4 Tips To Help You Achieve The Perfect Frohawk

When I first “went” natural, I would flip through those Black hair-styling magazines that they sell at my local beauty supply store and look in amazement (and a little jealousy) at all of the women that could pull off a fierce frohawk. I’m not sure if it was the intimidating volume of the hairstyle or the fact that my hair would shrink at the slightest touch of humidity, but I just knew that I could not pull it off.

A few visits to the salon and some failed YouTube tutorials later, I finally got the hang of it and was able to pull off my very first (of many) frohawk! If you’re having some trouble pulling it off, don’t worry! Here are 4 tips to help you achieve your desired frohawk.

Pick The Right Clips

The perfect foundation of a frohawk all comes down to one thing: hair clips. Hair clips are what will keep your hair perfectly tucked and centered at the crown of your head so you can properly style and position your hair. If your hair is thin or your curls are loose, you can get away with using some plastic tip, jumbo bobby pins* or snap clips that are the color of your hair.

If your hair is on the thicker side or your curl pattern is tighter and/or kinkier, you should opt for larger accessories like banana clips or hair comb clips that you can snap closed. These types of clips are able to hold more hair at once and are more secure than a bobby pin that can slip or get lost in your hair.

I have bra-strap length 4c hair, so I usually use two large banana clips at the front and back of my head to tuck away large amounts of hair at once, have neat sides, and create a voluminous crown.

No matter what type of hair you have, make sure you use clips that do not put too much tension on your hair or scalp–hair health is always more important than a cute style.

Pomade, Cream, or Gel?

When slicking up the sides of your hair, you have to figure out what look you want to go for. Some women like to keep their hair naturally curly, others like to slick it down just enough for it to have a slight wave, and some go for a tight and sleek look where it is completely straight in the back and on the sides.

If you want your natural curl to show, try using a curl cream mixed with a light oil to tame your sides. Not only will it define your curls and/or coils but it’ll give your hair a natural-looking luster and shine. Keeping your hair clips relatively loose will also help your curls from being stretched straight on the sides.

If you’d like your hair to have a nice wave, try a max-hold hair jelly or pomade. Unlike a gel, jams and pomades will give you the extra hold you need without making your hair hard or crunchy. To keep your hair at a wave, make sure your clips are loose, but not so loose that your hair will start curling back up at the edges and sides.

For sleek, straight sides, mix a quarter-sized drop of a heavy oil–like JBCO*–into a hair gel of your choice and smooth is alongside your hair. Brush your hair up until it is straight and slick, then clip your hair down immediately. If you are not fond of hair gel, you can always blow dry your hair on cool for a kinky* straight look, then smooth a light oil or sheen over the top.

Kink, Curl, Coil Definition! 

Of course, after you’ve clipped and slicked everything up, you can leave it as is; or you can start curling and defining your hair! There’s a number of things you can use, from perm rods* to curl cream, that will jazz up your frohawk, but it all comes down to what you’re trying to achieve.

If you want big, voluminous bouncy curls, try jumbo sized flexi rods*! Just roll and secure, set, separate the curls after taking them out, and then lightly tease at the crown.

For tighter curls, try working with your natural curl pattern. Curl definition creams or a ‘wash and go’ routine would work best to bring out the best of your natural patterns and textures.

If you want to keep your kinks and coils, don’t be afraid to go BIG! Teasing your hair at the root, opting for a braid out, or adding some type 4 clip ins* for extra length and volume would be a perfect addition to your frohawk.

Spruce It UP

Being able to customize the style you’re rockin’ to fit your personality is one of the best things about her experimentation. Don’t be afraid to be a little adventurous with your frohawk! Using temporary hair dye or spray on color is a good way to add a pop of color to the tips of your hair or for streaks.

A single flower (or even a crown!), gold or silver clips, spray-on glitter, and a headband* are great go-to accessories to add a little oomph to your style. If you like to keep it cute and simple, try other things like Pink Sugar Hair Perfume or wrap-around headscarf that covers your sides, but keeps the top portion of the fro’ out.