image credit: Marie claire)

Lady Gaga

At the 2016 Grammys.

Dolly Parton
(Image credit: Marie Claire)

Dolly Parton

In 2016.

Lauren Valenti
Beauty Editor

Lauren Valenti is Vogue’s former senior beauty editor. Her work has also appeared on ELLE.com, MarieClaire.com, and in In Style. She graduated with a liberal arts degree from Eugene Lang College, The New School for Liberal Arts, with a concentration on Culture and Media Studies and a minor in Journalism.