A decade of expressional extravagance, the 1980s will forever remain iconic for its bright neon fashionistas and punk style. The notorious buzz cut and mullet hit the ground running during the ‘80s, exploding with popularity and embellishing American history with distinctive and angular haircuts. But a single sweep of Edina High School in 2023 will yield a discovery of the return of the buzz cut and mullet, but not without criticism. 

Centimeters away from bald, the buzz cut was typically only found on the heads of new enlistments of the United States Armed Forces or a bold celebrity. So what about the buzz cut appeals to EHS students? Its short length increases practicality and decreases maintenance, while establishing a brave and adventurous profile. One can definitely see why this hairstyle has manifested itself on the heads of EHS’s Boys’ Wrestling team as a courageous rite of passage. 

When experimenting with hair, many may also choose to divert down the mullet path. Iconically shorter on the top and sides, a mane of longer hair sways and brushes on the back of the head. Mullets are able to be specially curated for their owners. Different mullet styles vary in length and hair texture. Similar to the buzz cut, mullets require low maintenance with styling mainly reserved for the front portion. 

As all trends do, these new popular hairstyles face considerable wariness from the student body. Many students believe that rocking a buzz cut or a mullet requires a certain sort of “look.” 

A buzz cut either results in a fresh and attractive look, or gives one the look of a young tween that was forced by their parents to face the merciless wrath of a clipper with baby guards. Generally, buzz cuts suit those with a more defined face and strong jaw. “It’s a good punishment for losing your Fantasy Football league,” junior Gavin Sendar said. “It’s actually pretty easy to predict beforehand if you’re gonna look good with a buzz cut. You either will or you won’t. It’s definitely a good idea to not bet on something with a terrible consequence.” 

Discussing mullets can often lead to disgruntled expressions as the haircut used to only be reserved for hippies or super “‘Merica” rednecks. Some continue to detest the fringy haircuts. “All mullets are bad. I think it’s a really stupid trend. They like how it looks but I literally haven’t seen any good mullets,” sophomore Addy Morton said.  

Others look beyond its ragged history and see the mullet as a refreshing cut. “There are two types of people that get a mullet. One type is like flat out, ‘that’s definitely not it.’ Other people are able to have the confidence to make it their own,” senior Owen Sanderson said. 

Looking for a new haircut? Look no further than the buzz cut or the mullet. But genuinely consider the potential consequences before grabbing a clipper. “Would I get a buzz cut? Definitely not. You would for sure have to be super ripped. I’m a distance guy so I’m like deceptively ripped, but even then I don’t think I could rock one,” Sanderson said.

This piece was originally published in Zephyrus’ print edition on April 20.