The Wolf Cut Is TikTok’s New Favorite Hairstyle

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TikTok works magic when it comes to fueling trends, hair being no exception. Alongside quick hacks utilizing bits and bobs to get the perfect hair fads, the app has also proved to be a destination for hairstyles: quirky and playful “bubble braids; the E-girl branded middle-parted hair with just the front layers bleached or dyed; the voluminous upturns of the “Farrah Flip” reminiscent of the ’70s and Farrah Fawcett herself; and TikToks scattered butterfly clips that brought 2000s childhood back to the future. Now the “wolf cut” can be added to the growing list.

Stemming from Seoul, South Korea, a city well known for its head start in all things beauty and fashion, and amassing 451.2 million views on TikTok, the wolf cut is Generation Z’s ride to decades unseen to them. Named after its unruly nature, the foundation of the look is shaggy in texture and framing in cut layers, which are features that mirror the androgynous ’70s and ’80s style particular to musicians like Patti Smith, Mick Jagger, and Kiss. Yet the wolf cut has something 21st century about it, particularly in its calculated messiness that is intentionally photo ready. It’s a style that can also go in many directions – long with subtle layers, cut in a choppy pixie, gelled over in a wet look, or dyed, the wolf cut can go in many directions, which makes it a cut for the experimental and the bored.

The cut’s DIY nature is definitely catered for the latter. Not only has the style itself become a sought after look, but the actually experience of replicating the style (a.k.a the satisfying snips) have been a catalysts for its virality. While there are a fair amount of hair salon transformations, many have taken to performing the wolf cut from home. In the videos people cut inches from sectioned off ponytails to get that edged texture as Olivia Rodrigo’s Y2K break up anthem “good 4 u” plays in the background, a song that speaks to the grunge aesthetic of the style. Aside from everyday and popular TikTok creators, celebrities from Miley Cyrus, Billie Eilish, and Debby Ryan to Rowan Blanchard, Finn Wolfhard, and CR featured, Barbie Ferreira have navigated summer’s new do.

The cut has also manifested within the K-Pop world, which clicks considering the cut’s origins. As much as the genre is a materialization of the latest, there’s no question that these days, it’s going back in time, resurrecting looks from the 1990s and the 2000s. TXT’s Beomgyu debuted a straightened iteration for the group’s The Chaos Chapter: Freeze album; BTS’ Jungkook sported a purple dyed version for newly released single “Butter” while Jin went long and natural for “On”; and Twice’s Jihyo donned a volumed, shoulder-length cut for the group’s latest “Taste of Love”.

It’s important to note that with anything related to social media, things don’t always go as planned. TikTok user @coolmadsgames made a video exposing the expectation versus reality nature of the cut. The first clip features her with fanned out bangs and tiered layers that turn outwards perfectly. Seconds later a shocking realization shows when unstyled, the cut can turn out flat. So, when trying to this cut, styling and knowing what works for you is vital.

It’s evident that the wolf cut is the style child of the mullet, a look that was once outdated and may have sounded Billy Cyrus’ “I Want My Mullet Back”. Yet the popularization of the wolf cut is proof that there’s still some fashionable frenzy around the mullet (its hashtag has 2.8 billion views on TikTok) and that the “business in the front, party in the back” mantra is still relevant. For the 2016 Grammys, Zendaya pulled an androgynous look topped off with an ’80s styled dirty blonde mullet while model Cara Delevingne showcased a conventionally ’70s mullet (blunt bangs, feathered volume at the top, and long, framing layers) last year. And K-Pop artists like BTS (spot Suga and RM’s banged versions), Got7’s JB, and Shinee’s Taemin have recently experimented with trailing locks while rapper G-Dragon has tried various versions from a Red Hots shade to slicked back.

In its origins, the mullet was an unconventional almost rebellious style and its placement in the ’70s and the ’80s a pop culture staple. While its undergoing changes, its revival is a sign of the genderless way fashion is running towards. Grab your scissors (or maybe ask a professional) and start chopping away, because messy is back in.

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createdAt:Mon, 24 May 2021 14:05:57 +0000
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