How to Do a Faux Mohawk

The faux hawk is not as extreme as a mohawk.

The fake mohawk, or faux hawk, hairstyle for men has gained in popularity over the past several years thanks in part to celebrities like David Beckham, Ewan McGregor, Jude Law and American Idol contestant Blake Lewis. The look has even been embraced by women. The faux hawk is a departure from the mohawk of the 1980s. Where the mohawk of the '80s involved completely shaving the sides of the head, leaving a spiky row of hair in the middle, the faux hawk does not require you to shave your head and relies mainly on the use of styling products to spike the longer hair on top while leaving hair on the sides of the head.

Things You'll Need

• Strong-hold gel or hair paste
• Flat iron
• Hairdryer
• Hairspray

Instructions

1. Apply gel or hair paste to damp hair.

2. Work from the crown forward and pull hair up at the roots so it stands up with both sides coming to a peak in the middle, forming a ridge that spans the head from front to back.

3. Rake the hair on the top of your head straight up and twist individual strands to spike them.

4. Smooth the hair on both sides of the head, below the spiky faux hawk ridge, down against the head.

5. Set with a blow dryer if your hair doesn't stay up on its own.

6. Iron small sections of your hair, pulling straight up, with the flat iron if desired.

7. Shape the faux hawk again by using your fingers to spike the top portion of your hair and arrange the spikes as you desire. Smooth the hair on the sides of the head down again.

8. Spray your hair with hairspray to hold your faux hair all day.

Tips & Warnings

• This style works better for shorter hair than long hair.

• Bring some pictures of faux hawks that you like when you get your hair cut so your stylist can shape your cut for optimum faux hawk-ness.

References

• Men's Hair Care Tips: Faux Hawk Hair Style