ear-fung.us I’m a programmer. I’m also pro-grammar.

Mohawk vs. Fauxhawk

Scott's ribbing got me all riled up. So here's an informational post on the differences between a mohawk and a fauxhawk haircut/style.

Mo·hawk

Etymology: of Algonquian origin; akin to Narragansett or Massachusett Mohowawog Mohawk, literally, cannibal

Date: 1634

3 : a hairstyle with a narrow center strip of usually upright hair and the sides of the head shaved

Here are some examples of a mohawk haircut fresh from the tubes of the Internet:

Since "fauxhawk" isn't really a word, it's not in the Merriam-Webster online dictionary, we must look to urbandictionary.com.

fauxhawk: A full head of hair combed into the middle to fabricate the look of a mohawk.

As you can clearly see, fauxhawks don't have a defined line from where the short and long hair meet. It's basically just combed straight up into the shape of a mohawk. Fauxhawks are generally associated with pop-culture and general douchebaggery. Mohawks are generally associated with anti-pop-culture.

And for my final exhibit: a photo of me. I have a mohawk, not a fauxhawk.

If you're going to do something, do it all out. fauxhawks are a cop-out for people who don't want to make the commitment of shaving the sides of their head.