Mullets, move over—a surprising new hair trend dubbed "the broccoli" has taken Generation Z by storm.
The rise of the broccoli cut, also known as the zoomer perm and bird's nest hair, can be traced back to 2022. The cut features a tapered or faded back and sides, with a long, disconnected top that is often permed to achieve a full, curly effect. This creates a striking resemblance to the crown of the tree-like vegetable.
"Imagine all of the mullets and shags cutting off messy parts and moving the party from the back to the top, and you have the broccoli cut," New York city-based hair stylist Shaun Surething, also known on Instagram as @turnorburn_ladyhairnyc, told Newsweek via email.
Barber Drewz Cutz (@DrewzCutz) from Los Angeles showcased the look in a TikTok video earlier this year and said the cut "will make you look a lot younger."
@drewzcutz This look has more traction than ever before. Whats known as the Broccoli haircut is a style that can look great on anyone if the right product is applied. #broccolihaircut #drewzcutz #broccolihair #genz
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Though not everyone is so sure of the cut is the elixir of youth. One man, who uses the account @fungbros on TikTok, mocked his friend for having the "bussin, for real, for real broccoli haircut," in a video posted in August 2022. The video has garnered over 150,000 views on the social media platform.
"Bruh frfr like how old are u dog," he jokingly wrote in the caption, ridiculing Gen Z online slang.
@fungbros bruh frfr like how old are u dog
♬ original sound - Fung Bros
Philadelphia barber Justin Polisi, known as @JutCuts01 on TikTok, slammed the popular look in video from last year and said: "This broccoli haircut from TikTok in 2022 has to stay there. We're keeping it in the past, let's try something new." His review garnered 220,100 views on the social media platform.
The barber believes the next hair trend to takeover will be the buzz cut—a very short style where the hair is clipped close to the head.
"I genuinely do think it just got popular because kids and people on the internet with big followings started getting it. But I do see more of an influx of buzzcuts and shorter cleaner tops now, which is what I grew up on," Polisi told Newsweek via Instagram.
However, the style has its defenders. One TikTok user responded to Polisi's video and wrote in the comments section: "Maybe you're just mad you can't pull it off." Another added: "It's genuinely just curly hair, why you hating?"
@jutcuts01 No more broccoli tiktok haircuts 🥦💈🥴#DanceWithTurboTax #broccoli #haircut #viral #fyp #tiktok
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How Did the Style Gain Popularity?
The broccoli cut's popularity can be attributed largely to its visibility on social media platforms like TikTok and YouTube where influencers such as Noah Beck, Jack Doherty, and Bryce Hall have sported the look, a barber named Em, @ems.classic.barbershop on Instagram, told Newsweek via email.
The owner of Em's Classic Barbershop in Centennial, Colorado, said the cut has become a go-to request among her young male clients.
"I am in a location where I see a lot of teenagers and young adults. Over the past year or so, I have transitioned the majority of my young male clients from a modern mullet to this 'broccoli' cut," she said.
The curly-top even has superhero appeal. Actor David Corenswet starring as Clark Kent in the upcoming 2025 film Superman was recently spotted rocking the hairstyle on set.
Em attributes the trend's rapid spread to "The Jones Effect" where people adopt styles seen on their peers or admired public figures.
"Quite a few of my clients show up with photos of their best friends or teammates and want the same cut," she said. "I grew up in the generation where our Grandparents had classic and clean cuts which today are gaining popularity again. My grandchildren would be able to look back at photos of their 'scene' and 'punk' grandparents."
Em suggests that just as previous generations had their own iconic styles, this generation will have "The Broccoli." She imagines future generations looking back at photos of their elders and laughing at the trend.
What Are the Origins of This Unique Look?
Surething, co-owner of Seagull Haircutters in New York City, believes the broccoli cut's origins can be traced back to the 1980s.
"The broccoli cut takes its cue from the 1980s New Romantic scene that exploded out of the Blitz Club in London. Imagine all of the mullets and shags cutting off messy parts and moving the party from the back to the top, and you have the broccoli cut," he said.
Surething adds that the style is not just about making a statement, but also about practicality.
The haircut is low maintenance, requiring just a touch of gel or pomade to keep its shape – perfect to keep up with the 'grrrls' for 'Brat Summer,'" he joked.
