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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Curly hair is very fair. The thick hair with that afro texture is what makes this one a special one. The sides are taper faded very finely with that slit shave that only gets better with that lineup and that cheeky temple fade. The temple fade pushes the attention to the top with that cheeky faux.
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.
Who said thin hair doesn’t get you a lot of panache. The brush up is quite strict with an undercut on the sides. The sides are tapered with a mid fade but that is not it, the dye makes this a whole lot brighter. All of that with a clean shave makes it better.
Let’s talk about that military-style influenced haircut with that top being afro hair texture. The hairline is all straight and has a short undercut, that matched with the sides being taper faded makes so much sense. The line up is faded as well with sides being very clean.
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.
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!
Talking about curls, the shine highlight dye makes it only better. The sides are tapered and drop faded. The taper is size 1 clippers which also feels a lot like a fade with that line up standing all neat. Don’t forget the slit shave that makes it a very young look.
A crazy faux is all you need with that leather jacket. This faux is not a very normal one with all that dye sitting on top with an undercut and n fade. So this one is blended right into the beard which takes care of the lower face, balancing it perfectly.
ljupco / Shutterstock.com
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Light Brown Faux-Hawk
Since we are talking curly hair this one takes the whole discussion to another level with the rough texture. The dyed curls make the top look thick even though it is puffed with the sides being undercut, the taper and layering on the sides making it a class trendy hairstyle.
henningstad / Shutterstock.com
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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.
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.
Woah! Where does this come from? The layered dye is totally a thing with that stranded pocky bundle with that thin hair brushed up with a frizzed texture. The sides are tapered with that cheeky clean drop fade along with the temple. This is not one of your everyday hairstyles.
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.
Drop fade with a high taper fade with a line up that is tapered as well makes it a whole look works out pretty well. The top is all dense and thick, plus the added brush up texture makes it look very sporty. the neat hairline tells the attention to details with the clean line up.
