Knotted Faux-Hawks: The Unexpected Trend That’s Suddenly Everywhere
Gwen Stefani on The Tonight Show With Jimmy Fallon. Photo: Getty Images
When Marc by Marc Jacobs sent models wearing knotted faux-hawks down the runway at New York Fashion Week on September 9, it felt like we were back in the audience of a No Doubt concert circa ’98, when Gwen Stefani rocked the look whether her hair was bleached blond or bright blue. Immediately after the fashion show, Rita Ora showed up to the Fashion Rocks concert wearing a very similar style—either a wild coincidence or direct reference. On Wednesday, model Cara Delevigne did the same, while Gwen Stefani went back to her roots, sporting twisted buns on “The Tonight Show” with Jimmy Fallon. Typically it takes a hair trend months to catch on from the runway to the red carpet—especially one that’s so bold—but with ‘90s fashion trends still dominating street style and retail shelves, the time is right for a rave-inspired hairdo.
Guido, Redken’s creative consultant backstage at Marc, said Björk’s hair twists (the ones from her 1993 “Big Time Sensuality” music video) served as the inspiration this season. The punky twisted updo was perfect for the shows rave theme, and if you’re brave enough, it’s incredibly simple to recreate at home. “I used one key product—Redken’s new Wind Blown 05 Dry Finishing Spray— to achieve enough texture and hold so the hair easily goes up into these tight little knots,” says Guido. “I started by taking the hair into four horizontal sections and bringing them into little ponytails at the top of the crown, twisting them down, leaving some ends out and then pinning them with fine pins.” He sprayed more of the Wind Blown texturizing spray on the ends for texture.
The Guido-designed faux hawk at Marc by Marc Jacobs’ show. Photo: Getty Images
The best part of creating this style? It’s better if it’s a little messy. “Nothing is perfect,” says Guido. “The part isn’t perfect, so you get kind of a punky feeling. I put a little bit of water on my fingers to pull out the baby hairs around and sticking them to the face so it looks like they just came from a rave, but still a little innocent.”
Cara Delevingne at a London Fashion Week party. Photo: Getty Images
And Marc by Marc Jacobs wasn’t the only runway with ‘90s raver hair: in London, Sophia Webster’s show featured a similar look. “Each girl-warrior evokes that real ‘90s rave culture with twisted, knotted hair piled into bows and bunches, all wrapped in Sophia’s signature print,” says Mark Hampton, the show’s stylist working with TONI&GUY Hair Meet Wardrobe. He sees the knotted faux-hawks catching on as a wider trend. “With Marc by Marc Jacobs, they wouldn’t have done something like that maybe two years ago because everything was more ‘20s and ‘40s-inspired prim and proper. Now cyberpunk and the rave scene are their inspiration. Some of these designers are ‘80s kids so the ‘90s for them is a huge influence because it’s what they grew up on. And for the spring/summer season it’s a perfect time for that ravey festival kind of look.”
Rita Ora at Fashion Rocks in New York City. Photo: Getty Images
Other recent fashion shows like McQ, Fyodor Golan, and Lulu & Co, all had ‘90s rave references as well. Models and celebrities have adopted the look at a rapid pace, but would you wear it?
