Making Mohawks and Liberty Spikes

When punk rock was born in London in the 1970s, it also spawned two hairdos that have survived and thrived to the present day. The "mohawk" was a style that could be found going back to Native American styles and a very short, military version had existed since the 1960s but punk rockers took this style to new heights, literally!

Here you will learn how to make a vertical Mohawk and the related Liberty Spikes!

A variety of products have been used over the years to spike up mohawk hairdos. Not all of them are easy on the hair or quick to wash out, so pick and choose carefully.

• White glue - hardcore street punks really did use Elmer's glue to put up their hair as it was cheap and dried clear. Although water-soluble, this is one of the nastiest methods to use and often hair has to be cut off to really get rid of it.

• Egg whites - Another method that's very cheap and works for just about everyone except vegans. You separate the egg yolks and whites, then whisk the whites until they are very still, almost like you were making meringue. Then comb the whites into your hair and let dry.

• Hair mousse - The lightest of commercial hair lifting products, this works well for shorter mohawks.

• Hair gel - This thicker hair product is one of the more popular ways to spike up hair. The gel is worked into the hairs and then shaped with the hands.

• Hair spray - This can be used alone, or in combination with any of the other methods. Some people swear the cheapest and most sticky brands work best for spiking hair, especially if it's longer.

Getting Started: It doesn't really matter if you start with clean or dirty hair as so much product is going to wind up on your hair, but the hair should be well-brushed so that there are no snarls, tangles or knots.

Building Volume: Back-combing, aka "teasing" or "ratting" the hair, can help give more lift especially if your hair is very thick or longer. Sections of hair are lifted and then combed lightly near the roots in the direction of the scalp. Although this can give more support, it's also hard on the hair and can lead to breaking if done frequently.

Shaping A Mohawk Fin: Getting a really straight fin will take some practice and often works much better if you get a friend to help you. Shape the hair with the hands from the roots to the ends. Having a hair dryer can help dry the repeated applications of hair product. If you have very long hair (below shoulders or longer), it's sometimes best to lie on your side and let the hair lay on a flat surface until it dries.

Making Stronger Spikes: When making a spiked mohawk or liberty spikes, the spike shape will hold better if the ends of the spikes are twisted a bit to make the ends stick together.