Mohawk vs. Faux Hawk: The Difference and How to Cut Both

The mohawk and the faux hawk both feature a central strip of longer hair running front-to-back along the center of the head, with shorter hair on both sides. The critical difference is what "shorter on the sides" means — and how dramatically the sides are cut determines which of the two the client is actually getting.

The Mohawk

A true mohawk shaves the sides completely — skin level, all the way up to the central strip. The result is a stark graphic: a single strip of hair from the forehead to the nape, flanked by bare skin on both sides. The width of the central strip and the length and styling of the strip are variable, but the defining characteristic is the shaved-to-skin sides.

A mohawk is a high-commitment style. It is difficult to wear in most professional environments and requires either maintaining it continuously or growing out both the strip and the sides to transition out of it. The grow-out phase on a full mohawk produces an awkward in-between state that typically requires either a deliberate other style or continued commitment to the original.

The Faux Hawk

A faux hawk keeps the side hair but takes it very short — typically a high fade or skin fade on the sides and back that leaves enough height for the contrast between the sides and the central section to read as a similar effect to a mohawk. The sides are short but not shaved to skin, and the fade transition preserves the connection between the sides and the top in a way a true mohawk does not.

The faux hawk is significantly more versatile than a mohawk. The style can be worn styled up into the hawk shape or worn flat in a more conventional direction when a more conservative look is needed. The same haircut serves both contexts. This versatility is why the faux hawk has a much broader client base than the mohawk.

Cutting the Faux Hawk

The faux hawk is built on a high fade or skin fade foundation. The sides are faded as with any other skin fade cut (balding clipper at the base, working up through guards, blending into the central section). The key difference from a standard fade is the width of the central section retained at full length — typically a 2 to 4 inch strip centered on the top of the head, with the fade on both sides starting much higher than on a standard cut.

The top section (the hawk strip) is usually cut with scissors for the desired length and then point-cut for texture and movement. The styling of the hawk shape is done with a high-hold matte clay or paste — the product is applied and the hair is worked upward and forward with the fingers and sometimes a blow dryer on a diffuser setting to build lift before the product sets.

Cutting the Mohawk

The strip width is agreed with the client before cutting. The sides are shaved with a balding clipper. The central strip is cut to the desired length and may be left blunt (classic look) or textured (more modern). The neckline strip at the back runs from the central strip to the neckline — some mohawks taper the strip to a point at the nape; others maintain a consistent width to the hairline.

CADMEN Training

Modern men's haircut techniques are covered in the CADMEN hands-on program. academy.cadmen.ca/in-person-training.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between a mohawk and a faux hawk?

A mohawk shaves the sides completely to skin, leaving only a central strip of hair from the forehead to the nape. A faux hawk keeps the side hair but takes it very short (typically via a high fade), creating a similar visual effect of a prominent central section without actually removing all the side hair. The faux hawk can be worn styled up as a hawk shape or worn flat as a more conventional haircut when a different look is needed. The mohawk cannot be worn any other way without the central strip. The practical difference is commitment level and versatility: a faux hawk is a style option within a short haircut; a mohawk is a defining identity choice.

How long does a faux hawk haircut last?

The style looks sharp for 2 to 3 weeks before the sides need maintenance. The fade on the sides grows out and softens the contrast that makes the hawk effect read clearly. The faux hawk does not require trimming the top section as frequently as the sides, because added length on the central strip is part of how the hawk shape is built. Most faux hawk clients book on a 2 to 3 week maintenance schedule for the sides, occasionally extending to 4 weeks for the full cut. The grown-out version of a faux hawk is generally workable — it looks like a less defined version of the same cut — which is another advantage over a full mohawk, which has a more difficult grow-out phase.

What products do you use to style a faux hawk?

A matte clay or a high-hold paste is standard for styling a faux hawk. Pomade with shine can work but tends to look heavy on the hawk shape. The application sequence: apply the product to slightly damp or dry hair, work it through the top section with the fingers, then push the hair upward from the roots with a comb or the fingers, working from back to front to build the hawk shape. A hair dryer on medium heat, directed at the roots while working the hair upward, sets the shape with more lift and hold than product alone. The style holds better when product is applied before heat rather than after. Finish with a small amount of additional product worked through the ends of the hawk for separation and definition.

Is a faux hawk a professional haircut?

At moderate lengths and with faded rather than shaved sides, a faux hawk reads as a contemporary professional haircut in most industry contexts. A very high hawk with a skin fade extending to the temples would be considered fashion-forward in conservative professional environments. The same cut at lower hawk height and with a mid rather than high fade is acceptable in most workplaces. The style's versatility (can be worn flat when styled differently) is the argument for it as a professional option — the client can leave the house styled down when the context requires it. Industries with strict dress codes (finance, law, some corporate environments) may have stricter standards regardless of the specific haircut.

Can you get a mohawk at any barbershop?

Most barbershops can cut a mohawk — the technical requirements are a balding clipper for the sides and a decision on the central strip width and styling. The more relevant question is whether the specific barber has experience with the style and can advise the client on the correct strip width for their head shape and styling preferences. A barber who has cut mohawks regularly will also be able to have a realistic conversation about the commitment level and grow-out process. Not all clients have fully considered what happens when they want to grow a mohawk out — an experienced barber can walk through the options before cutting in a way that prevents regret-driven callbacks.