I can't remember if I brought this up before or not, but I've always wondered how Mac got the look he did with his hair. I really liked all of his haircuts except for some of the weird looking stuff in like the third-fifth season (can't remember exactly) where it was super long in the back but not the front, like:





I want to start out going for the first season thing, then go to the 6th/7th season look:



Way back when I was 14 I grew my hair out a good ways and started to have a first season look, but my neighbor who cut my hair (and found my fascination with MacGyver in 2002 strange ) somehow managed to remove too much length every time so I never quite ended up with the look I wanted. I keep thinking about how it is on my list of "things to do in my lifetime" to have a mullet

So, first of all, I have hair similar enough to RDA's I don't think it will be too challenging, but I always wondered what they used in his hair- mousse, hair spray, some sort of pomade cream, etc. And also was his hair highlighted basically the entire last two seasons? I know it was here and there before that, but it seemed to be overall lighter in the last 2 or 3 seasons almost like it was just completely dyed.

Again, this was 7 years ago, but I managed to dig up a picture and scan it, here is the closest I came to a mullet, I guess I did give it about another month or two after this photo but I chickened out when it hit that awkward length where it started to look borderline feminine . Speaking of awkward, whoever shot that photo got me with my tongue sticking out

You are a brave soul indeed if you are thinking of growing a mullet. Too bad you weren't around during the 80s when mullets were so popular. No one would have batted an eye at you. I would love to see the final result if you decide to grow it out.

I always liked this style myself.


It's really just a matter of letting your hair grow medium length and then telling your hairdresser what you want (and sticking to your guns when they try to talk you out of it).

In the above picture I would think they probably used moose in his hair to get the airy fluffed up look on top, but in the later seasons, when it got longer and scruffier, it didn't look to have anything (except a will of it's own).

Take it from me. Don't go too long with it. I have the same type of hair as RDA and have had all the lengths he had. Anything longer than season 6 length would be too retro. The only time I thought his hair was too long was season 5 when it hung like snot and rested on his shoulders. I must have had the MacGyver style for 15-20 years and liked it but felt when it was past the point of looking "of the Time" and I was just being stubborn. Then about 5 years ago I got the O'Neill look (since I know that watching RDA style I know what will work for me and what won't) and love it. It's so easy to take care of and always looks current. Good luck with whatever choice you pick but remember even RDA knew it was retro when he cut it and laughs at the pics.

I still like the style if it's done right (see above picture)

This guy is off one of the day time soaps. and still has a mullet even today.

Haha, yeah, agreed. I've been thinking today about how would MacGyver have his hair in this day and age? I don't know if it was supposed to be just a "most popular current fashion thing," in which case the O'Neill cut would be what he would sport if it were MacGyver 2010. But was the long hair supposed to say something about MacGyver? I.e. free spirited, relaxed, care free, etc.?

I was thinking I might go for something more like Tom Cruise's long hair look, but again, that was like 8 years ago:



I'm beginning to wonder if long hair will ever come back into style or if the 70's and 80's were just a time unto themselves.

I don't think it ever really went out of style. there's plenty of guys around with long hair still. And even if it isn't in style, there's no reason you can't have it. Remember part of the undertone of MacGyver was "Be your own person."

When I was younger, I'd preferred the fifth season hairstyle and I really did let my hair grow that long when I was seventeen and when I was twenty-one. Alright, to be honest, I didn't wanted to go take a haircut. It lasted for nine months. Now I pretty much made clear for myself, I like the seventh season style much better as on my previous avatar.

Or when it looked best on Mac in The Stringer.

Attached Image

I totally rocked a mullet in the late eightes! Wow. Sigh...

Haha, yeah, agreed. I've been thinking today about how would MacGyver have his hair in this day and age? I don't know if it was supposed to be just a "most popular current fashion thing," in which case the O'Neill cut would be what he would sport if it were MacGyver 2010. But was the long hair supposed to say something about MacGyver? I.e. free spirited, relaxed, care free, etc.?

I was thinking I might go for something more like Tom Cruise's long hair look, but again, that was like 8 years ago:



I'm beginning to wonder if long hair will ever come back into style or if the 70's and 80's were just a time unto themselves.

I think that's a good idea. I think it's a matter of ratio back to front. It can hang longer in the back as long as it's not shaved on top and the sides(billy ray cyrus). It it gets too long ( moments of Season 5 for MacGyver) it doesn't look good no matter when it is. I'm all for being yourself just don't make yourself fodder for others when unneccessary. You know? As long as it looks natural and good you'll be fine:)

I had Mac's hairstyle when I was in highschool and college. I even lightened my hair a bit to get more of that look. I aimed for the Season 5 look, and I remember being almost disappointed when Season 6 started because I thought, "Damn, I just got my hair long enough to look like his, and now he cuts it!"
But, alas, my hair started thinning by the end of college, and now I would look absolutely ridiculous if I tried mimicking his style. (Hmmmm... maybe soon I should go for the Pete Thornton style!)

Ok, at the risk of totally embarrassing myself, I found my highschool yearbook photo. Now, keep in mind, this was in the late 80s, so the mullet hair style was marginally more acceptable then:



(sorry it's such a blurry shot.)

The funny thing is, I remember I accidentally walked into a door on my way to getting my photo taken, which is why you can sort of see a lump over my eye (giving my eyebrow kind of an odd shape.)

I honestly thought that was a blurry shot of RDA until I took a closer look! Damn, you nailed it! I finally caved and cut my hair recently, MacJackson made a valid point, as you said, that that was the 80's lol. But I am very impressed, I bet you got the double take a time or two haha

Glad to help buddy, We Macfans have to look out for each other right?