It's a quintessentially Aussie haircut, one in which business and pleasure clash in a coming together of the tightly cropped with the long-locked.
The mullet has taken its annual moment in the limelight with hordes of enthusiasts of the short-sides, long-back hairdo vying for the coveted prize of "best mullet of them all".
Daniel Cooper has been growing his hair since 2017 and looks forward to each year's Mulletfest, which on Saturday took over the small town of Kurri Kurri in the NSW Hunter region.
He told AAP the vibes at the event were unmatched, with all participants and attendees smiling and fully embracing the mullet spirit.
Contestants train their locks for years to have their moment at the show, competing in a range of categories including "rangas" for the redheads, as well as over-50s, grubby, extreme, everyday and junior.
The competition is fierce, with a public vote deciding the winners.
The junior category looked especially intense this year, Mr Cooper said.
"If these kids are starting off where they are now, I've got no chance in the future," he said.
Mulletfest also raises money for various charities such as the Mark Hughes Foundation for brain cancer research, treatment and care.
The event also focuses on men's mental health.
Mr Cooper lost his uncle to brain cancer and said he hoped to raise as much as possible for the foundation.
Laura Johnson has been growing the event for the past eight years and was keen to bring it back to the town, which has been struggling since the closure of an aluminium smelter that employed generations of locals.
The competition has sprouted into a series of events across Australia, from Rockhampton to Perth and Alice Springs, culminating in Saturday's grand final.
Ms Johnson said the event was very special thanks to the people who attended.
"When (people) say it's not just a haircut, it's a lifestyle, they really mean it," she said.
"The camaraderie and the sense of friendship that comes from people that don't even know each other, it really shows that it's a community.
"There's something special about the Aussie larrikin that brings people together."
