Punk Hairstyles: Three Styles That Rock

Punk hairstyles are really cool when you get to wear them before they become popular, but Hollywood stars and the 'style' rags just run them down into the tacky ground. If you're sick of all the hairstyles that every other dude on the street is wearing, here are a new takes on a good ol' punk style.


Mohawk 2.0

The faux hawk is a revival of the punk-through-and-through Mohawk, only shorter and less, well, attention-seeking. The guys who wear this style usually want to get the cool rebel look of a Mohawk without adding about 5 inches of hair to their height. It's just the thing for wearing to a rave party at night and then going to work the next day with a more formal 'do.

Getting a faux hawk isn't so hard; a lot of stylists and barbers know how to do it because everyone wanted to wear it back in 2007. After a short hiatus for 2008, the faux hawk is ready to be rocked again.

If your stylist or barber doesn't know how to do it, ask for a short cut on the sides and back, and then leave a little more hair on top, especially in the middle area. Finish off the top with a pieced or jagged cut.

How to Have the Hawk

Before going to the party, grab the styling wax once your hair's dry. Spread some wax on your palms, run your hands through your hair a couple of times and then tease up the center top into a small triangle of hair. Rub your palms flat over the sides and back of your head to complement the top.Do you need a guide? Check out some photos of David Beckham; he was a big part of the faux hawk revival because he wore the style so much.

You don't even need to get stuck with the same old faux hawk as everyone else. He's not exactly punk, but Joe Jonas signature Joe hawk adds bangs and a little more jagged edges to the usual faux. Don't be afraid to mix it up and add whatever you feel looks great on you.

You may have noticed that a lot of the newer styles for guys take so long to do. People might call them 'rocker' or 'punk hair,' but it's still weird that many of those styles take upwards of 10 minutes to dry, wax, style and finish. If you're rushing out the door to get to a gig, forget all those other styles 'cause there's just one for you - the bed head.

Making Your Bed... Head

Spread a little styling wax in your palms and then run both randomly through your hair. You'll probably get a cooler style if you don't move your hands around in a pattern and then you lift both hands off your head at different locations. Remember, the important thing in doing bed head is to make it look messy and totally unintentional. Usually, the messier you leave your hair, the more punk you'll look overall.

Another trick you can try is getting the authentic bed head - yes, go out straight from waking up. Wash your hair and put in a little hair product (wax really is best for this) before sleeping. If you're lucky enough (or if you're a jerky sleeper), your hair will be awesomely unkempt in the morning. Just remember to forget the shampoo.

The Quick Style

It might take you a few tries to get bed head perfectly, though. Chances are your first attempts will look too messy, too styled or just unwearable. Play around a bit if you can't find the right one for you: add bangs, tease your hair up here or there or even put in a bit of a faux hawk on top.

Don't think that this is some random, gimmicky style. It's a Hollywood favorite, and it goes anywhere from the most crowded concerts to swanky restaurants. Two big Hollywood stars - Zac Efron and Brad Pitt - were seen a lot last year sporting 'dos that are stylishly scruffy. It's easy, it's quick and it's almost impossible to go wrong.

When there's no air conditioning, no ventilation and a rock concert in full swing around you, you'll probably want to shave off even the coolest-looking punk hairstyle you've ever worn. But hey, nobody said you had to sport a full head of hair to look great. If you want a unique, low-maintenance, no-styling-required 'do, then the buzz cut is something you should try.

Buzz Cuts?

Yeah, yeah, buzz cuts are usually given to little toddler boys who just can't deal with keeping long hair clean for more than 10 minutes. But this cut looks just as great on guys as it does on tiny tots; lead singer of pop rock band Maroon 5 Adam Levine often sports a buzz, and two members of piano rock band The Fray wear buzzes, too.

Buzz cuts are especially popular in the summer because they keep your head cool and ventilated. They're probably the most comfortable hairstyles to wear to crowded events like rock concerts, too because of the extra air they give to your noggin. It's convenient even in colder weather if you don't like the feeling of having snow melt into your hair.

One of the great things about buzz cuts is that they're so easy to maintain, you could do it yourself.

Just get your own electric razor and you could keep rockin' that buzz until your razor goes bust. It's the kind of style you'd get if you don't expect to see your barber or stylist for a while.

There are a couple of rules to buzz cuts, though. Number one: don't mix it with anything fancy. Highlights and hair color, for example, are the dumbest things to pair with a buzz cut; you'll just look like a cheap imitation of Dennis Rodman circa his NBA days. Number two: don't cut it all off on the first go. Try different lengths of buzz cut, shaving down until you get to a thickness that makes you look good.

Help your macho image by pairing your buzz cut with longer sideburns or a little week-old scruff. Punk it ain't, but cool it definitely is.