20 Modern Faux Hawk (aka. Fohawk) Hairstyles – Keep it even more exciting
Mohawk has a simple and laid back brother, faux
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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!

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:

Dead Punk Spiky with Drop Fade
A spikier take on the faux hawk, this style is accentuated by the sudden drop fade on the sides, giving it a punk-inspired look.

Volume Fohawk
The sharp line in this disconnected fade gives the impression of extra volume, and adds a very chic, modern touch to the style.

Faux Hawk with Shaved Sides
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.

Faux Hawk with Disconnected High Skin Fade
Thick volume is often appreciated with a sweet top that is partially brushing up with half of it is laid down texture. The sides are very trendy with that shaved slit with line up being cut in half. Plus, the undercut from a shave is quite good which makes the fade very clean.

Longer Faux Hawk with Brushed Up Front
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.

Low Drop Fade + Faux Hawk
Here’s another haircut that blurs the lines between a faux hawk and a quiff or pompadour. A low drop fade keeps the hair thick and full all around.

Drop Fade + Faux Hawk
Curled up at the front like a quiff and messy on the top, this fohawk is a great hairstyle for fashionable, adventurous guys.

Dyed Fohawk with Disconnected Design
In this style, the light-dyed hair and the line that cuts through the close-cut sides add a radical, eye-catching textural element.

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.

Taper Fade with High Volume Top
Looking for a more voluminous hairstyle? This faux hawk variation gives you plenty of height and is brushed up at the front for a quiff-like effect.

Casual Top with Tapered Fade
And here is the casual brush everyone is trying to get with that layered dye. This is just the tip, the taper fade sides are as clean as they get. The temple fade here is all blended which makes it all sleekier and the casual top just makes this a perfect party look.

Curly Faux Hawk
Curly hair has its own benefits and one of them is that those curls make it look very handsome. The key here is that sleek temple fade that stands in the end. The line up is a right angle with a slight taper so that top is all clean and neat!

Low Key Faux with Angular Fringe
This hairstyle takes the faux hawk and tones it down a bit, creating a small “hawk” in the hair that adds texture.

Disconnected undercut faux hawk
The sharp line and spiky top both add textural interest to this unique style.

Finger-combed faux hawk
This finger-combed style makes the most of a long faux hawk, creating a little volume while keeping things super slick.

Hipster faux hawk with beard and glasses
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!

Fohawk with Disconnected Undercut Design
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.

Burst Fade with Wavy Top
Rough thick texture with a bloated puff is very cool if pulled right. The taper fade on sides is what makes it happen. The fine fade is what makes this one a special one with a drop fade texture. The neckline fade makes so much sense here.


Formal Side Brush with Faded Burst
Now that’s what we call a perfect hairstyle, an amazing sleek top with a side sweep plus the sides being taper. There are hints of fades towards the temple is what makes it look slightly rugged which works very well with formal and casual times, don’t forget to use some product so that it stays.

Faux-Hawk Fade
Sides being tapered and fade makes this one so cleaner cut. The top being multi-faceted, first being a slight french crop with a tinge of brush up. The pocky strand makes this one stand out especially when the temple is faded with the short line up makes this a whole new ballgame.

Messy and Curly Faux-Hawk
Afro hair is something that can look amazing if done right, and here is an example of if done right. The top is brushed up along with those strands as well, that being said, the sides are drop faded with a high taper that goes with it. The temple is partially faded so that it can be blended in the beard.

Millennial Faux with Patch Fade
Wait, are we looking at a piece of art? Yes, it is, the sides are tapered but never have we seen this pattern. The lineup is crafty with that angle and a curve. The temple is undercut faded, something that rarely happens.

Spiky Faux Hawk and Mid Fade
Is this a brush-up or a brush down? Either way, it is one lovely piece of hairstyle. The top is pinch pocked with brushed down texture. All of that plus the isdes being mid faded and a shaved slit to go with it. The temple fade makes it ten times better pushing all the love on the top.

Classic Faux Hawk
This simple faux hawk is combined with some well-trimmed facial hair for an easy, unique style.

Matte Fo-hawk with Long Taper
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.

Spiky Short Fohawk with a High Skin Fade
Fine taper with a clean fade is so cool, this only gets better when one top is off with a pocky stranded top with a brush-up texture. The line up is mid faded with sides being high fade, this mixture of fades is what makes this one special.

Front Wave Faux Hawk
This eye-catching style requires the hair to be brushed up and backward into a frontal faux hawk that resembles an ocean wave.

Undercut + Brushed Up Fohawk
This straightforward faux hawk uses a brush up to create visual interest and symmetry. As shown here, dyed hair really pops with this style.

Dyed Quiff
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.

Informal Faux with Temple Fade
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.

High Fade Fohawk
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.

Layers with Undercut Skin Fade
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.

Precise faux hawk
This gelled faux hawk holds up distinct locks of hair in every direction for a precise and creative twist.

Skin sharp fade faux hawk
The high fade in this style works together with the crisp, pointy faux hawk for an outgoing masculine appearance.

Spiky textured faux hawk with a line up
By adding spikes to the faux hawk itself, this style creates volume and texture without the need for any wild trimming!

Dyed drop fade faux hawk
The wild use of colorful hair dye in this faux hawk speaks for itself: “I don’t care what you think.”