Like many people, I went through my punk rock phase as a teenager. Unfortunately, much to the dismay of my parents and employers, I never quite grew out of it. As a result, I've seen a wide variety of unique hairstyles; but the mohawk will always hold a special place in my heart.
Nearly every substance known to man has been applied to the hair in search of the ultimate styling product for a mohawk. Some products, while providing the right amount of hold, are often messy and difficult to remove from the hair. Back in my high school days, the product of choice for maximum height was Elmer's glue. Glue-infused hairstyles are not for everyone, of course, but there is perhaps no better way to achieve the mile-high classic punk mohawk. The beauty of Elmer's glue is that it can be applied to damp or dry hair and it is also water-soluble. The down side is that Elmer's glue tends to flake off, making you look as though you have a rather nasty case of dandruff. This is especially true on dark hair colors, since blonde hair hides the dry glue better. Even though Elmer's glue is water-soluble, it does take a few good scrubs in order to wash it out.
To remedy this problem, many haircare manufacturers started experimenting with producing a professional hairstyling glue that was both effective and easy to wash out. Originally marketed to salon clientele in the mid-to-late 90s, these "hair glues" can now be found in most supermarket haircare aisles. Perhaps the most popular is Got2Be Glued, whose yellow tube has achieved modern-day cult status as the go-to styling product for extreme hairstyles. Paul Mitchell's styling glue and Joico's ICE Spiker have also become standards in the world of mohawks.
Every respectable mohawk also needs a good hair spray. Those with shorter and finer hair types can achieve a modest mohawk with nothing more than a can of Aqua-Net. The key when choosing a hair spray is to avoid the costly salon brands; they are simply not strong enough to get the job done. What you need is a good old-fashioned lacquer spray, the kind that makes hair feel as though it's made out of plastic when it's dry. To style a mohawk with lacquer spray, you will need a blowdryer. On hair that is slightly damp, apply a generous amount of spray and blowdry upwards into a mohawk shape. You can also turn your head upside down for this part. The goal is to create as much volume as possible. Once the hair is mostly dry, you can re-apply the hair spray and then shape the mohawk with your hands. It is important to let the hair dry the rest of the way on its own, since the evaporation process will cement the hair into place. Once dry, a final coat of lacquer can be sprayed on for good measure and to smooth down any stray hairs.
For a mohawk to last throughout the day, it may be necessary to tease or back-comb the hair near the scalp in order to provide a solid foundation for the style. If you don't know how to tease hair, just ask your grandmother and she'll explain it to you. Teasing is a fundamental part of achieving any style where height is necessary, such as a beehive or a pompadour. If you're too young to know what a beehive or a pompadour is, again, ask your grandmother!
If you prefer the faux-hawk look of today rather than the classic punk mohawk, the same basic techniques apply, but it is advisable to stick with professional haircare products. Professional products contain less harsh chemicals, won't build up on the hair, and are easier to wash out. If you're looking for a faux-hawk that you can wear out at night and wash out by morning, stick to a professional styling glue and a can of salon-quality hairspray.
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