Mohawk hairstyle is back in trend |04 February 2011

The Mohawk – also known as Mohican – which features shaved sides and a narrow “brush” of longer hair down the middle, is named after a native American tribe who lived in upper New York state. These people called themselves Kanienkehaka, meaning “people of the place of flint”, and European settlers first made contact with them in the early 17th century.

Warriors of the tribe used this hairstyle to intimidate their enemies and they also saw the long strip of hair as a connection to their creator.

Even during the second world war, American paratroopers in the 101st Airborne Division wore Mohawks to intimidate the enemy, and the style was worn during the Vietnam war too.

In the early 1950s it became popular among jazz musicians and teenage girls, and in the mid-1970s it became the symbol of the punk rock subculture.

This style is now back in trend and has become popular among our youths.

“We need to keep abreast with fashion and we like the way this style is presented,” said a group of teenage boys who were wearing this style over the recent holidays.

Some girls also find it very attractive, though their style is rather different as they plait their hair on both sides then leave the middle part curly.

They think the style suits boys better and looks hot when it is spiky.

Corine Samson