How to Give Yourself a Mohawk
Ever wonder how punks get their hair to stand straight up like that? Stop staring and give yourself a mighty Mohawk!
Up next in Men's Hair & Facial Hair (19 videos)
From the hair on your head to the hair on your face, these Howcast videos will keep you looking your best.
You Will Need
- Mirror
- Comb
- Hair clips
- Gelatin
- Pastry brush or hair-dye brush
- Boiling water
- Blow-dryer
- Hair spray
- Flat iron
- Haircutting scissors (optional)
- Electric clippers (optional)
- Hair gel (optional)
- Egg whites (optional)
Steps
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Step 1
Separate hair
Stand in front of a large mirror and separate the hair in the center of your head in a strip as wide as the space between your eyebrows and clip it.
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Just want a Mohawk for one night? Skip the haircutting and head shaving and go straight on to styling the center strip.
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Step 2
Shave
If you've decided this style is for keeps, cut off all the hair on either side of that center strip. Clip the sides with the hair clippers, and finally, remove the clipper attachment and use it shave each side of your head.
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Step 3
Mix gelatin
Pour a package of gelatin into a bowl. Then, add just enough boiling water for the powder to dissolve.
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Step 4
Style
While the gelatin is still hot, apply it with the pastry or hair-dye brush to a small section of hair, then comb the hair straight up and hold it taut. Blow it dry, then let it go and blow-dry the tip. Hurry! Gelatin dries fast. Repeat with the other sections of hair. Add a teaspoon or two of extra boiling water to the gelatin if it dries up.
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Use strong hair gel or egg whites instead of, or in addition to gelatin
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Step 5
Freeze
When you're done, freeze your hawk into place by alternating between spraying it with hair spray, then ironing it with the flat iron until it sizzles.
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Mohawks are hard on hair, so use a deep conditioner once you shampoo it out.
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Step 6
Experiment
Once you've got the basic Mohawk, try variations, like Liberty spikes – or, if you dare, a "reverse Mohawk," where you shave the hair down the middle of your head and spike the sides!
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During World War II, members of the 101st Airborne Division, known as "The Screaming Eagles," shaved their hair into Mohawks.
