The frohawk is one of the most popular haircuts for black men with naturally curly hair. As a mohawk hairstyle suited for men with afro hair, a frohawk haircut can be cut with a fade or shaved sides and short or long hair on top.
Like the modern faux hawk, the frohawk fade is generally the less intense yet just as cool version of the traditional mohawk. With so many frohawk styles, the look can be edgy and trendy when styled properly.
For inspirational ideas, check out our guide to the best frohawk hairstyles for men to get right now!
What Is A Frohawk?
The frohawk is a type of mohawk haircut for black men with afro hair. This hairstyle for black hair is versatile and trendy because the sides and back can be shaved, faded or undercut to accommodate a variety of styles. A frohawk can also be a great way to style naturally thick curly hair.
To get the frohawk, you can ask your barber to cut a fade or undercut on the sides and back. Guys can choose from different types of taper fade haircuts, but the best cuts include the temp, burst, and high bald fade. Alternatively, men can get shaved hair on the sides to highlight the afro-textured hair on top.
Stylish and badass, the frohawk fade has become a trending black men’s hairstyle worth trying next time you visit the barbershop.
Frohawk Hairstyles
Frohawk Fade
The frohawk fade has clean-cut, short faded sides with a long strip of hair on top of the head. The hair on top can be shorter for a more understated look, or you can leave it as long as you want for more volume.
Curly hair naturally holds volume, so you will have plenty of styling options with the hair that remains on top. Use different hair products to define your curls or brush them out for some extra height up top.
Frohawk Undercut
Whereas the fade slowly integrates the shorter hair into the length on top, an undercut has no transition. You want to keep the hair as short as you can right up to the strip of hair in the middle that you want to keep.
This maximizes the impact of the hair on top, accentuating your hair with clean lines and the dramatic change in length. It looks best when freshly cleaned up, so make sure to be consistent with this cut.
Short Frohawk
A short frohawk is best for those who prefer a clean-cut style but still want the trendy feel of the frohawk. A short frohawk keeps the hair on the top of the head relatively short. This look goes well with a low skin fade. It looks sharp and stylish and is easy to take care of.
Long Frohawk
If you have longer hair, or you have been rocking the frohawk for a while, you can go for a long frohawk. With a long frohawk, you have plenty of options with your style. Your hair will require some more care on top, depending on how you want to wear it.
You can use waxes to hold it in place and emphasize your curls or let it hang out in a cool, messy do. This is great for men with shorter faces who want to add some height.
Frohawk Dreads
Frohawk dreads can be a great way to style long hair into a faux hawk. The tight cut on the sides will accentuate your flowing dreads and make the style stand out. Try frohawk dread styles with an undercut for an even bigger statement.
Frohawks with Designs
Though you can (and should) style your hawk on top in different ways, guys can also embellish the frohawk with different designs on the side. With a fade, try having your barber shave lines, zig-zags or a unique design into the sides and back. Then ask your barber what they are best at shaving in for designs and let them have a little fun.
Curly Mohawk
A curly mohawk is more or less the same as a frohawk but the curly hair mohawk is ideal for looser curls. Trendy and edgy, a frohawk with curly hair is a cool style if you have the confidence and want a daring look. Use a strong pomade to help hold your hair in place and define your curls.
Faux Frohawk
Also known as a frauxhawk, the faux frohawk is a twist on the faux hawk, which is a hairstyle that slowly gets longer in the middle of the hair. Instead of the sharp contrast of a mohawk, this look is a little more gradual and versatile. For those who want the length on top, but don’t want to commit to full frohawk, this is the perfect transitional look.
Burst Fade Frohawk
The burst fade is a style of fade in which the fade is not started as a straight line. Instead, the fade line is a semicircle surrounding the ear. The burst fade makes the frohawk a little less conspicuous and draws attention to the face and adds a little height to the top of the hair. The burst fade is experiencing lots of popularity, so your barber should know how to give you one that looks great.
Blonde Frohawk
If a regular frohawk is not enough of a statement, make it blonde on top to make it even more show-stopping. Blonde looks great on a frohawk and will keep this cut looking modern and fresh. As the hair on top continues to grow out, you will develop a contrast look that can actually work well, provided the rest of the haircut is clean.
Frohawk Braids
The frohawk is a great way to introduce new styles like braids. The hair that is left on top for a frohawk is considerably smaller than other haircuts, so you can experiment without putting in too much effort. Start with a smooth fade frohawk and then braid the hair on top yourself or ask someone you trust to help you out.
How To Cut A Frohawk
To get a frohawk, you’ll have to decide how short you want the fade to be and where you want it to start. High fades will emphasize the hair left on top while a short low fade is a little less daring and more flexible.
If you want to go all the way to a skin fade, then start with a shaved scalp at the bottom of the fade and gradually cut the hair longer going up to the crown of the scalp. Leave the hair on the crown as long as you want. The longer the hair on top, the more dramatic the style.
