The fade is a modern, versatile and stylish haircut for men who want a short, low-maintenance style on the sides and back to complement their longer hair on top for a sleek, flattering finish. The fade haircut can be a timeless choice that effortlessly blends your hair and creates the contrast necessary to focus attention on your style. Short fades can be combined with different lengths, textures and hairstyles to suit any occasion.
Some men will get a high skin fade with short hair for an edgy masculine look, while others may prefer a mid taper with longer hair to create a classy cut for work.
For fresh ideas, check out the best fade haircuts for men to inspire your visit to the barber.
Types of Fade Haircuts
Low Fade
The low fade is a popular men’s haircut offering a timeless, versatile style that will work for any occasion or environment, from casual to professional. A low taper starts just above the ears and curves around the hairline down to the neck. This low cut fade is a versatile touch that can be added to short and long styles for a clean, fresh finish on the sides and back.
The low fade is a more conservative trim and often a favorite for business professional styles. Ideally, you’ll want to get the look with long or medium-length hair on top such as the modern comb over, quiff, pompadour, slick back or faux hawk.
High Fade
The high fade is a cool haircut that creates a very short cut on the sides and back, offering a strong contrast for an edgy style. The high fade haircut can look modern and fashionable with many different hairstyles since the tapering process starts very high on the head and shortens at a much faster rate than the low or mid fade. This short haircut strongly emphasizes the styling of the longer hair on top, making it stand out in any crowd.
The most common version of this cut is the high skin fade. Many guys like to ask their barber for a line up or shape up as well, thereby outlining their hairline around the temples with sharp lines and edges. The end result is a very stylish and sexy haircut that looks nice with long, medium or short hair on top.
If you plan on getting a buzz cut, crew cut, French crop, then you’ll need a high bald fade on the sides to highlight the shorter cut on top. Otherwise, the modern quiff, comb over, faux hawk, side part, slick back, and spiky hair are all excellent styling ideas.
Mid Fade
The mid fade is a fresh haircut that compromises between the high and low fade, offering a versatile and charming look. This cut starts halfway up the sides of the head and provides a softer and more gradual taper that looks classy. Youthful and always nice, the mid taper is a popular style for business professional men who want an elegant and trendy style.
To make it more aggressive, you can pair the cut with a skin fade for a clean finish. If you aren’t sure about the other types, get the medium fade and experiment with these trending hairstyles.
Taper Fade
The taper fade is easily one of the most iconic haircut styles in the world. Timeless, classic and classy, the taper fade haircut blends your hair down the sides and back. It’s not as short as a skin or bald cut, but shorter than a classic taper. While still sharp, neat and versatile, the taper is a more subtle trim and will cut your hair without cutting it down to the skin. This leaves the ends of your hair around the hairline and neckline longer than a traditional look.
The difference between a fade and a taper is that fades continue blending the hair into the skin whereas tapers end with really short hair. When in doubt, ask your barber for a taper to get a more conservative classic look on the sides and back. While you won’t get the same contrast as a fade, you can style just as many cool hairstyles.
Skin Fade
The skin fade is a modern haircut that tapers the hair into the scalp for a clean-cut finish. As a barbershop favorite, the skin cut has become popular in recent years as a clean and high-contrast style that gives off a bad boy vibe. Whether you pick a high, mid or low skin fade will depend on how short you want the sides and back cut, but all of these will require your hair to be shaved down to the skin on your head.
The low skin fade looks good if you want to wear a comb over, side part, or slick back and still have your hairstyle be acceptable for the office. If you don’t have a dress code to worry about, the mid and high cuts are sexy and popular with young men.
Bald Fade
The bald fade is an edgy haircut style for men who want to take their look to the next level with a bold cut. Also known as a skin fade, the this style will blend the hair on the sides and back, giving guys a daring and sleek look.
Barbers will use clippers with no guard to completely shave off the hair near the hairline. Because of the sharp look, guys will also ask their stylists to fix their hairlines with a line up.
Drop Fade
The drop fade is a modern haircut that curves around the sides and ends lower in the back. The style brings a fresh dimension to any hairstyle, drawing attention and standing out as a fresh design.
Burst Fade
The burst fade offers a contemporary approach that blends around the ear, creating a semi-circle on the sides and dropping near the neckline. The cut is often featured with a mohawk but can be applied to numerous cool styles for a tailored touch.
Undercut Fade
The undercut fade is a combination of the coolest ways for guys to cut the hair on their sides and back. The undercut haircut is distinct and awesome, starting very high on the head as a one-length cut. This means your barber will take clippers, put on a comb, and trim your hair short all around but without any fading.
To taper the hair on the sides, guys should ask for an undercut fade. The final cut is a balance of the undercut’s disconnected profile and a skin faded finish. The style can be worked into all the best looks, making it an idea worth experimenting with.
Temp Fade
The temp fade is a cool haircut for black men that can be paired with an afro, buzz cut, mohawk, waves and tight curly hair on top. Also known as a temple fade, the haircut can be characterized by sharp, clean cuts along the edges of your hairline and near your temples.
From a low to a mid or high cut, all temp styles do an excellent job of accentuating the tapered hair on the sides and back and the longer hair on top.
Side Part Fade
The side part fade is a classy men’s haircut that has survived the test of time. The style is generally neat and structured for a sophisticated look. When paired with tapered hair on the sides, the side part fade haircut epitomizes the modern gentleman.
To style, start with slightly damp hair, ideally after a shower. Apply a good pomade, wax or clay to your hair, spreading it evenly throughout. Now use a comb to part your hair. Following your natural part, sweep the hair over to one side. For a textured finish, style with your fingers or a brush.
Comb Over Fade
The comb over fade is another classic hairstyle for men that continues to be fashionable and handsome. Like the side part, the comb over requires hair to be parted. The primary difference is that the modern comb over is less structured, with more flow and texture as all the hair is swept to one side. There are also many different types of comb over hairstyles to get.
The low fade comb over is the more old-fashioned version and looks flattering for professionals and older men who don’t want their scalp exposed. The high fade comb over makes for an awesome disconnected hairstyle with thick, longer hair on top and very short sides, while the mid fade may deliver the perfect balance.
Pompadour Fade
The pompadour fade is the modern variation of this beautiful hairstyle. The pomp fade is an elegant example of why short sides, long top haircuts will always be great styles. The cut works nicely with a low, mid, high or skin fade and different hair types and lengths.
With cropped sides that feature the pompadour hairstyle, guys have the choice of applying pomade for a shiny finish or wax for a textured, natural look. No matter how you style the pompadour, you’ll get a gorgeous style that will stand out.
Faux Hawk Fade
The faux hawk fade is a trendy modern haircut that combines short blended sides with a spiky top to achieve a less dramatic mohawk-like aesthetic. Unlike a classic mohawk with shaved sides, the fohawk fade is edgy and desirable, styling flawlessly with short to medium lengths. If you’re excited about trying a new men’s haircut, ask your barber about the modern faux hawk.
Quiff Fade
The quiff haircut with a fade has proven to be a very alluring and exciting style for men. As a variant of the pompadour, modern quiff hairstyles have morphed into a highly-requested cut in barbershops around the world. These styles often feature a mid or low fade on the sides with thick, textured hair on top, creating a stylish finish. Styling can be time-consuming at first, but with a little practice and the perfect products, the look is certainly worth the effort.
Short Hair Fade
The short hair fade refers to haircuts like the buzz cut, crew cut, French crop, high and tight, and spiky hair. To maximize contrast and avoid having hair that is one-length all around, we highly recommend guys get a high cut for very short sides when getting a short style on top.
The skin fade on the sides will stress the slightly longer hair on the sides, maintaining a sleek and attractive style. The alternative would be a razor finish, where your barber literally uses a razor to shave off your hair.
Long Hair Fade
The long hair fade has been the cut of choice for Millennials, hipsters and fashion-forward men. By pairing a high, mid or low fade with long hair on top, stylists offer haircuts ranging from the comb over and quiff to the man bun and top knot.
Curly Hair Fade
The curly hair fade is an enduring and versatile style for guys who want a low-maintenance, sleek cut that shows off their unique curls. While curls can be hard to manage, coupling curly hair with a taper fade on the sides can make styling just a little bit easier. The most popular curly hairstyles include the fringe, textured crop and messy hair.
Although curly and wavy hair can be difficult to style and control, it is important to remember that these hair types offer a unique texture and styling that make them exceptional.
Popular Fade Haircuts
The most popular fade haircuts for men are cool and modern variations featuring some combination of low, mid, high, skin, drop, burst and temp designs. Talk to your barber to determine where the blending process begins, how short the cut will go and the shape of the style. These fades create contrast on the sides and back to accentuate the longer hair on top.
Different Types of Fade Haircuts For Men: A Quick Rundown
- The three main types of fade haircuts are low, medium and high.
- The low fade is a soft, classy and versatile cut that starts above the ears and blends the sides and back gradually.
- The mid fade is a balanced and flattering style that will add some personality to your hairstyle.
- The high fade can be a bold, sharp and striking look that tapers quickly for a high-contrast finish.
- A skin or bald fade will seamlessly transition your hair shorter and into the scalp for a clean, smooth and edgy finish.
- The drop fade curves around the head and tapers into the neckline instead of maintaining a straight cut across.
- The burst fade will taper your hair and end behind the ear for a curved look.
- The temp fade focuses the cut around the temples and sideburns for a sleek touch.