In this month's column for GLAMOUR, celebrity hairstylist Adir Abergel shares his ultimate tips for creating the ‘punklet’ as seen on his A-list client Kristen Stewart.
Adir is best known for his show-stopping red carpet looks, as well as being the pro behind Nicola Peltz's supermodel-inspired wedding hair, so we're pretty sure we're in safe hands…
I love reinventing a short style. My new favourite cut is the mullet’s cool cousin, the ‘punklet’. Effortlessly powerful, I’m calling this punk mullet hybrid the short style to watch right now.
I’d describe the punklet as a hairstyle of two halves, fusing together classic ingenue at the front and London punk to the back. It’s a unique cut that’s a blend of techniques and moods. Taking inspiration from iconic hair shapes, the punklet is like Audrey Hepburn baby bangs meets Patti Smith bedhead vibes.
The style already has its own fan club after I debuted the look on my long-term client and friend, Kristen Stewart. She was the obvious choice to trail blaze the punklet style in Tokyo and take it to another level. We all know that Kristen is the ultimate hair chameleon who loves a change and she was fearless when it came to working the punklet on her recent promo tour.
Feeling inspired?
How to wear the ‘punklet’
If you want a major update on the mullet, the punklet is your new go-to. It’s all about the cut, so work with your hairdresser to use your unique features and hair characteristics (texture, density, shape) to really bring it to life. Remember, it’s a style that celebrates your sense of individuality.
If you look at Kristen’s cut head-on, the baby bangs disconnect from the intentionally elongated sideburns to create a strong face frame. You can also see the feathers of a more classic mullet peeking out from the sides of her neck. The entire hairline that surrounds her head is left long and feathered for juxtaposition.
Moving on to the crown and nape areas of Kristen’s punklet, we used the silhouette of the classic mullet and broke it up with a tonne of texturising and spontaneous blunt chops.
Punklet styling hacks
To style Kristen’s punklet, I added water to my hands first and tousled her hair. Then I worked a bit of Virtue Volumizing Primer into the roots and rubbed it through her scalp using my fingertips. Next, I heated some Virtue 6-in-1 Styler in my hands and made the hair texture piecey by twisting and braiding it to give it that bedhead look.
I love seeing the punklet with a high-gloss finish, so I added hair oil to Kristen’s strands and kept moving it around with my fingertips.
The punklet might look like a set, rigid style but, in reality, it’s super-versatile. You can pull the bangs forward (see Kristen in Tokyo).
Or push them back (see Kristen at the Met), which switches up the vibe completely. You can also tie it off using pins, twists, or braids in the back where there’s more length.
My punklet pointers
Tempted to experiment with the punklet? Here are my pro tips before trying out this fun bedhead hybrid:
Be aware of your cowlicks and hairlines: Don’t be afraid of them, just utilise them. Kristen loves spontaneity and oddities so I like to cut her cowlicks dangerously close to make them wild and free!
For a true punklet style, collaborate with your hairdresser to hone each element: Baby bangs, bedhead texture, elongated sideburns – make them work with your unique features and hair type.
No matter how you style it, this bedhead look is going stand out and look powerful: But, like any short haircut, in three weeks you’ll see a different style with the grow out. To maintain it, I suggest booking in regular trims to keep your punklet in check.
