We've all had a bad haircut or two, but occasionally a not-so-great hairstyle comes along that becomes engrained in our culture. Only by remembering just how difficult to style, impossibly uncomfortable, and just all-around bad these coiffures were, can we hope to avoid future disaster. Check out five that should stay where they belong: in the past.
Source: Memory Lane
I have a strange affinity for the mullet. It may be all "business in the front, party in the back," but when styled just right, this oft-mocked hairstyle can actually have a fresh, chic appearance. And during some recent red carpet events, this shaggy cut was out in full force: Sharon Stone wore her signature short locks in a side-swept mullet-like fashion at the amfAR benefit; Taraji P. Henson, who gained much recognition for The Curious Case of Benjamin Button sported a shorter, wispier style than from her versatile bob; and Taylor Momsen of Gossip Girl fame, rocked her bold blond mane at a CW network event in NYC. Would you be OK with the mullet making a return, or would you like to see it stay in the past?
Of all the songs inspired by haircuts, this one is among my favorites. (It's easily the most bizarre.) "Cut the Mullet" is from the fertile and troubled mind of the late Wesley Willis, a schizophrenic man who dealt with his demons by creating simple songs with a keyboard. A few people mocked Wesley when I saw him perform years ago, but most of the crowd was enthusiastic and supportive. Famous in his native Chicago and beyond, he died almost six years ago, leaving behind dozens of unusual songs like this one. Every time I see a mullet, this is the song that pops into my head. Rock over London, rock on Chicago . . .
Whatever clever nicknames you can conjure up for the mullet, it is definitely one unforgettable style. Yeah, it's the butt of many jokes, but you know what? If it's cut just right, the mullet can look rather awesome in a punky kind of way. Take my fun quiz below to see if you can guess which female celebrities have worn some version of what my wisecracking hairdresser often calls — the "moo-lay." What a truly unique style!
Forget dancing like no one's looking. This guy knows everyone's looking, and he's gonna dance his mulleted heart out anyway. I find his enthusiasm downright mesmerizing. Who knew a marching band could inspire such sweet moves? (Thanks, Stupid Videos!)
(Let's cut the small talk and get on with the field trip, shall we?)
Thanks, College Humor!
Ahh, the mullet. Also known as hockey hair, ten ninety, ape drape and business in the front/party in the back — the mullet has some murky origins. Some claim that it was invented in the nineteenth century by fishermen who needed to keep their necks warm when out fishing for, well, mullets. Others believe both Mark Twain and Marcel Proust reference the bilevel monstrosity. Whatever the origin, we're stuck with it now, and in my book, the only person who ever looked good with a mullet was David Bowie. The worst, though? What Wikipedia tells us was once a big trend: "The hairstyle achieved further popularity in the late 1970s and 1980s among entertainers with receding hairlines . . ." Ack!
Thanks, eBaum's World!
I can't believe Wal-Mart would allow this blatant display of child abuse to parade around the store. (Thanks, eBaum's World!)
