Pompadour & Quiff Hairstyles: Amazing "Faux Hawks"

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The Hot Pompadour Trend: Is the "Fake Hawk" for You?

Miley Cyrus. Jamie McCarthy / Getty Images

A hot new hairstyle trend is the pompadour, also known as the quiff or the "faux hawk." This hairstyle -- which usually features shaved sides and a puffy teased top that reminds me of a rooster's comb -- has become the cool hairstyle of choice for singers Miley Cyrus and Pink as well as a host of other celebrities.

In this photo gallery of 20 amazing pompadour hairstyles, you'll see many different types of pompadours and fake mohawks (also known as "faux hawks").

So what is the "Quiff"? To me, it's a rockabilly hairstyle. According to Wikipedia, the quiff is a "hairstyle that combines the 1950s pompadour hairstyle, the 50s flattop, and sometimes a mohawk. The etymology of the word is uncertain but may derive from the French word "coiffe" which can mean either a hairstyle or, going further back, the mail knights wore over their heads and under their helmets. The hairstyle was a staple in the British 'Teddy Boy' movement, but became popular again in Europe in the early 1980s and is currently facing a resurgence in popularity."

What is a "Pompadour"? This hairstyle is named after the mistress of King Louis XV, Madame de Pompadour, who wore her hair swept high up off the face.

What is a "Faux hawk"? This is a fake mohawk. The sides of the head in a mohawk are usually shaved with a strip of hair kept long and swept up and off the face. A fake mohawk keeps the upswept plume, but the sides of the head are rarely shaved, but rather combed tightly against the head so it appears to be shaved.