The faux hawk or “fohawk” haircut is considered ago to look for the modern man. Easy to style and maintain, the popular haircut is versatile enough to suit casual, formal, and extremely edgy tastes without losing its unique appeal.
Considered an edgier version of the pompadour haircut, the fohawk packs a lot more style and intensity. One of the reasons it has remained popular for so long is because it can work on hair of any length and thickness. However, as Rogelio Samson writes, the shortest sections of hair (the sides and the back) should be at least half an inch in length while the longest sections (the top) should be no more than 2 inches in length. While this is a good benchmark, a lot of the trendier versions of the faux hawk feature longer tops and shorter sides. The final outcome always depends on the occasion and personal preferences.
How to Style a Faux Hawk
The faux hawk sets itself apart with the fact that the cut is the style. There’s actually only a very small part of the scalp that has enough volume to be manipulated creatively. Therefore, styling it is quite straightforward. Pick a vibe – easygoing and cool, architecturally striking, or classic and simple – and make it happen.
- Have your barber do the hard work of the actual haircut
- Decide which, if any, texturizing products you need to achieve your desired look
- Sport your faux hawk when you want to add a dose of modern confidence to your overall look
#1 Layered Faux Hawk + Drop Fade
Every man who takes pride in styling his hair should consider giving this one a try. This meticulously manicured cut evokes an organic, windswept silhouette by pairing sharply pointed sideburns with flowing lines on top.
#2 Line Up Fohawk + Jagged Spikes
Buy stock in styling gel while rocking this cut! You’ll make some money while looking great. This cut is positively buzzing with attitude. The bulk of the hair erupts into jagged barbs at the top of the head. This creates a striking contrast with the sleek fade below.
#3 Casual Lumberjack Vibes
Want a faux hawk that looks equally at ease in a downtown brewery as it does in a hunting cabin in the woods? This is the look for you! The rugged yet clean beard combines with the haircut to embody a style that is masculine, understated, and super easy to maintain.
#4 Textured Faux Hawk with Hard Line
Here’s a cut that brings to mind the harsh geometric silhouette of the original Mohawk style. There’s nothing easy or organic about this look – it’s all about sharp contrasts and attitude. Don’t be fooled by the punk ethos at play, though. You’ll need to spend a lot of time fussing in the mirror to get those spikes looking just right.
#5 Spiky Faux + Drop Fade and Stripe
This look is undeniably a throwback to the hardcore energy of the late 70s punk scene. If Robert Deniro could pull it off in Taxi Driver, so can you. Sid Vicious may have burnt the ends of his hair to achieve his original style, but this one can be created with a little less drama – simply use plenty of strong texturizing cream for the spikes.
#6 Tender Faux Hawk
Here’s a soft look for all the romantics out there. This easy, totally low-maintenance style is a play on contrasts. It pairs platinum bleached tips with visible dark roots and aggressive texture with sweet, flipped-up bangs. You’ll be breaking hearts with this one.
#7 Blond Highlights and Soft Texture
This fresh, highlighted style features an eye-catching interplay of color and texture. Sculpted sideburns and edges give way to a gentle fade, leading up to gently textured volume around the crown. While similar to the previous look, there’s much less product required here.
#8 Messy Fohawk Haircut
Don’t worry about not being able to pull off a unique hairstyle if you have greying hair. Take a look at this impressive style and you’ll rest assured that salt and pepper color commands respect by adding depth and confidence.
#9 Cropped + Brushed Up
This style combines the raw buzzed sides of the classic military high and tight with the scruffy spirit of the first Mohawk haircuts. The key to making this work is one word: texture. Liberal application of texturizing cream softens this look and keeps it from feeling too regimented.
#10 Brushed Up Faux Hawk
This is the most effort-intensive look on this list, but the payoff is worth it. To achieve this skyscraper level of volume, you’ll need to get seriously architectural with your hairstyling products. Platinum blond highlights further accent his dark brown hair by adding depth.
#11 Faux Hawk with Pink Tips
A slight mid fade is the right way to go for people who prefer having a bit of edge in their looks without going overboard. The shape of the hair on top can be achieved by angling the dryer upwards and combing through backward. As for the sides, using a mid fade gives you enough freedom to shape them up the way you want.
#12 Volume Faux Hawk + Mid Fade
The ’beard disconnect’ as it is known is a derivative of the original fohawk hairstyle. Reserved for the heavily bearded among us, it involves creating a stylish part between the hair on top and the hair below, normally using a sharp bald fade. Here, we also see a lot of attention to detail paid to the hair on top where the front is slightly upturned and swept backward. Towards the side, it has been shortened using a taper fade which ends in a disconnection a few inches above the ear.
#13 Line Up Faux Hawk Haircut
Although a bit common, this fohawk design can be personalized to a great extent to become unique. Throwing in a temple fade is one of the things you can do to make the style yours. If you’re not shy about throwing in some colors as well, a mix of blonde with rose gold accents create a stylish alternating effect that really brings out the look.
#14 Faux Hawk with Layers
As usual, the top remains longer than the sides, especially since the sides have been reduced to a crisp bald fade. For extra oomph, the hair on top is curled slightly backward, making it a lot more interesting especially against the contrasting sides and back.
#15 Messy Faux Hawk
To pull off this look, try going with spiky textures for the hair on top to bring out the shape of the fohawk even more. As for the sides, shaving might not be necessary since you can style them flat using some strong pomade or clay. However, keep the length on the top-level even towards the back to give the look its distinctive shape.
#16 Dyed and Textured Fohawk
More and more versions of the fohawk feature low fade on the sides, which are great at enhancing the overall neatness of the look. However, pairing a high fade that has an edgy disconnected finish with a stylishly messy tangle of locks and bangs results in a look that oozes masculinity.
#17 Spiky Top with High Fade
This is a look that will make you stand out from a crowd for all the good reasons. It combines the youthfulness brought on by the high fade with long spiky locks that give the look more spunk and character. This is an ideal look for people who want something casual and easy to personalize.
#18 Long Top with Part
Despite the numerous versions of the fohawk at every man’s disposal, the original look never loses its charm. The half-inch-long sides have been faded slightly towards the edges to make their outlines more pronounced, but the highlight of the look remains the slightly pointed top that has been perfectly executed down to its naturally spiky texture. Not only is this one of the more office-appropriate versions of the fohawk, it is also quite easy to maintain.
#19 Short Faux Hawk Undercut
This look pairs a crisp undercut with an excellently styled spiky section of hair on top to produce an ultimately edgy. Evidently a casual look, this spiky fohawk is a great way to keep things fresh and spunky.
#20 Modern Fohawk + Low Skin Fade
Not every faux hawk should have incredibly long, spiky tops and crispy shaved sides. The sides do have to be shorter than the top although, for this look, you can skip the scissors. However, a smooth temple fade really brings out the edginess of the look without making it seem too outlandish.
#21 Fohawk with Drop Fade
When it comes to the fohawk, the length is variable. This means you can experiment with tops that are a little longer or thicker than usual. If you like that idea, messy fohawk is the right choice for you. A slight drop fade on the sides should complement the long, wild curls of hair on top while making the shape of the haircut more pronounced and a lot edgier.
#22 High Volume Top with Low Fade
The mid-fade fohawk is the comfortable middle point that most men prefer since it is as stylish as it is classy. The mid-fade gives the look a slightly higher outline and an edgier finish. It is also a great way to keep the sides in check in order to retain the shape of the look.
#23 Cropped Faux Hawk Haircut
#24 Messy and Spiky Fohawk
#25 Textured Haircut with High Fade
Conclusion
The faux hawk is decidedly different from the one popularized by celebrities like David Beckham and Zac Efron in the 2000s. Today’s styles embody so much more maturity and class. They evoke a variety of styles ranging from streamlined and clean-cut to sharp and funky, but no matter what the details are, they’re original and compelling.
