Fashion Trendy BitchThe taper fade haircut is one of the most popular men’s hairstyles. While the taper and fade are actually two different types of haircuts, they both combine to create the taper fade. Versatile, clean cut, and a blend between modern and classic, there are many variations of taper fades. Whether you have straight, thick, thin, wavy or curly hair, the taper fade is the best way to cut short hair on the sides and back.
If you’re looking to get a taper, here are the best taper fade haircuts for men. From a low, high, mid, skin and bald taper on the sides to pairing the cut with short, medium-length or long hair on top, check out our collection of pictures to find a cool taper fade hairstyle!
What Is A Taper Fade?
The taper fade haircut is a way to cut hair on the sides and back. The taper fade starts with long hair on top and gradually tapers the hair shorter down the sides of the head. The fading process blends the longer hair on top into the sides to create a clean faded or tapered style.
The tapering process is usually performed with clippers and scissors. Sharp and neat, the result is a high contrast, low maintenance haircut that doesn’t require any styling and thereby emphasizes the hairstyle on top.
How To Ask For A Taper Fade
When you ask your barber for a taper fade haircut, you’ll need to know how high or low you want the fade to start and how short you want the cut to go. With so many different types of tapered haircuts, it’s important to know how to talk to your barber to get the cut and style you want.
For instance, you can ask for a high, medium or low fade. The low fade begins just above the ears goes all around the sides and back. The high fade blends right at the top of the sides and quickly tapers the hair down.
How To Cut A Taper Fade
To cut a taper fade, you’ll need a good pair of hair clippers with a few guard sizes for the blending process. If you a crisp, clean cut fade, we highly recommend you visit a barbershop. To do a fade, the hair on top must be the longest part of the cut. The hair on sides and back should then progressively get shorter.
Using different clipper guard sizes, slowly taper the hair. However, you can decide how quickly or gradually you want the fading to be.
To cut your own hair and do a taper fade effectively at home, you’ll need to seamlessly buzz your hair so it looks naturally graded from one length to another.
Taper vs Fade: What’s The Difference?
It is important to note that there is a difference between a taper and a fade. Although barbers use both cuts to smoothly transition between different hair lengths, the classic taper is different than a traditional fade.
When you compare the taper vs fade, tapered cuts leave thicker, longer hair on the sides while fades trim hair very short and down to the skin.
Ultimately, the taper fade is a modern haircut that combines the best parts of both cutting techniques. Short, trendy, and iconic, it’s one of the top haircut styles for men!
Best Taper Fade Haircuts
The taper fade has been a popular men’s cut for years. Below, we’ll provide examples and ideas on the best taper, fade and taper fade haircuts for men.
Whether you want a high, mid or low taper fade paired with short or long hair to style a comb over, slick back, quiff, blowout, crop top, pompadour or hard side part, these are the best fade hairstyles to get right now!
Low Taper Fade
The low taper fade is stylish and easy to get, and continues to be the most popular fade haircut for guys. The low taper can be combined with any number of classic and modern men’s hairstyles. While the low cut still offers the traditional short sides and back, the tapered haircut doesn’t expose too much of the scalp.
From the side part to the quiff to the comb over, the low fade is perfect for business professionals, gentleman, young men, and boys. However, you can ask your barber to make the low taper fade very short and edgy with a skin fade finish. The bald fade will shave the bottom of the taper for a cool style.
High Taper Fade
The high taper fade is the shortest fade haircut you can try. The high taper starts just below the longer hair on top, and usually tapers quickly for a high-contrast look. Generally, the high fade looks better with modern styles like the textured quiff, French crop, faux hawk, spiky hair, and buzz cut.
Furthermore, if you want a short haircut, the high taper fade can get you the contrast necessary to focus the eyes on the short hair styled on top. Sleek, trendy, and badass, the high fade haircut offers a sexy cut and style that will look good on hipsters, bad boys, dashing young guys.
Mid Taper Fade
The mid taper fade is a great haircut for guys who want a happy medium between a high and low fade. The mid taper starts in the middle of the head and buzzes hair all around. Clean and fresh, a medium fade looks both professional and fashionable.
Match the mid fade haircut with a comb over, brush back, blowout, or fringe hairstyle to take advantage of the short sides, long top men’s hair trends. For a crisp and sharp finish, ask your barber for a line up along the edges.
Taper Fade + Long Hair
The taper fade looks especially good with long hair. As one of the best short sides, long top haircuts, a long hair fade maximizes contrast on the sides and back to focus your eyes on the longer styling above. Medium-length to longer hairstyles also offer the advantage of versatility, giving guys the ability to try a number of different hairstyle ideas.
If you’re willing to experiment with the latest trends, textured and messy styles are great-looking and casual. Try a long quiff, comb over, slick back, brush up, faux hawk, or spiked up style. The long hair taper should be a natural fit.
