Growing Out a Mohawk

Growing out a mohawk is awkward business. When you decide that a mohawk no longer fits your lifestyle you really only have two options:
1. Go short all-around and grow same-length hair.
2. Stop cutting the sides and grow different-length hair.

This awkward phase applies to undercuts and single-side shaves too of course.
This post exists to share my hair with you as I grow out a mohawk. If you are thinking about setting aside your mohawk, undercut, or shaved side -and you want to see a potential future- read on, this post is for you. If you’re just here for the photos, enjoy them.

Disclosure: This site contains a few affiliate links; I none in this post.

So far I have had two mohawks in my life; at ages 24 and 34 if you’re curious. When I was ready to grow out my first mohawk I waited until my sides were about 1″-1.5″ long, then cut down my mohawk to match (with utility scissors -sorry stylist friends!).
Then I simply grew out a DIY pixie – awkward, but familiar.

• Related: Why I Cut My Own Bangs

This time I have decided to put away my Wahl clippers and let my hair grow at two different lengths. Truthfully I had a baby and couldn’t keep up with with the every-two-weeks clipper work that my mohawks require. But that’s fine, I kind of miss having a full head of hair even when my hair is twisted into a bun most of the time.

I will keep putting up my mohawk as the sides grow – this is just for me, because it’s comfortable. And yes, it sure does look weird, but it’s so much better than my other tangible alternative; hiding under a wig until the sides are long enough to manage.
Some folks may find a wig appealing, and I would think about it if I lived in a cooler climate. So if you’re looking for an excuse to buy an affordable wig – mohawk!

For the record, my last haircut was my usual; as short as possible, no guard, velcro-like head.

For reference my hair
→ Grows quickly
→ Is medium-thick
→ Holds a slight wave with little help
→ Spends 95 percent of its time twisted into a bun

Here we go!

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^ 35 Days Since Last Haircut – This early phase is hard because I don’t like hair touching my ears and this short stuff is too short to do anything with. Good thing I was distracted!

^ 85 Days Since Last Haircut – Sides are pixi-like, yay!

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^ 106 Days Since Last Haircut – Oh no…my short hairs found their natural volume.

^ 137 Days Since Last Haircut – Now things are getting real weird.

^ 166 days since last haircut – I have considered hiding my sides under a low ponytail or maybe decorate with a cute scarf. However Alabama in the summer is hot and humid, so I need to keep my neck uncovered for comfort and I know a scarf will get sweaty.

If you are reading this and getting ready to grow out your short hair I recommend that you stop using the clippers in the summer so that you can cover the silliness with hats in the winter.

^ 177 days since last haircut – These long sides are not cool (but they won’t keep me out of a rented evening gown!).

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^ 200 days since last haircut – Just in case you forgot that I still have gobs of hair.

^ 209 / 0 days since last haircut – This day began as day 209, but changed to zero in the early evening. I asked the stylist for my usual; “a wash ‘n’ wear that’s easy to grow out.” I kind of wanted to ask for a pixie, but I know that I don’t have time for regular trims. So from here I’m just going to keep chugging along.

In conclusion, I love having a mohawk. I will miss mine every time that I see another lady with one. Maybe I’ll get another one when my son is old enough to shave my head? Until then, I certainly won’t miss growing one out…and in the meanwhile I will enjoy this practical Mom Hair.

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^ 738 days since my mohawk was formally cut off! So here’s my hair after two years and one week of just plain growing; zero cuts, zero trims, zero extensions…hell, I don’t even use conditioner. When I request “wash & wear” cuts I mean it.

^ 1,182 days has reset to zero. It might be time soon for another mohawk…

🥳

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