What exactly is the broccoli haircut that teenagers love?

Mullets, make way – a surprising new hair trend called “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 characterized by a tapered or faded back and sides, with a long, broken top that is often permed to create a full, curly effect. This creates a striking resemblance to the crown of the tree-like vegetable.

“Imagine cutting off messy parts from all the mullets and shags and shifting the hairstyle from the back to the top and you have the broccoli cut,” said New York City-based hairstylist Shaun Surething, also known on Instagram as @turnorburn_ladyhairnyc, Newsweek by email.

Los Angeles hairdresser Drewz Cutz (@DrewzCutz) debuted the look in a TikTok video earlier this year, saying the cut “will make you look much younger.”

However, not everyone is so sure that the cut is an elixir of youth. A man who uses the account @fungbros on TikTok mocked his friend for having the “bussin, seriously, seriously broccoli haircut” in a video posted in August 2022. The video has been viewed over 150,000 times on the social media platform.

“Bruh frfr how old are you dog,” he jokingly wrote in the caption, poking fun at Generation Z online slang.

Philadelphia hairdresser Justin Polisi, known on TikTok as @JutCuts01, criticized the popular look in a video from last year, saying, “This broccoli haircut from TikTok needs to stay there in 2022. We’re leaving it in the past, let’s try something new.” His review received 220,100 views on the social media platform.

The hairdresser believes that the next hair trend will be the buzz cut – a very short cut where the hair is cut close to the head.

“I really think it only became popular because kids and people on the internet with lots of followers got it. But I’m seeing more buzzcuts now and shorter, cleaner tops that I grew up with,” Polisi said. Newsweek via Instagram.

The style does have its defenders, however. One TikTok user reacted to Polisi’s video, writing in the comments section, “Maybe you’re just mad you can’t pull it off.” Another added, “It’s really just curly hair, why do you hate it?”

How did the style become popular?

The popularity of the broccoli cut is largely due to its visibility on social media platforms like TikTok and YouTube, where influencers like Noah Beck, Jack Doherty and Bryce Hall have flaunted the look, a barber named Em, told @ems.classic.barbershop on Instagram Newsweek by email.

The owner of Em’s Classic Barbershop in Centennial, Colorado, said the haircut has become a commonly requested hairstyle among her young male clients.

“I’m in a place where I see a lot of teenagers and young adults. In the last year or so, I’ve transitioned the majority of my young male clients from a modern mullet hairstyle to this ‘broccoli’ cut,” she said.

The curly hairstyle even has superhero charm. Actor David Corenswet plays Clark Kent in the upcoming 2025 film Superman was recently spotted on set with this hairstyle.

Em attributes the rapid spread of the trend to the “Jones effect,” in which people adopt the style of their peers or admired public figures.

“Quite a few of my clients come in 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 that are now gaining popularity again. My grandchildren could look at photos of their ‘scene’ and ‘punk’ grandparents.”

Em thinks the current generation will have “the broccoli,” just as previous generations had their own iconic styles. She imagines future generations looking back at photos of their elders and laughing at the trend.

Where does this unique look come from?

Surething, co-owner of Seagull Haircutters in New York City, believes the origins of the broccoli cut date back to the 1980s.

“The Broccoli Cut is inspired by the 1980s New Romantic scene that originated at London’s Blitz Club. Imagine all the mullets and shags, trimming off messy bits and moving the party from the back to the top, and you have the Broccoli Cut,” he said.

Surething adds that this style is not just about making a statement, but also about functionality.

The haircut is low maintenance and requires only a touch of gel or pomade to keep its shape – perfect for keeping up with the grrrls during Brat Summer,” he joked.