Okay so yesterday I decided to finally tackle figuring out the visual difference between short and long mohawk styles. See, people keep using “mohawk” like it’s one thing, but trust me – short spikes and waist-length shaved sections look nothing alike. So here’s exactly what I did:
Starting Point: My Own Hair Disaster
First I tried replicating both styles using my own hair. Big mistake. Grabbed the clippers and shaved my sides down to a 2 guard. Easy part. Then I attempted to spike just the center strip – used a whole tub of cheap gel, hair stood straight up maybe three inches? Looked like a sad wet rooster. Took pictures: front, side, back. Then I tried the “long” version by pulling the center hair into a ponytail with the sides still shaved. Except my hair’s only shoulder-length so instead of a fierce mohawk ponytail it looked like I had a rat tail growing from a bald spot. More terrible pictures. Deleted them all immediately.
The Smart Approach: Google Images
Realized I needed professional references. Opened Google Images and searched:
- “short mohawk men” – Got mostly young guys with fades and 2-4 inch spikes. Saw patterns: shorter sides = more dramatic spikes. Lots of blonde tips standing straight up.
- “long punk mohawk women” – Complete shift. Waist-length colored hair, sometimes braided mohawk sections, sides shaved or undercuts. One chick had actual rainbow dreadlocks pulled up vertically.
Saved over 30 reference pics to folders – “short” vs “long”. Biggest shocker? Long mohawks actually require way more hair than I thought. That vertical section? Needs to be thick as hell to look right.
The Moment It Clicked
Put short and long examples side-by-side in a collage app. Game changer:
- Short styles: All about aggression. Sharp angles, height over length, looks stiff to touch
- Long styles: More flow and movement. That center strip becomes a feature piece – you can braid it, dye sections, even curl it
Also noticed something weird – short mohawks often have faded sides blending into the spike, while long versions usually have harsh shaved lines like someone took a ruler to their head.
The Final Test: Showing My Wife
Made two separate image boards without labels. Asked her: “Which one says ‘biker bar fight’ vs ‘music festival makeup artist’?” She pointed at the short spikes instantly – “That one looks like he headbutts drywall for fun.” Exactly. The long styles? “Could totally see her selling handmade jewelry at Coachella.” Case closed.
