The Mohawk in Punk: From UK82 to Liberty Spikes

The mohawk — or mohican, as most British punks call it — is a strip of hair running front to back over a shaved or closely cropped head. It entered punk through the London scene of the late 1970s and was cemented by the UK82 bands of the early 1980s, who wore it as a uniform of sorts. Liberty spikes are the tall, individually separated version, held up with soap, sugar water, gelatin or modern products. Getting one to stand up is mostly about sectioning, backcombing and drying time.

Where did the mohawk come from?

The haircut has two separate ancestries that punks tend to blur together. The name comes from the Mohawk people of North America, and the British term ‘mohican’; the hairstyle takes its name from the Mohawk people, though historically the hair was plucked out rather than shaved. The style also appeared in military contexts — American GIs, notably paratroopers, wore mohawks during World War II — and in various subcultures before punk.

What punk did was take a style associated with warriors and outsiders and make it a public statement. By the late 1970s, London punks were experimenting with shaved heads, dyed hair and dramatic cuts. The mohican was a natural extension: cheap to maintain, impossible to ignore, and a clear break from the flared trousers and long hair of the hippy era.

When did UK82 bands adopt the mohican?

UK82 is the shorthand for the second wave of British punk that emerged around 1981–82, centred on bands such as The Exploited, Discharge, GBH and Vice Squad. This was harder, faster and uglier than the first wave, and the fashion followed. The mohican became a visual marker of the scene, along with studded jackets, Dr Martens and painted leather.

The Exploited’s Wattie Buchan was one of the most visible adopters, and the band’s imagery helped spread the look beyond London. The mohican also crossed into anarcho-punk — Crass and their circle were never a uniform-wearing bunch, but the haircut appeared among their followers — and into the emerging crust scene. For more on that era, see our piece on UK82: the second wave that kept punk ugly.

What are liberty spikes and how did they develop?

Liberty spikes are the logical extreme of the mohican: instead of a strip of hair, you get a row of tall, pointed spikes, each one standing independently. The style became common in the 1980s, particularly in the UK and US hardcore scenes.

Early punks used whatever was at hand: soap, sugar water, gelatin, even wood glue (not recommended). The goal was always the same — make the hair stiff enough to defy gravity. Modern punks have it easier with dedicated hairsprays and gels, but the DIY spirit remains.

How do you make a mohawk stand up?

This is the practical bit. You will need: a comb, strong-hold gel or hairspray, a hairdryer, and patience. If you are using sugar water, mix about two tablespoons of sugar into a cup of warm water and let it cool.

1. Start with clean, dry hair. Product sticks better to hair without oils.
2. Section the strip. If you already have a mohawk, the strip is defined. If not, tie off the central section and shave or clip the sides.
3. Backcomb each section. Take small squares of hair (about 2–3 cm), spray with product or dip in sugar water, and comb backwards from the tips to the roots. This creates the structure.
4. Dry with heat. Use a hairdryer on a low heat setting, pointing upwards, while holding the hair in shape. A diffuser helps.
5. Pinch into spikes. Once dry, twist each section into a point and spray with hairspray. A final blast of cold air sets the shape.
6. Finish with hairspray. A strong-hold spray keeps everything in place. Avoid touching once set.

For a more permanent result, some punks use gelatin: mix a sachet with hot water, apply to damp hair, shape and let dry (it will flake after a few days). It is messy but effective. If you are going to a show, do it the night before and sleep carefully.

Does the mohawk still matter?

In 2024, the mohawk is less common on the street than it was in 1982, but it has not disappeared. It survives in crust, d-beat and street-punk scenes, and it remains a shortcut for filmmakers and advertisers who need to signal ‘punk’ in three seconds. That is both a blessing and a curse: the haircut is instantly recognisable, but it also gets reduced to a costume.

For younger punks, the mohawk can still be a genuine statement — a way of making yourself unemployable in the eyes of the straight world and visible to your own. It is also a practical hassle: it takes time, it itches, and it frightens relatives. That is part of the point.

If you are building the rest of the look, our guide to making a punk battle jacket that actually lasts is a good place to start. And if you want to understand the scene that popularised the cut, our history of UK82 covers the bands and the attitude.

FAQ

What is the difference between a mohawk and a mohican?

They are the same haircut. 'Mohawk' comes from the Mohawk people of North America; 'mohican' is the British English term. Punk scenes in the UK generally say mohican, while American scenes say mohawk.

When did punks start wearing mohawks?

The style appeared in the London punk scene in the late 1970s and became widespread with the UK82 second wave in the early 1980s. It was popularised by bands such as The Exploited and by the broader anarcho-punk and street-punk scenes.

How do you make liberty spikes stand up?

Section the hair into small squares, backcomb each section, apply a strong hold product (gel, sugar water or gelatin), and dry thoroughly with a hairdryer on a low heat. Hairspray and a final blast of cold air set the spikes.

Are liberty spikes and a mohawk the same thing?

Not exactly. A mohawk is the shaved-sides haircut with a central strip of hair; liberty spikes are a styling of that strip into tall, separated spikes. You can have a mohawk without spikes, and spikes can be worn on longer hair without shaved sides.