A fauxhawk is a hairstyle similar to the Mohawk. In the hairstyle, the hair on the top of the head, and on the back of the head is shaped into long straight points. Unlike the Mohawk, the fauxhawk does not feature a shaved head except for the center strip of hair. Hair surrounding the fauxhawk can be quite short. However, since the hair exists on the sides of the head, the style is a fauxhawk, or fake Mohawk.
Some have referred to the fauxhawk as having the style of the Mohawk without the commitment to the style. Recording artists like Pink have sported the fauxhawk in the past, and the look became quite popular in the early 2000s. David Beckham of soccer fame is credited with having introduced the fauxhawk to Europe.
However, unlike the Mohawk, which was meant to be an anti-social statement, sported by punk rock stars and fans in the 1970s and onward, the fauxhawk was more of a fashion statement. Some new wave artists did sport the fauxhawk in the 1980s, but the hair could be combed down to a less radical appearance as needed.
As well, instead of having straight spiky hair, a variant also called the fauxhawk, was to have a strip of curly hair running down the center of the head. Most however, consider this a bare imitation of the Mohawk or fauxhawk.
To achieve the fauxhawk style, one needs a great deal of hair gel that will stiffen the hair. Some use petroleum jelly instead, which will keep the hair in place, but is challenging to remove from the hair. It can result in greasy hair for weeks.
Many people place the gel in the hair and allow the hair to simply dry in the fauxhawk shape. Ample hairspray may also be required to keep the hair from falling flat. Also, humid conditions can affect the hold of the fauxhawk.
Some people like to use elaborate colors on the fauxhawk section of the hair. Common colors are pink, purple, green and blue. Others prefer black/white contrast and have the fauxhawk section bleached white, while the natural hair remains much darker.
Variants of the fauxhawk include the corpohawk, which is a more business friendly and much less exaggerated version of the hairstyle. The actor, Mr. T wears a “frohawk.” His hair curls tightly, and all but the center section of the hair is shaved.