By Bread Styles Team 
A faux hawk with beard takes the raised, center-focused silhouette of a mohawk and softens it into something you can wear to work on a Monday, paired with a groomed beard that adds structure at the jaw. It keeps the sides short rather than shaved bare and widens the central section, which is exactly what makes it a genuinely everyday-wearable version of a much bolder haircut.
This guide covers what separates a faux hawk from its more extreme cousin, six distinct faux hawk beard combinations worth trying, and the styling routine that keeps it looking sharp without much daily hassle.
Table of Contents
What Is a Faux Hawk with Beard
A faux hawk is a haircut where the sides are cut very short, though not shaved to bare skin, while a wider central section on top is left longer and styled upward, creating height and shape without the stark, high-contrast look of a true mohawk. It typically needs 2 to 4 inches on top to build a proper shape.
A faux hawk with beard pairs that raised, textured top with facial hair, usually short to medium length, to ground the style and give it the same structure and intention throughout. It’s become one of the more popular ways to wear a bolder haircut without the commitment or workplace friction that comes with a fully shaved mohawk.
Faux Hawk vs Full Mohawk, Briefly
If you’re deciding between the two, the core difference comes down to the sides and the width of the raised section. A full mohawk with beard shaves the sides to bare skin and keeps a narrow strip, creating maximum contrast and a more extreme look. A faux hawk keeps the sides short but not bare, with a wider central section, giving a similar raised silhouette in a far more versatile, everyday-friendly package.
If you want the full breakdown of both, including commitment level and workplace suitability, the mohawk with beard guide covers that comparison in more depth.
6 Faux Hawk Beard Styles to Try
1. Faded Faux Hawk with Short Beard Sides taken down to a fade rather than a simple taper, paired with a clean, structured short beard. See short beard styles and the skin fade with beard guide for the fade details.
2. Textured Faux Hawk with Stubble A looser, more casual finish on top with visible piecey texture, paired with light stubble for a relaxed, everyday combination. Full guide at stubble beard.
3. Spiked Faux Hawk with Van Dyke Beard Sharper, more defined spikes on top using strong-hold product, paired with a deliberately shaped Van Dyke beard for a bold, coordinated look.
4. Low-Profile Faux Hawk with Corporate Beard A more subtle version with modest height, paired with a tidy corporate beard, ideal for workplaces that call for a more conservative overall appearance.
5. Curly Faux Hawk with Boxed Beard For naturally curly hair, the top is left full and textured rather than styled flat, paired with a defined boxed beard for structure and balance.
6. Undercut Faux Hawk with Medium Beard Combining the very short sides of an undercut with beard with a fuller central section, paired with a medium beard styles beard for extra presence.
Best Face Shapes for a Faux Hawk with Beard
| Face Shape | Height Recommendation | Beard Pairing |
| Round | Fuller height to add length | Boxed beard with sharp angles for extra length |
| Square | Moderate height, clean sides | Short beard or stubble, keep proportions clean |
| Oval | Flexible, most heights work | Wide range of beard lengths suit it |
| Long | Lower height, avoid excess length | Fuller sides, shorter chin to add width |
| Diamond | Moderate height, softened width | Fuller jawline beard to balance a narrow chin |
For more detail on pairing beard length to face shape, see best beard for round face, best beard for square face, and best beard for oblong face.
Beard Styles That Pair Best
Because a faux hawk already draws attention upward and toward the center, the beard tends to work best when it’s clean and well-defined, giving the eye somewhere structured to land at the bottom of the face.
- Short beard — a dependable, structured option that works with most faux hawk variations. See short beard styles.
- Stubble — suits the more casual, textured versions of the style. Full details in the stubble beard guide.
- Corporate beard — the natural pairing for a low-profile faux hawk worn in professional settings. Covered in corporate beard.
- Circle beard — a cleaner, more minimalist choice that lets the haircut remain the main focal point.
A longer beard can work with a faux hawk, particularly the undercut or textured versions, though it shifts the overall balance and generally looks best when kept clean-edged rather than shaggy.
Product Guide
| Product | Finish | Best For |
| Matte clay | No shine, strong hold | Everyday, textured faux hawks |
| Hair wax | Medium shine, strong hold | Sharper, more defined spikes |
| Volumizing mousse | Adds lift before drying | Building extra height on fine hair |
| Sea salt spray | Textured, tousled | Casual, undone finishes |
Matte clay is the most versatile starting point for most faux hawks, since it holds the raised shape without adding shine that would make the style look overly slicked.
How to Style It Step by Step
- Towel-dry hair to about 70%. Slightly damp hair holds product and shape better than fully dry or wet hair.
- Apply your chosen product to the central section, working from root to tip. This is where the shape and height come from.
- Use your fingers to lift and shape the top upward and slightly forward or back, depending on preference. There’s flexibility here compared to a strict mohawk.
- Leave the sides untouched or with a very light amount of product if desired. They should stay flat and out of the way of the raised center.
- Finish the beard to match. A quick pass with a beard comb keeps the whole look coordinated.
Most versions take two to four minutes once you’re familiar with your hair’s response to the product, noticeably quicker than a full mohawk finish.
Hair Type Considerations
| Hair Type | Fit for a Faux Hawk |
| Straight | Needs product to hold height; falls flat without it |
| Wavy | Excellent natural fit, holds shape with less effort |
| Curly | Works particularly well, since natural curl adds built-in volume; check the curly beard care guide if the beard is curly too |
| Thick | Handles height and shape especially well |
| Fine | Benefits from a volumizing mousse to build lift before adding a finishing product |
How to Ask Your Barber for It
- Ask for the sides cut very short but not shaved to skin, with a wider central section left longer, generally 2 to 4 inches.
- Specify how much height you want, since this affects how much length is left on top.
- Mention the side treatment: short taper, low fade, or a more noticeable fade for extra contrast.
- Ask for the beard to be shaped in the same visit for a coordinated finish.
- If you’re unsure how bold to go, ask your barber to start with a lower-profile version, which is easier to build up from than to scale back later.
Maintenance and Daily Upkeep
Hair:
- Trim the sides every 2–3 weeks to keep them tidy and maintain contrast with the top
- The central section can go 4–5 weeks between trims depending on the height and shape you’re maintaining
- Reapply product daily, since this style rarely holds well overnight
Beard:
- Trim every 1–2 weeks with a reliable beard trimmer to match the precision of the haircut
- Apply beard oil daily to prevent dryness
- Wash with a dedicated beard wash rather than regular shampoo
- Keep the beard neckline and beard cheek line sharp, ideally weekly
The beard care guide has a complete routine breakdown if you’re setting one up from scratch.
Suitable for Work and Everyday Settings
This is where a faux hawk with beard genuinely separates itself from a full mohawk. A low-profile version, paired with a tidy corporate beard, fits comfortably into most office beard styles, while a bolder, spiked version suits creative industries and casual environments equally well.
For weddings or formal events, a low-profile, cleanly styled faux hawk tends to photograph best. Get the cut done 3–4 days ahead so it settles, and do a final beard trim closer to the event. The wedding beard styles guide has more timing advice for pairing haircuts and beard trims.
Best Age Groups
- Teens and 20s: Where the bolder, more textured versions are most common, often paired with stubble or a developing short beard.
- 30s and 40s: Frequently a low-profile version for work, paired with a fuller, well-groomed short or medium beard.
- 50s and beyond: A subtle, low-height version tends to work well, particularly alongside greying facial hair. The beard styles for men over 50 guide has more specific advice for this pairing.
Common Mistakes
- Not using enough product. Without adequate hold, the central section falls flat and loses the defining shape of the style.
- Choosing too bold a version for a conservative workplace. A low-profile faux hawk is usually the safer choice if you’re unsure.
- Letting the sides grow out too long. This softens the contrast that gives the style its shape.
- Neglecting the beard. A raised, structured top next to an ungroomed beard looks unbalanced.
- Going too tall on a long face shape. Extra height can exaggerate facial length; a lower profile usually suits long faces better.
Myths About the Faux Hawk
Myth: It’s just a mohawk with a different name. The wider central section and non-shaved sides genuinely change both the look and the everyday practicality compared to a full mohawk.
Myth: It’s too bold for professional settings. A low-profile version paired with a tidy beard works well in most workplaces, particularly compared to a full mohawk.
Myth: It only works with thick hair. Fine hair can build a solid shape with the right combination of volumizing mousse and a strong-hold finishing product.
FAQs
What is a faux hawk with beard? A faux hawk with beard combines short, but not shaved, sides with a wider raised section on top, styled upward, paired with a groomed beard, usually short to medium length.
What’s the difference between a faux hawk and a full mohawk? A faux hawk keeps the sides short rather than shaved bare and uses a wider central section, making it a more wearable, less extreme version of a full mohawk.
What are the most popular faux hawk beard styles? Popular combinations include a faded faux hawk with a short beard, a textured faux hawk with stubble, and a low-profile faux hawk with a tidy corporate beard.
Is a faux hawk with beard appropriate for the office? Yes, particularly a low-profile version paired with a neat beard, which reads as stylish without being overly bold for most workplaces.
What beard length works best with a faux hawk? Short beard or stubble tends to work best, providing structure without competing with the height and shape on top.
Does a faux hawk with beard suit round faces? Yes, especially with extra height on top, paired with a beard shaped to add further length and angles to the jaw.
What product should I use for a faux hawk? Matte clay works well for most everyday versions, while hair wax gives sharper definition for a more spiked finish.
Can I get a faux hawk with curly hair? Yes, curly hair often suits this style particularly well, since the natural curl pattern adds volume that supports the raised central section.
How often should I trim a faux hawk with beard? Trim the sides every 2–3 weeks and the top every 4–5 weeks, along with a beard trim every 1–2 weeks.
How do I ask my barber for a faux hawk? Specify that you want the sides short but not shaved bare, with a wider central section left longer for styling upward.
Does a faux hawk work with a fade? Yes, pairing a fade on the sides with the raised top is one of the most popular and modern versions of this style.
Can teenagers wear a faux hawk with beard? Yes, it’s a popular choice among younger men, often paired with stubble or an early short beard as facial hair develops.
Does a faux hawk suit thinning hair? It can work reasonably well, since building height and shape at the crown draws attention away from thinning, though a lower profile may suit more advanced thinning better.
What’s the quickest way to style a faux hawk with beard? Apply matte clay to damp hair, lift and shape the central section with your fingers, and finish the beard with a quick comb-through.
Is a faux hawk with beard suitable for weddings? Yes, particularly a low-profile, cleanly styled version, which tends to photograph as polished rather than overly bold.
A faux hawk with beard gives you most of the visual impact of a full mohawk with considerably more flexibility for daily life, from the office to the weekend. Pick the height and texture level that matches your comfort zone, keep the beard trimmed to match the precision of the cut, and it adapts well across face shapes, hair types, and most professional settings. For more bold and everyday haircut pairings, the types of beard styles page is worth a look before your next barber visit.