65 Stylish Fade Haircuts For Black Men

A fresh fade haircut is a stylish and masculine choice for black men who want to create a sleek, low-maintenance and flattering look that will turn heads. A fade is a blended cut that gradually tapers black hair down to the skin, seamlessly transitioning the shorter sides and back into the longer hair on top. Cool and timeless, there are many different types of fade haircuts for black men to choose from depending on their style and texture.

Whether it’s an afro fade, buzz cut or high top, these modern black men’s haircuts look good with faded hair all around the sides and back.

Check out the best fade haircuts for black men to inspire your next trip to the barbershop. From low to high, these stunning fades will elevate your hairstyle for a classy and ruggedly handsome vibe.

Freshest Fade Haircuts For Black Men

Low Drop Fade

The low drop fade is a stylish and modern haircut for black men who want to add flair and personality to their style. Getting a dropped fade with short thick hair on top can be an innovative look that creates contrast for a masculine finish. The transition is subtle and leaves the hairstyle looking fuller while short enough to keep your cut sharp and neat.

Afro Taper Fade

The afro taper fade is a classic haircut for black men who want a cool retro vibe with a modern twist. A clean-cut temp or drop fade can emphasize the longer afro on top while creating a low-maintenance finish on the sides and back. The fade can be high enough to show some skin, adding much-needed sharpness to the look.

Low Fade with Short Hair and Beard

The low fade is perfect when paired with short hair because no matter how long or short the top is, the tighter fade will give the illusion of height and body. This combo is best for guys who like to keep their look easy but fashionable.

Burst Fade Mohawk

Ask your barber for a burst fade mohawk to create a rebellious look that’s wearable everywhere. The shaved design helps adds a wow factor, while from the front, the fade is kept nice and tight.

Blowout Sponge Twist with High Temp Fade

The blowout sponge look is a sleek cut for the man who wants their style to stand apart from the crowd. The added texture on top exudes body and volume while a high temp fade pulls it all together for a smooth finish.

Brushed Up Hair with High Taper Fade

A brushed up hairstyle is a fun and fashionable look that exudes maturity and ease. You can amplify this cut by asking your barber for a high taper fade on the sides and back to add height to your curls.

Low Fade

The low fade is a classy, versatile and charming haircut for any black man who wants a sharp and refined look. Low fades can be combined with drop, skin, temp or burst cuts to tailor your style and achieve the necessary contrast. Whether you’re a business professional or just a guy who doesn’t want too much trimmed from the sides, this excellent choice transcends trends and will always look smooth.

Sharp Buzz Cut with Clean Faded Sides

A sharp buzz cut is a timeless short style for any man who wants to bring out his most masculine qualities. Keep things short with a number two on top and clean faded sides to round out an unbeatable look.

Cornrows with High Skin Fade

Cornrows are a low-maintenance and flattering style that will turn heads and make a statement. With a high skin fade, this rugged braided hairstyle is plaited to achieve a fresh and unique look. The high-contrast faded cut adds visual intrigue and focuses attention on the braids.

Mid Fade

The mid fade is a balanced haircut for black men who want a classy look with some edge that will elevate their style. The bald fade will taper the sides into the skin while creating the perfect contrast. Mid fades are a cool choice because they can suit any look, texture or length.

Crew Cut with Low Skin Fade and Beard

A crew cut is a fresh, short and easy look that will always be effortlessly masculine. A low skin fade can be a unique way to tighten up the cut while creating contrast, leaving weight in the corners and enough to taper into a full beard. Highlight your curls by asking your barber to line up your hairline.

Drop Fade

The drop fade is a versatile haircut for black men that will add dimension and intrigue to any look. While the fade is taken high on the sides, the line begins to drop as it gets to the back to provide structure, weight and fullness. You can pair this modern cut with any style to enhance the visual drama.

Mid Skin Fade with Buzz Cut and Shape Up

The buzz cut is a short military-inspired haircut for guys who want a strong, masculine look. Pair this with a mid skin fade and shape up for an unbeatable style and edge.

360 Waves with Low Skin Temple Fade

Textured waves are a cool hairstyle that will embrace your natural texture and provide a striking finish. Whether you want 180 or 360 waves, a low skin temple fade will keep your cut looking clean and full for days after you leave the chair. You’ll want to get a good wave brush and pomade to keep these stylish waves fresh.

Taper Fade

The taper fade is a popular haircut style for black men that gradually blends the back and sides shorter, creating a seamless transition into the scalp. Taper fades are clean-cut, artistic and impossible to overlook for a striking finish. Whether you’re experimenting with an afro, waves, box braids or twists, a tapered cut will pair well with any black hairstyle to add structure and dimension.

Cool Burst Fade with Faux Hawk and Beard

A cool burst fade can be a refreshing twist to the show-stopping faux hawk. The fade works well as it emphasizes the ‘hawk’ look even further, and using a nickel-sized scoop of hair gel helps to provide maximum hold.

Bleached Burst Fade Mohawk with Line Up

A bleached burst fade mohawk is a trendy haircut that will stand out and make an impression anywhere you go. Versatile and stunning, burst fades are a popular look for black men who want a bold cut without shaving their sides. For extra flair, bleach your hair to add color and flair.

High Fade

The high fade is a stunning short haircut for black men who want a tight look with edge. Higher fades start at the temple and blend down to the skin, providing dramatic contrast for a sleek finish.

High Burst Fade Mohawk with Beard

The high burst fade is a fantastic haircut for African American men who want this daring style without shaving down their sides. Burst faded cuts generally pair nicely with designs and clean hairlines, focusing attention on the thick afro mohawk. For a balanced look, ask your barber to blend your beard into your sideburns for an effortless transition.

Flat Top with Mid Skin Fade and Design

The flat top fade is a classic look for any black man. The hair stands tall and the top of it is leveled off with clippers for that perfectly executed cut. A mid skin fade will help tighten up the look and a design adds personality that no one else can copy.

Low Fade Afro

The afro with a low fade can be a lifesaver for black men who are trying to experiment with different lengths. This look, for example, is a shorter version that boasts texture and volume without getting too kinky or heavy.

Short Hair with Low Temp Fade and Line Up

A low temp fade is an edgy way to add subtle contrast to shorter hair, allowing the hair on top to stand out with more personality. If you’re the type of man who keeps their style on-point and flawless, then try to keep your hairline straight and crisp by asking for a line up.

Low Fade with Thick Hair and Long Beard

A low fade is an elegant cut that will spice up and complement thicker long hair to make an impression. Cleanly faded sides focus attention on your styling to create a fuller look on top. As a bonus, your sideburns will taper into a long beard for a smooth finish.

Low Taper

The low taper is a classy, versatile and handsome cut for black men who need a short and professional look. Timeless and low-maintenance, a low fade will complement any style that requires a fuller and more structured finish to truly shine.

Short Curly Afro with Low Temp Fade

Like the other afros featured in this list, the short variation for curly hair stays mostly the same. The top is shaped neatly and meticulously, giving a ton of volume, and opts for a low temp fade to keep the look round and full.

Rounded Afro with Low Taper Fade

The rounded afro is an excellent look for black men that is delicately and perfectly shaped to produce a voluminous look that will be the envy of all. Finish it off with a low taper fade, so you can keep the roundness intact.

Buzz Cut Fade

The buzz cut fade is another choice for the man who likes to keep their hair short. Cut entirely with clippers, the top is kept uniform with a number one or number two guard, while a high fade is done to complete the look.

Sharp Skin Fade with Edge Up

A sharp skin fade can amp up any cut with its tightness and precision. Create the perfect pair with an edge up to keep your hairline fresh and crisp.

Afro with Low Taper Fade and Line Up

A textured short afro can be a versatile and handsome look with a low taper fade and line up. The low skin fade will keep the corners nice and round, while crisp lines sharpen your hairline for the perfect finish.

High Skin Fade

The high skin fade is a short, military-inspired haircut for black men that will start seamlessly blending the sides and back at the temple. High skin faded cuts look neat, are low-maintenance and add a masculine vibe to any style.

Braids with Taper Faded Sides and Beard

A unique way to spice up your braids is with a taper fade. Instead of letting your braids run wild all over your head, the fade will help contain the chaos and give your style more direction, helping to emphasize other masculine features like your beard.

Long Hair with Taper Fade

The taper fade is a fine choice to pair with long hair. This allows your hair to appear longer and fuller without getting too unruly and unkempt.

Temp Fade

The temp fade is a sharp and unique cut that allows black men to customize their look and stand out in the crowd. From the buzz cut to the afro, temp fades are versatile styles that can vary in design, ranging from low at the sideburns or higher up on the head. This tapered look will complement your vibe and exude confidence with minimal effort.

Kinky Curly High Top with Mid Skin Fade

A high top fade is a stunning long hairstyle for modern African American men who want to embrace their kinky curls. Slightly messy, this edgy hairstyle will give your locks a direction to grow and coil, creating height and dimension. For a fresh sophisticated touch, ask your barber for a mid skin fade that accentuates the volume on top.

Low Bald Fade with Lined Up Beard and Design

A low bald fade is a stunning cut for black men that keeps the back and sides smooth and manageable. Finish it up with a lined up beard and a design through the fade to let your true colors shine through.

Big Afro with Low Skin Fade and Short Beard

The big afro is a bombastic haircut that will draw the eyes of everyone around you. You’ll need a low skin fade for this look, so you can create a strong enough foundation for this rounded look to sit on. Finally, trim up your short beard to keep it neat and worthy of an amazing look.

High Flat Top with Taper Fade and Long Beard

A high flat top is an excellent way to get height to your look and all the attention in the room. If you taper fade the sides, you can provide some necessary structure and avoid having your style look too poofy. A long beard can add balance to this top-heavy cut.

Short Curly Hair with Mid Bald Fade and Beard

Let your short curly locks rule your look. This bold cut gives your natural curls center stage while a mid bald fade acts as a strong supporting element to your style. Sometimes adding a beard can help take things to the next level.

Long Boxed Braids with Mid Skin Fade

Long box braids are a classic look for black men. To keep your look clean, get a mid skin fade to complement this fashionable, functional style.

Thick Volume on Top with High Taper Fade

Keeping your hair thick with a ton of volume on top is a great way to add height to your style. To go the extra mile, pair your haircut with a high taper fade to keep the sides straight and square, allowing the look to stand tall.

Mid Drop Fade with Shape Up

The mid drop fade is an edgy way to freshen up your cut when you feel like your look is getting stale. It keeps the sides tight and heavier in the back since the fade drops lower. Top it off with a shape up for a crisp hairline.

Waves with High Bald Fade

A high bald fade can be the perfect addition to a trendy waves haircut. Choosing a faded cut and shape up will keep the front clean and close to the skin, allowing for a fuller appearance on top.

Short Twists with High Undercut Fade

Short twists are a refreshing and sexy style that can command attention in any room. The high undercut fade takes the sides high and tight, creating the contrast necessary for the textured twists to fall and steal the spotlight.

South of France

Also known as the gentleman’s mohawk, the South of France is an iconic haircut that modernizes the traditional hawk by adding a burst fade. Popularized by R&B singer Usher, this style comes with volume, dimension and texture to achieve a stunning result. Try shaving in a design to add even more flair.

Short Natural Curls with Low Drop Fade and Chin Beard

Paired with a low drop fade, naturally short curls are a stylish and easy way for black men to highlight their texture with minimal effort. The low fade cleans up the style while the chin beard makes a statement.

Mid Drop Fade and Long Beard

The high drop fade is a bold option that gives men’s hair more versatility and range. While the fade is taken halfway up the sides, the line begins to drop as it gets to the back to provide structure, weight, and fullness. A long beard can function as an anchor point, providing balance.

Low Temp Fade with Thick Curls and Design

The low temp fade can be an eye-catching vehicle for thick and curly hair. You can see in the image how subtle the fade is, yet the hair on top stands out and draws your attention. To take that a step further, a shaved design at the nape creates an elevated intrigue.

Long Tight Curls with Low Skin Fade

Long tight curls are a fun and handsome way for black men to twist longer hair. These tightly bound locks are improved upon with a low skin fade on the sides. Edgy and cool, the skin-faded cut keeps the look manageable and from getting too messy.

Mid Skin Drop Fade with Short Hair Afro

Pairing a short hair afro with a mid skin drop fade is a flattering hairstyle that will transform your look from boring to bold. The sides are trimmed down tight to the skin and leave enough at the corners and crown of the head to fill out your look.

Cool Temple Fade

The temple fade is an edgy black men’s haircut that focuses the tapering process at the sideburns and front side of the head. Temple fades are generally popular choices for modern guys with relatively short hair who want some contrast to accentuate the style on top. Always trendy and cool, this sharp look will transform your vibe but requires a skilled barber to pull off.

Short High Top with Skin Fade

The short high top is a manly cut that helps add volume to a black man’s appearance. With the help of a skin fade, you can take the verticality of the cut even higher and leave more room for subtler, masculine features.

Textured Waves with Low Temp Fade and Chin Beard

If you’ve rocked waves for a while now and don’t know where to go, switch things up by asking your barber to hook you up with a low temp fade. Not only will this help the cut last longer, but it’ll give enough contrast to level up your rugged good looks, like rocking a chin beard.

Short Curls with Low Taper Fade and Edge Up

Short curls are a popular look for young black men but can absolutely be improved upon for adults. For instance, have your barber give you a low taper fade and an edge up to streamline the back and sides and keep your hairline straight and fresh.

Low Temp Fade with Sponged Top and Full Beard

The sponged look with a low temp fade is a simple way to keep your youthful looks intact while still being fashionable. Keep things finger-length on top and get used to using some product to add that iconic texture. Grow out your beard to add a healthy fullness to the finished appearance.

High Top Fade

The high top fade is an excellent style if you like a strict, vertical cut. You can add to the height of the look by asking your barber for a high fade, which will help keep the back and sides straight and tall.

Short Afro Taper Fade with Shape Up

If you have strongly textured hair, a short afro may be a refreshing option for you to try out. This cut can keep your look from getting unruly and pairing it with a taper fade and shape up gives an undeniably sharp flair to your style.

Braided Top with Low Bald Fade and Line Up

A unique way to update short braids is with a low bald fade. Instead of letting your braided top run wild all over your head, the fade will help contain the chaos and give your style more direction. Have your barber shave in a line up for another stylish finish.

High Razor Fade with Short Curls and Line Up

Short curls are a classic look for black men and can be made new with a high razor fade and a line up. The combination allows the final look to appear polished and fresh, keeping every line crisp from your forehead to your nape.

Short Waves with Drop Fade and Beard

Short waves are a classy approach for black men who appreciate a textured and handsome look. If you’re looking to experiment, pair your buzz cut with a drop fade to provide contrast and accentuate your beautiful waves. To tie it all together, neatly trim your beard for an elegant finish.

Low Temp Fade

The low temp fade for a black man may be ideal trim for a business professional or guy who doesn’t want too much hair cut from the sides. Since the low fade starts just above the ear and curves around the hairline for a subtle look, it’s generally considered the most conservative and classy variation.

Short Afro with Low Skin Fade and Straight Fringe

The short afro is a tried-and-true cut for the black community, so it could be hard to find ways to update it. Our suggestion is with a low skin fade and a straight fringe. The fade keeps the sides and back neat while the fringe gives order to the look. It’s a win-win.

Thick Buzz Cut with Low Temple Fade

A buzz cut is a great style if you want a look that is rougher around the edges, yet manageable. While still kept to a number three or four on top, you can get a low temple fade to keep things fuller and not as severe.

Short Afro with Low Drop Fade and Beard

The short afro is a go-to look for many black men and when paired with a low drop fade and beard, it becomes a classic. With all of these elements put together, you’re left with a tight haircut that is full of body and personality.

Messy Kinky Top with Mid Skin Fade and Beard

Messy kinky hair can be a nuisance or fun to experiment with. We hope it’s the latter. A short kinky black men’s hairstyle should be paired with a mid skin fade and beard for a fresh and effortlessly charming look. This tapered cut will keep the back and sides trimmed down to a zero while letting the top grow unpredictably. The beard balances the face by acting as an anchor.

Box Braids with Mid Skin Drop Fade

Box braids are a popular hairstyle for black men because the look can be daringly handsome and amplified by a mid skin drop fade. The taper-faded sides add sharp angles and take the hair down to a manageable length, allowing the cut to last longer.

Popular Fades For Black Men

The most popular fades for black men are stylish and modern looks that include the low, mid, skin, drop, temp, burst, bald and high fade. These amazing taper fade haircuts can add contrast, enhance texture and complement the longer hair on top while offering a sleek, low-maintenance finish. Whether you want a classic afro, high top or buzz cut, a fresh fade is a versatile, masculine and trendy choice that will exude confidence and take your hairstyle to the next level.