You're standing in front of the mirror. You've got the shears in one hand and a sudden, inexplicable urge to do something drastic. We've all been there. The mohawk is iconic, edgy, and arguably the ultimate "don’t mess with me" haircut, but it’s also a massive commitment. Once you shave those sides, you're looking at a year of awkward growth phases that usually involve a lot of beanies and regret. That’s where faux hawks for women come in. It’s the loophole. It’s the "yes, I’m cool, but I also have a corporate job on Monday" solution.
Honestly, the beauty of the faux hawk—or the fohawk, if you’re into the early 2000s slang—is its versatility. You aren't actually shaving your head. You’re using styling products, clever braiding, or strategic pinning to create the illusion of height and shaved sides. It works on pixie cuts, long hair, and even those stubborn mid-length bobs that never seem to know what they want to be.
Why the faux hawk is actually a power move
Hair is rarely just hair. When celebrities like Pink or Miley Cyrus stepped out with high-volume, center-focused styles, it wasn't just about the aesthetic; it was about shifting the silhouette. Most feminine hairstyles focus on framing the face or adding length. The faux hawk does the opposite. It draws the eye upward. It elongates the neck. It makes you look taller, sharper, and—let’s be real—a little bit more intimidating in the best way possible.
The trend isn't new, though. While we associate it with the punk movement of the 70s and 80s, the modern iteration is much more polished. Stylists like Jen Atkin (the woman behind the Kardashians' hair) have frequently used "tucked" techniques to give the appearance of a mohawk on the red carpet without a single razor blade touching the scalp. It’s about the architecture of the hair.
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The different ways to cheat a mohawk
If you have short hair, you’ve basically got a head start. For women with pixie cuts, getting a faux hawk is mostly about product selection. You need something with a "dry" finish. Avoid heavy waxes that make your hair look greasy or flat. A matte pomade or a texture powder is your best friend here. You just work it into the roots at the center of your head and pull everything toward the midline. Simple. Done.
But what if your hair is down to your waist?
That's where the "side-slick" comes in. This is the version you see most often at high-fashion events. You take the hair on the sides—from your temples down to just behind your ears—and you slick it back using a high-shine gel. Pin it tightly at the back of your head. The remaining hair in the center gets teased. Tease it like you’re back in 1985. You want volume. You want drama. Once you’ve got that height, you smooth the very top layer over the "birds nest" you created with the teasing comb, and suddenly, you have a sleek, sophisticated faux hawk.
Mastering the faux hawks for women on curly hair
Curly-haired women actually have the biggest advantage when it comes to this style. Why? Because the hair already has the volume you need. If you have 3C or 4C curls, you don’t need to tease or use half a bottle of hairspray. You just need some sturdy bobby pins.
The "Fro-hawk" is a legitimate staple in the natural hair community. By pinning the sides upward toward the center of the scalp, the curls spill over the top, creating a gorgeous, organic shape that looks way more complex than it actually is. It’s a great way to show off your bone structure while keeping your curls front and center.
Tools you actually need (and the ones you don't)
Forget the fancy $200 styling kits. If you want to master faux hawks for women, you need three things:
- A fine-tooth teasing comb: This is non-negotiable for volume.
- Bobby pins that actually match your hair color: Nothing ruins the illusion faster than a bright silver pin sticking out of black hair.
- A strong-hold hairspray: Not the "touchable" kind. You want the kind that could survive a category one hurricane.
A lot of people think they need a flat iron to get the sides "slick" enough. You don't. In fact, using too much heat on the sides can make the hair too slippery to stay pinned. A boar-bristle brush and some edge control or heavy-duty gel will do a much better job of keeping those sides flat against your head.
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The "Braided" Faux Hawk: The Long-Wear Option
If you're going to a festival or a wedding and you need the style to last more than four hours, pinning isn't enough. You’re going to dance. You’re going to move. The pins will fall out.
The braided faux hawk is the sturdier cousin. You create small Dutch braids (the ones that sit on top of the hair) on both sides of your head, pulling them tight toward the center. This leaves a "mohawk" of loose hair in the middle. It’s incredibly secure. Plus, when you take it out the next day, you’ll have amazing crimped waves. It's the gift that keeps on giving.
Common mistakes that make it look... weird
We have to talk about the "cockatoo" effect. This happens when you only focus on the front of the hair and forget about the back. A real mohawk goes from the forehead all the way down to the nape of the neck. If you only style the front, you look like you have a weird pompadour.
Make sure your volume is consistent. Use a hand mirror to check the back of your head. If it starts tall and then just disappears into a flat mess at the crown, it’s not a faux hawk. It’s just a bad hair day. You want a continuous "spine" of hair.
Another thing: don't over-gel the top. The sides should be slick, but the top should look airy and full. If you put too much product in the "hawk" part, it gets heavy. Gravity is not your friend here. It will sag. It will lean to one side. You'll end up looking like a wilted plant by 9:00 PM.
Real-world inspiration and cultural impact
It's worth noting that this style isn't just about looking "punk." In many cultures, hair height and intricate center-focused styles have historical significance. While the 1970s London punk scene popularized the term "mohawk" (drawing from the hairstyle of the Mohawks and other indigenous nations, often with a history of cultural appropriation that stylists are now more conscious of), the modern faux hawk has morphed into something different. It’s become a symbol of gender-bending fashion.
When Janelle Monáe wears a sculptural, pompadour-style faux hawk, she’s blending classic Hollywood glamour with an avant-garde edge. It challenges the idea that "formal" hair has to be soft or flowing. You can be elegant and sharp at the same time.
Does it work for all face shapes?
Honestly? Yes. But you have to tweak it.
If you have a round face, go high. The extra height on top will elongate your face and make it look more oval. If you have a long or narrow face, keep the "hawk" a bit lower and wider. If you go too tall, you’ll end up looking like a Marge Simpson character. Balance is everything.
How to maintain the look throughout the day
If you’re out and you feel the "hawk" starting to droop, don’t add more hairspray. That just adds weight. Instead, carry a small travel-sized bottle of texture powder. Flip your head forward, sprinkle a little at the roots of the center section, and massage it in with your fingertips. It reactivates the grip and gives you an instant lift.
For the sides, if you have flyaways, use a clean toothbrush. Spray the toothbrush with hairspray and gently comb down the stray hairs. It’s a trick used by professional stylists on set because it’s way more precise than just spraying your whole head.
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The "Growing Out" phase (Wait, there isn't one!)
The absolute best part about faux hawks for women? When you’re tired of it, you just wash your hair. There’s no "awkward growing out" phase because you never cut anything. You can be a punk rock star on Saturday night and a professional accountant on Monday morning.
In a world where we’re constantly told to pick a lane—be feminine or be edgy, be classic or be trendy—the faux hawk is a nice middle ground. It’s a way to experiment with your identity without having to live with the consequences for the next six months. It’s temporary. It’s fun. And honestly, it just looks cool.
Actionable Next Steps
Ready to try it? Don't go straight for the complex braided version. Start small.
- Grab a texture spray: Before you do anything, give your hair some "grit." Clean hair is too slippery for a faux hawk.
- Section the "M": Imagine an "M" shape on the top of your head. That’s your center section. Clip it out of the way.
- Slick the sides: Use a firm gel and brush the sides back toward the center. Secure them with pins behind your ears.
- Backcomb the top: Release the center section and tease the roots in one-inch segments.
- Smooth and set: Lightly brush the very top layer to hide the teasing, then mist with a high-hold spray.
If it doesn't look perfect the first time, don't sweat it. The "messy" faux hawk is actually more in style right now than the perfectly sculpted ones. Lean into the chaos. The more texture, the better. You’ve got the height, you’ve got the attitude, and most importantly, you’ve still got all your hair.