How to Style Spiky Hair (with Product Recommendations)

Whether you want punk liberty spikes or a more laidback Y2K style, spiked hair is a popular look for both men and women with short hair. Luckily, it’s easy to spike your hair at home with just a few hair products. For this article, we interviewed hair stylist Kana Ishii to teach you all the steps to spike your hair. Plus, get hair product recommendations and different spiky hairstyle ideas to try out the next time you want to spike your hair.

How to Get Spiky Hair

Wash your hair, then dry it until it’s slightly damp. Comb out any tangles, then rub a dime-sized amount of hair gel, wax, or pomade between your hands. Run the product through your hair from root to tip, repeating as needed until spikes form. Use a mirror to check your spikes and make adjustments as needed.

Section 1 of 4:

Preparing Your Hair

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1
Wash your hair as you normally would. To achieve your desired spiky look, it is important to start with clean hair that is free of any product. Wash your hair as you normally would with a quality shampoo and conditioner made for your hair type. If you have thick hair, avoid using too much conditioner, as you don’t want your hair to be too slick to hold onto your product. ^{[1]
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- If you have curly hair, opt for shampoo and conditioner that do not contain heavy ingredients, like coconut oil. These ingredients will make your hair curlier and more difficult to spike.
2
Dry your hair, but leave it damp. Once you get out of the shower or finish washing your hair, towel dry your hair until it is just slightly damp. Damp hair is generally easier to style into spikes than completely dry or completely wet hair. ^{[2]
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- Some hair experts recommend blow drying your hair after you wash it, especially if you have longer strands on top of your head. Then, spike your hair once it’s completely dry. However, this option usually isn’t ideal if you have dry or thick hair, as blow drying can make it more difficult to work with.
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3
Remove any tangles or knots with a wide tooth comb. You may need to remove tangles or knots before your hair can be spiked, especially if you have short, curly hair. Gently run a wide tooth comb or a hairbrush through your hair until there are no knots. Make sure your hair is still slightly damp when you comb it.
- Combing your hair will also reduce frizziness and make it easier to spike.

Section 2 of 4:

Spiking Your Hair

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1
Pour a dime-sized amount of gel, wax, or pomade into your hand. When using hair products, it’s best to start with a small amount and add more as you go, as it’s difficult to remove excess product once it’s in your hair. Choose your preferred styling product (such as hair gel , wax , or pomade ) and pour a dime-sized amount into the palm of your hand. Rub it between your hands to warm it up and distribute it evenly on your palms and fingers. ^{[3]
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- Make sure you get the product on your fingers, as you’ll use your fingers to run the product through your hair.
2
Run the product through your hair. Begin applying your styling product to the front section of your hair, coating it fully. Use your fingers to run the product from the roots to the tips in a combing motion, and repeat 2 or 3 times until spikes form. Then, do the same for the sides and back of your head, as desired. ^{[4]
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- If your hair feels too thin or limp, apply a small amount of hair mousse to your hands and run it through your hair in an upward motion.
- If you want more uniform spikes, brush your hair upward with a comb. Do this while the gel or wax is still wet so the uniform spikes stay in place.
- There are lots of ways to spike your hair. Spike it all over your head, or opt for just the front if you prefer a tamer look.
- To change the direction of your hair when styling it, Ishii says, “apply styling wax on the roots, not the ends.”
Once you’ve achieved the spike hair look, check it out in a mirror to make sure it looks the way you want. Consider twisting a few spikes with your fingers to create a more messy look, or smooth down the sides of your hair for a clean, spiked look.
4
Spray your hair with hairspray (optional). If you’re worried that your hair may not stay in place, liberally spray some hairspray on your spikes to finish off your look. Make sure to use hairspray that won’t make your hair appear stiff if you don’t want your spikes to appear crunchy or greasy. ^{[5]
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- Ishii says another way of making the spikes stay put is to “use a [blow dryer] with low power on [a heat setting] for one minute then [on a cool setting] for [another] minute.”
If your hair starts to lose its spike throughout the day, touch it up with a bit of gel, wax, or pomade. You may need to dampen your hair with water, then run the product upward through your hair, as you did when you first applied it.

Section 3 of 4:

Selecting Hair Products

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1
Use hair gel for a wet look. Using hair gel is ideal if you’re going for a wet, spiked look, as it gives your hair sheen and makes it look damp when it’s in spikes. It’s also a good option for hair that tends to get dry and frizzy, as adding sheen can help your hair appear healthier. ^{[6]
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- Hair gel may not be ideal if you have oily hair, as it can sometimes make it look greasy.
- Product recommendation: Got2b Glued Styling Spiking Hair Gel
2
Go for hair wax for a matte look. Applying hair wax allows you to spike your hair without making it look wet. This product is ideal for individuals with naturally oily or thick hair who do not want their spikes looking greasy. It also works well for those who have long or frizzy hair. ^{[7]
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- Product recommendation: Got2b Glued Spiking Hair Wax
3
Apply pomade for a slick, styled look. Pomade will give your hair shine and luster, as it’s usually wax-based. It provides excellent hold and can be re-shaped throughout the day. Use pomade on wet hair for less hold and more shine, and on dry hair for more hold and less shine. ^{[8]
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- Product recommendation: Suavecito Pomade Matte Formula
4
Try hair mousse for more volume. If your hair lacks natural volume, apply some mousse to your spikes to give them a little extra weight, definition, and texture. Hair mousse is also great for people with curly hair, as it helps define curls and prevent frizziness. ^{[9]
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- Product recommendation: Avenue Man Sculpting Foam for Men
5
Look for hair products with protection and hold. No matter which type of product you choose, check the label to ensure that it will protect your hair and provide a long lasting hold. A product with good hold will ensure your spiked hair stays spiky and fresh throughout the day.
- Some products boost a 24-hour hold, lasting up to a day. Others may advertise protection and hold for your hair. Compare and contrast several hair products before choosing the right one for you.

Section 4 of 4:

Spiky Hairstyle Ideas

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Liberty spikes are a popular punk hairstyle that involves styling your hair into thick, upright spikes, similar to those on the Statue of Liberty’s crown. To achieve liberty spikes , Ishii recommends “[applying] a super hard gel,” so the thick spikes stay in place. Comb your hair, then optionally straighten it to make it easier to style. Use clips or hair ties to separate your hair into sections, then tease each section and apply your product thickly to shape the sections into spikes. Pull the spike taut and blow dry it until the product is tacky.
Mohawks are another popular punk hairstyle in which you shave the sides of your head and style the hair left in the center into a large spike or spikes. To style a mohawk , separate your hair into sections. Starting from the front, liberally spray each section with hairspray so that the bottom is extra stiff. Then, blow dry the section so the spray dries and your hair stays spiked up. Repeat with each section, then use hair gel as needed to touch up the look. ^{[10]
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If you’re looking for a laidback look inspired by Y2K hairstyles, consider styling your hair in an intentionally disheveled way. After washing your hair, optionally straighten it to make it easier to spike. Then, spray the parts of your hair you want to spike with a strong hairspray and run your fingers through it, working from root to tip, until the hairspray hardens. When you achieve your desired look, spray the hairspray all over your hair so the spikes stay in place.
If you’re aiming for a wet-looking, casual look, wash your hair and leave it slightly damp, or mist your hair with some water. Then, opt for a hair gel or another product that will give a wet appearance, then rake it through all the hair you want to spike. Then, spike your hair by running your fingers through it from root to tip, and allow the product to dry. ^{[11]
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Quiffs are a great option if you’re wanting to add some texture and volume to the front of your hair. Wash your hair, then towel dry it so it’s still a bit damp. Apply a dime-sized amount of gel or wax to your fingers, then distribute the product through your hair from root to tip. Then, dry your hair with a hair dryer and sweep the hair on the top of your head to one side, using your fingers to work the hair upward. Move your hands in a circular motion to achieve a spiky, messy look. ^{[12]
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Does hair gel cause hair loss?

kushaal kumar

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If left for a long time, it may cause temporary hair loss. Just wash it off with water at the end of the day.

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How do I do spikes without using gel?

WittyHow

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If you have straight hair, the following method may work for you. This method works well on short to medium-length hair. When you put shampoo on your hair during a shower, lather the shampoo into the hair in a certain motion to keep the hair in a spiked position. For example, if you want to spike your hair straight up, rub the shampoo through your front hair in an upward motion. Don't leave the shampoo on too long (1-2 minutes is enough), as this might lessen hair hold. When rinsing, hold your front hair gently and wash the back hair first. Then rinse the front hair in the upward motion again, gently holding the front hair. When drying, it is best to blow-dry, holding the front hair again.

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How can I stop part of my hair from lying down?

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Use use hair gel or another styling product. Put a little on your fingers, spread it through the area you want to stop from lying down, then comb the product through that area in the direction you want the hair to go.

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If you have longer hair, you may try following the above steps, spiking the front section of your hair. You could also tie back the rest of your hair and spike only the front section for a more polished, spiked look.

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Things You’ll Need

Shampoo and conditioner
Hair gel , wax , pomade , or another styling product
Mirror
Wide tooth comb
Hair spray (optional)
Blow dryer (optional)

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How to Style Spiky Hair (with Product Recommendations)

How to Get Spiky Hair

Steps

Preparing Your Hair

Spiking Your Hair

Selecting Hair Products

Spiky Hairstyle Ideas

Community Q&A

Video

Tips

Things You’ll Need

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