The faux hawk hairstyle also known as Fohawk has been one of the most trendy cuts over the last few years, and for good reason. This haircut mimics a mohawk — hence the name “faux hawk” or “fake hawk” — with the ‘wave’ riding through the top, but gives you much more freedom when it comes to what you do with the sides (and of course, how extreme the actual ‘hawk’ is).
The faux hawk has been worn by many famous celebrities, including American singer Adam Levine (before shaving down to some more receding-hairline-friendly cuts), actor Zac Efron and soccer player David Beckham.
It also happens to fit round faces quite well, like the 7 other hairstyles we suggested in this article.
Simply defined, fohawk is a haircut with the top styled into a toned-down mohawk, with no other criteria.
Getting The Faux Hawk
The odd thing about this style is that it is more of a ‘hairstyle’ than it is a ‘haircut’. While a mohawk might require you to shave your sides off, only leaving a long-haired strip across the top of your head, one can transpose to a faux hawk from plenty of other haircuts.
That said, it is necessary to have medium to long top-hair if you want to successfully emulate a mohawk on top. It is entirely up to you what you want to do with the sides, though.
Seeing as all of the above isn’t too useful if you’re trying to decide on how you want your hair to look, we would recommend taking a look at some various photos of this style across the internet and from there choosing exactly how you want the different parts of your hair to be cut.
Also, if you’re looking to taper the sides or shave a pattern in, now is probably the right time to do it!
Featureflash Photo Agency / Shutterstock.com
Styling This Cut
Styling is, as usual, the fun part of getting a new haircut/hairstyle. Make sure that before you start your hair is dry, so that things stay in place, and you have some gels, pomades or sprays on hand (these will be needed to keep the hawk in shape and robust).
The top of your hair is the most important area with this style. To get the characteristic mohawk effect, brush your hair upwards lightly until it stands up on its own, and then using both hands push your hair together to create the basic ‘hawk’ structure.
From there, you can choose whether or not to add more texture, for example using your fingertips to make the occasional spike (as we mentioned in our spiky hairstyles article) or pushing the top forwards slightly to create some waviness.
As for the sides, you are free to do whatever you please. Most often the hair is relatively short, so there’s not much styling to be done whether desired or not. If you do have some length there, you can use your fingers to gently brush into your sideburns or tuck it behind your ears.
If you think this cut might be the one for you check more examples in our gallery below:
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Classic Faux Hawk
This simple faux hawk is combined with some well-trimmed facial hair for an easy, unique style.
On this style we see a drop-fade that is intersected by close cuts of disconnected design, creating a contrast in the texture that the fade goes for making it even more compelling.
The length of this cut, the connecting sideburns, and the full beard combine to create a very trendy, hipster look. Of course, the cool glasses help too!
This haircut combines a fohawk and a pompadour, resulting in a unique style that’s trendy and outgoing. If the pompadour is your mainstay, this is a good way to change things up a bit.
If you like your hair to have a looser, more casual look, then consider this faux hawk. It uses texture to create a sense of motion and implements a high fade to keep all the focus up top.
Not sure if you’re ready to commit to a full-on faux hawk? You might want to try out this variation first. More of a casual faux hawk, this is easy to style and wear.
If you’re feeling bold, you can dye the faux hawk part of your hair and style it any number of ways. You can create a casual and messy look, as shown here, or go for something more angular and defined.
s_bukley / Shutterstock.com
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Textured Faux Hawk with Bald Fade
This high contrast looks pairs a highly textured, spiky faux hawk with a bald drop fade on the sides.
This is a very different take on the faux hawk that yields a stylish result. Since the hair is kept longer and gradually tapers down, it creates a full, well-rounded appearance.
High volume cuts definitely have their time and place, and this tall fohawk is a stylish choice for those occasions. The brush up adds volume, while the messiness provides motion.
Get the dramatic effect of the Mowhawk without fully committing with this edgy version of the Faux Hawk. This hairstyle can definitely help you decide if you’re thinking about getting a full-on Mowhawk in the future, perfect for a period of transition while you make up your mind.
StevenK / Shutterstock.com
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Thick Textured Faux Hawk
The length of the central strip doesn’t always have to be even all the way down. This tousled fringe version combines exquisite texture on top that tapers nicely down to your nape, combined with a subtle burst fade. This is about as relaxed and casual as a Faux-Hawk can get.
