In need of a new ‘do? From sleek and glossy to back combed to hell and back, there are loads of different goth hairstyles to consider – and this post just scratches the surface! We’ve chosen our five favourite goth hairstyles to get you inspired for a new look. Which is your favourite?
The Widows Peak or “V” Fringe
A natural widow’s peak is a V-shaped hairline, with the point of the V sitting in the middle of the forehead. It was considered an omen of early widowhood in young women, because it resembles the shape of the hood or cap that widows would wear in the 18th century.
In the media, a widow’s peak is used a lot for villains. Most obviously, Dracula is usually depicted with a widow’s peak, as well as Eddie Munster and The Joker. In typical goth fashion, around the 90’s goths took that kind of dark history and villainous visualisation (and a generous helping of Bettie Page vibes) and used it for ourselves through the form of a fringe.
Notoriously hard to keep looking pristine, it’s perfect for vintage and rockabilly goth styles.
The Bat’s Nest
A classic goth hairdo, the bat’s nest is exactly how it sounds – a big pile of back combed hair, sometimes piled on top of the head and pinned there. It was sported by the mother and father of goth, Siouxie Sioux and Robert Smith, so you know it’s legit. It has stood the test of time, with the likes of Tim Burton and Helena Bonham Carter wearing their hair big and voluminous too (as well as any Burton character ever).
It’s easy to do with long or short hair, as it doesn’t need to be perfect, far from it! The only rule for a bat’s nest ‘do is the bigger the better. It can be styled with tendrils around the face for a softer look.
The Deathhawk
A Mohawk or Mohican is where the sides of the head are shaven, leaving a strip of longer hair in the middle. It’s a super old hairstyle, who knew! It has been found on a 2000-year-old bog body, styled with pine resin and plant oil. It takes its name from the Mohawk (or Mohican) people, though technically they had a different, but similar, hairstyle. The Pawnee people were the ones who actually had the hairstyle.
Today the Mohawk is a symbol of rebellion, most commonly associated with punks, goths and alternative folk. Goths usually sport a deathhawk, which is a more backcombed (of course!) version, more often than not combined with long sideburns or ‘tails’.
It’s a style that looks cool whether you’ve styled it high, tied it up or letting down to one side, especially if it’s jet black or coloured a fun colour!
The Long & Luscious
Long glossy locks is a classic glamorous goth look, and can be used to create a whole host of hairstyles. It’s traditionally a symbol of femininity to have long hair, but it’s seen on goths of all genders. Of course, for full goth realness it has to be black!
It can be poker straight, softly curled or simply left to airdry with your natural texture – it all works with the goth aesthetic. Of course, long hair is great for creating the big bat’s nest style hair, as well as cute space buns, slicked ponytails, messy buns and more.
The Goth Bob
At the opposite end of the spectrum, there’s the bob. A cut that ranges from chin length to shoulder length, the bob is another rebellious cut. As you might know, the bob soared to popularity in the 1920s when the flapper girl was en vogue. For conservatives at the time, the bob was a sign that women were “acting like men” (how outrageous) by rejecting traditional feminine ideals.
So of course it’s a style that has been adopted by goths. The short style is super versatile too. It can be slicked back, choppy, blunt, made voluminous – there are so many gorgeous goth options with this haircut.
