10 cool and beautiful mohawk hairstyles for black women

2018 is the year to be bold, be brave & rock a mohawk!  

Bold and beautiful, mohawk hairstyles for black women have become the go-to look for those wanting to grab the attention of the entire room. And whether your hair is natural or relaxed, there are tonnes of different ways that you can adapt a mohawk for different situations, encompassing both casual and formal vibes.

Whether you love edgy spiked-up styles or you’re leaning towards something more soft and textured, feast your eyes on our edit of the top A-list mohawks to try.

Mohawk mania: 10 stylish mohawk hairstyles for black women

actress Teyonah Parris wearing a purple dress with her hair in a twisted mohawk updo style on the red carpet
We bet you never thought a mohawk could look this elegant, right? Credit: Rex by Shutterstock

1. Twisted mohawk

Teyonah Parris’ glamorous twisted mohawk updo only adds to her glamorous red carpet look, making this an ideal style for a special occasion like prom or a wedding.

issa rae with an afro mohawk with tiny cornrows either side with metallic golden thread woven through
Issa Rae makes regular cornrows look a whole lot glitzier. Credit: Rex by Shutterstock

2. Cornrows

With her TWA and cornrowed sides, Issa Rae shows how you can get the mohawk look with just braids. Sprucing up the cute look with some gold wire woven throughout, there’s nothing stopping you recreating this look at home.

alicia keys at the grammys wearing a blue silk halterneck dress with her hair in a pinned twisted faux mohawk
Alicia knows how to turn up the red carpet glamour. Credit: Rex by Shutterstock

3. Pinned fauxhawk

If sleek hair is your thing, you’ll love this pinned mohawk style from Alicia Keys. With slicked-back glossy sides and pin curls, this is a great example of the more feminine mohawk hairstyles for black women out there.

TRESemmé Keratin Smooth Shine Oil Front

Editor’s tip: Thinking about trying this look? For hair like Alicia’s, smooth a few drops of the TRESemmé Keratin Smooth Shine Oil through your hair. This will just help to keep your strands smooth, all while adding a dazzling shine.

disney actress skai jackson with lilac braided mohawk buns
You could always try creating a faux mohawk using braided buns. Credit: Rex by Shutterstock

4. Braided buns

With her lilac ombre and braided bantu knots, Skai Jackson’s look has festival hair written all over it.

The pops of purple really add a sense of fun and playfulness to the look, and you’ve got to admit, the braided buns themselves look really impressive! We’re going to need to know Skai’s secrets.

rihanna at the 2008 american music awards with a short curly mohawk hairstyle
Why not add some soft curls to your mohawk ‘do? Credit: Rex by Shutterstock

5. Curly mohawk

After something softer? Rihanna‘s wispy curls give her mohawk a wearable, textured effect that’s great if you’re new to the mohawk trend.

When it comes to styling, simply use some product to work a classic pixie cut into a more peaked mohawk, making sure to sculpt some of the curls around your face for a feature-flattering fringe.

Editor’s tip: Shape your curls to perfection using the TONI&GUY Curl Sculpting Spray. The spray gel formula defines curls, providing a light hold for a really natural finish.

jada pinkett smith with a mohawk hairstyle with shaved sides and styled into a quiff
What will you choose, slicked back or quiffed up? Credit: Rex by Shutterstock

6. Quiff mohawk

Jada Pinkett Smith’s mohawk look is made up of buzzed, bleached sides and a bumped-up quiff top. The blonde sides tie in perfectly with her dress and the neat quiff gives this traditionally edgy style a more ladylike feel.

halle berry at the golden globe awards in a floral one shoulder dress with a spiked up short mohawk hairstyle
Halle confirms that spiky styles don’t have to be intimidating. Credit: Rex by Shutterstock

7. Spiked up

Halle Berry is the queen of cropped styles and her spiky pixie mohawk is nothing short of hair perfection!

With lighter caramel strands running through her mane and textured spikes adding height to the look, if you’re already rocking a pixie cut this is a good one to try.

Editor’s tip: The key to creating spikes that stay is using a good wax, such as the VO5 Classic Styling Soft Moulding Wax. This mouldable, re-workable wax is great for creating defined styles without leaving your hair too shiny or feeling crisp.

cassie with a shaved mohawk hairstyle braided into a long braid
Something for all the edgy princesses out there. Credit: Rex by Shutterstock

8. Rapunzel mohawk

We’re not gonna lie, this look isn’t one for the faint-hearted but if you’re wanting something really unique, this certainly ticks that box. Instead of just having a regular mohawk with shaved sections either side, try adding extensions or a clip-on braid to get the Rapunzel look like Cassie!

janelle monae on the red carpet wearing a black embellished outfit with her hair styled into a braided mohawk look
It’s time to try out Janelle’s signature pomp style for yourself. Credit: Rex by Shutterstock

9. Pomp mohawk

Did you know that you can twist and style your natural hair into a pompadour mohawk? Just look at Janelle Monae and her portfolio of incredible pomp styles! It’s the perfect androgynous look, so pair with this spring’s trouser suit trend and you’ll be good to go.

keke palmer on the red carpet with a mohawk hairstyles with shaved sides with a mullet braid
Keke Palmer always keeps us guessing with her hair. Credit: Rex by Shutterstock

10. Mullet mohawk

This final look comes courtesy of hair chameleon Keke Palmer, who has combined a curly, textured mohawk (similar to Rihanna’s above) but has taken it one step further with a braided mullet detail.

This style is sure to be a bit of a Marmite style – you’re either going to absolutely love it or really hate it – but if you’ve got the confidence to rock it, we say why not?!

 

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