Mohawk Fade
b.a.r.b.e.i.r.o.s / Instagram

Mohawk Fade Haircut: A New Take on the ‘Hawk

Best ideas that will give you a bright inspiration to find your next haircut

written by The Editors

Of all the men’s hairstyles out there, the mohawk is probably one of the most infamous and controversial.

You might consider the mohawk an extreme haircut with the hair pointing up in long spikes. However, the traditional mohawk is much more subtle than its punk-inspired variation. A classic mohawk features a crest that varies in length, and it can even be less than an inch in height.

On the other hand, the mohawk fade haircut combines––you guessed it––a mohawk and a fade. This gives the cut a gentler appearance, but there’s still a high visibility factor. In some mohawk styles, the sides of the head are entirely shaved. With the mohawk fade haircut, the sides are faded to give a tidier look.

So if you’ve always liked the mohawk look but were afraid to commit to the style, try its fade variation.

FAQs

What's the Hair Length for Mohawk Fade?

The height of your mohawk crest will depend on how long your hair is. For best results, your hair should usually be at least an inch long. This will allow for a good crest with volume.

How to Get the Mohawk Fade Haircut?

While you can probably get a decent undercut or caesar cut by telling your hairstylist what you want, you’ll want to bring good pictures of the exact mohawk fade haircut you want to have. This is a trickier style to get right, so we highly recommend taking in pictures.

You’ll most likely want to start with the fade. Decide how wide you want your mohawk crest to be, and fade up to that point. So if you want your mohawk to reach to your temple lines, fade your hair until the temple lines.

Use a short clipper setting for the sides. Anywhere from a #1 to a #3 will work nicely, depending on how drastic you want the fade to be and how short you want it.

If you want your mohawk to go all the way down the back of your head, make sure not to fade the entire back of your head. Instead, only fade the sides of the back, leaving an un-faded strip of hair for the mohawk.

You can choose any neckline style you want for a mohawk fade haircut. Since the entire cut is faded by nature, a tapered neckline will work the most seamlessly.

The mohawk crest itself is up to your liking. It can be flat or wildly shaped. For a more subtle crest, ask your stylist to simply trim the hair that will become the mohawk to give it a tidy look. The sky is the limit, and you can request any sort of mohawk style you like.

To get a more defined mohawk look, ask your hairstylist to taper the hair upward into a crest. They may do this by cutting or buzzing your hair; it’s up to your or your stylist’s preference. The hair should form a triangle shape, going up toward the middle.

How to Style the Mohawk Fade Haircut?

Your mohawk fade haircut will require a unique level of styling based on the type of cut you have. Naturally, milder styles will require less styling, while bolder styles will demand more.

A good quality wax, gel, or pomade will help you tame your mohawk crest. If you have a large mohawk crest, you might need a product with a strong hold. For smaller crests, any good hair product will work.

Apply enough product to make sure your crest is staying up. If you like, you can manipulate it when you add the product to give it a bit of flair.

How to maintain Mohawk Fade?

For the best mohawk fade possible, you may need to make occasional trips to your hairstylist to keep it trimmed and neat. If you trim your own hair, it’s even more convenient. Either way, make sure to give this style the care and attention it needs.