What is the Difference Between Mohican and Mohawk?

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The Mohican and Mohawk hairstyles are very similar, and many people consider them the same. Both hairstyles involve shaving the sides of the head and leaving a strip of longer hair in the center. In the United States, the hairstyle is called a Mohawk, while in British English, it is referred to as a Mohican. The main difference between the two terms is the regional preference for the name.

The hairstyle is believed to have originated from Native American tribes, specifically the Iroquois confederacy, which included the Mohawks. However, historically, the hair was plucked out rather than shaven, and the hairstyle more closely resembled the one worn by the Pawnee tribe. The association with the Mohawk nation comes from Hollywood, particularly the popular 1939 film "Drums Along the Mohawk".

In summary, the differences between a Mohican and Mohawk hairstyle are:

  • Regional preference for the name: Mohawk in the United States and Mohican in British English.
  • The hairstyle is believed to have originated from Native American tribes, specifically the Iroquois confederacy, including the Mohawks.

Comparative Table: Mohican vs Mohawk

The Mohican and Mohawk hairstyles are very similar, but they have some differences in terms of the shaved area and the type of Native American tribes they are associated with. Here is a table comparing the two:

Feature Mohican Mohawk
Native American Tribe Association Algonquin Iroquois
Shaved Area Entire Sides of the Head (symmetrical) Sides of the Head Shaved, Middle Strip of Hair Remains
Hairstyle Length Can be Longer, with Hair in Sides Middle Strip of Hair Can be Braided or Decorated
Origin of Name Mohican Refers to the Algonquin Tribe Mohawk Refers to the Iroquois Tribe

The Mohican hairstyle is associated with the Algonquin tribes, while the Mohawk hairstyle is associated with the Iroquois tribes, specifically the Mohawk tribe. The Mohican hairstyle requires shaving the entire sides of the head, while the Mohawk hairstyle only shaves the sides of the head, leaving a strip of hair in the middle. The middle strip of hair in the Mohawk hairstyle can be braided or decorated.