Fade haircut is one of the most popular short haircuts for modern men. Fade haircut gives you a touch of freshness and youthfulness. And it splits into many types, forming an endless variety where every stylish man can find a finishing detail for a polished look.
A nicely done faded haircut works well on your facial features and hair type and makes you expressive with a unique cut.
*We may earn money from affiliate links on this page. Please check out our disclosure policy for more details.QUICK NAVIGATION
- What Is A Fade Haircut?
- What Is The Best Fade Haircut?
- Low Fade
- Mid Fade Haircut
- High Fade Haircut
- Skin Fade
- Temple Fade
- Scissor Fade
- Drop Fade Haircut
- FAQ
What Is A Fade Haircut?
Due to its popularity, you might have seen different fade haircut men rock, but you may not know their names. Quite a lot of people confuse mens fade haircuts for tapered haircuts. Fade haircuts aren’t so different from tapered haircuts.
In general, a fade involves cutting the area on the sides close to the scalp, creating a shadowed length transition with smooth graduation to the thicker top. The faded portion is achieved with the help of hair clippers. Hair on the upper recession and sides is lowered to the nape of the neck. The lowered regions are left with little or no hair, while the top is lowered to your desired length.
What Do I Tell My Barber For A Fade?
Fades are common haircuts among men, so all you need to tell your barber is the type of fade you want. Do you want your sides and back very low or bald? Explain exactly what you want to your barber, or, go with a picture of what you want to explain better how you want the top to appear.
How To Do A Fade Cut Yourself
If you’re used to trimming your hair yourself, then it will be easy to give yourself a nice fade cut. Fades come out better when properly planned. This means you have to get your hair ready for it, depending on the type you’re choosing. You’ll need a mirror to cover all the angles, a brush/comb to help you comb/brush your hair as you trim with a clipper/scissors. It’s always advised you talk it slowly so as not to ruin your hair. Brushing while you trim help you know the exact length of your hair.
What Is The Best Fade Haircut?
The best fade haircut is that particular fade that makes your face stand out from the crowd while making a statement. Different fades are better on different shapes of head. Identify your shape of head and the style that will match your head and your face. There are different fade haircuts for men to choose from.
What Are The Types Of Fade Haircuts?
While you can customize your cut and tell your barber how to do a fade haircut based on your preferences, there are three main types to start with: low, medium, and high fades. Below, we’ll tell you the differences between each of the three, showing you their magnificent modern variations you can get at your next salon appointment.
Low Fade
Low fade haircut is the most balanced and natural option that offers you a tidy finish and a comfortable feel at the same time. The length transition in this type of fading takes place on the back of the head, increasing the length towards the top. As a result, the sides are clean, yet not bold, which is a nice way to get a neat, well-shaped short haircut. It’s good on every shape of head, but looks better if you have a triangular or diamond shaped head.
Mid Fade Haircut
Mid fade also known as medium fade haircut, hits the area above the ears, taking more length than a low fade. Medium fade offers a middle ground between the two extremes. While low fades are reserved and high fades are too dramatic, this fade type embraces the best features of the two. A lot of men prefer this haircut because it can serve as a classy base for either Quiffs or Pompadours, giving you a nicely shaped touch of modernity to the look.
If you want a touch of both low and high fades, this is for you.
High Fade Haircut
As a high-contrast style, high fade haircut involves cutting most of the hair on the sides and back close to the skin, creating a tight finish. It’s surely meant to turn heads with its dramatic contrastive look. Apart from being attention-grabbing, this haircut is very versatile. You can pair it with a super short haircut, modern crew cut, medium afro, and even longer styles like elongated undercuts. People go for this style because it’s also cheaper to maintain. The sides of your hair are lowered to your scalp, and the top can be as long as you want it.
Skin Fade
Also known as the bald fade, the skin fade is a variation of the high fade. Before you jump to conclusions, it has nothing to do with baldness. We would say it’s all about baldness that escapes from the top and graduates right down to the skin, leaving a transparent layer of contrast. What makes the bald fade cut different from the high fade is that this option can take place at any point you want.
Temple Fade
Temple fade is a technique that can give a stylish modern twist to any fade haircut men would like to pick. It comes as a clear, well-structured, and outlined finish at the temple area that gives a very sharp and neat look for the haircut. Initially, it was popular with natural-haired men from the hip-hop community. Today, every man who loves to keep things defined can go for the look.
Scissor Fade
If you want a haircut that is tailored based on your individual features, look no further than a scissor fade. As the name suggests, this haircut fade is done using scissors instead of clippers, which implies a softer, more customized look. To achieve it, barbers run their scissors around the nape, using taper scissors through the length to get as close to the skin as possible.
Drop Fade Haircut
A drop fade is more than just a haircut; it’s rather a cool update for your regular haircut. There’s no need to go deep in the details about its structure, as this cut speaks for itself: it drops behind the ear, forming an arc from the temples to the nape. The best thing is, you can combine it with other fades. In this way, you can have a high, medium or low drop fade.
Fade Haircut + Taper
Taper fade haircut is a combination of tapered hair and faded cut. It’s a short fade haircut. Fading of hair on the sides and back won’t be as low as other fades.
The scalp will be a bit invisible and the top will be lowered. It’s one of the classiest fades to rock to any occasion.
Fade Haircut + Undercut
A variation that was born when two trends met together. A fade undercut is a timeless combination of the most requested haircut and the most popular finish. Since the classic version of the undercut features short sides and long top, modern barbers decided to add more character to the lower portion. In fact, there are lots of ways to create men's undercut fade, as you can always switch between types of fades, diversifying your looks.
Fade Haircut Styling Ideas For 2023
Now that you’re familiar with the technical side of the fade haircut, it’s time to see what happens when you let creativity and inspiration into your styling routine. The main reason why men ask their barbers for fades is that they can take their favorite hairstyles to the next level. Scroll down to see Mohawks, pompadours, undercuts, and quiffs in a totally new light.
Side Part Fade
Side-parted hairstyles are extremely popular not for no reason. While they’re pretty easy to achieve, such styles are enough to make a man look sophisticated. As for side part fade hairstyles, they’re better versions of the good-old look. Not only does this low taper fade add some precision and clean finish but it also turns a simple hairstyle into something fresh and brand new. Some wax or lightweight pomade will help you get the most of the style.
Fade Haircut + Hard Part
Hard part fade is a sharp and edgy response to the overwhelming side-parted hairstyle that has a greater visual impact and a more detailed look. When it comes to details, we can’t do without a bald fade haircut. Here, the distinctively separated top and sides look contrastive, yet harmonic. How? The blurred transition of the skin fade adds the needed neatness to the whole look, making the shaved part even more outstanding.
Fade Haircut Into Mohawk
Curly hair fade is a stylish and practical solution for those trying to tame their unruly natural texture. And this mid fade haircut is a perfect example of how you can give yourself an unforgettably awesome look and feel comfortable with your hair at once. The cleanly faded sides are what make the curly fade transform into a Mohawk, giving a hip look to the wearer.
Faux Hawk Fade
How about a subtle version of the dramatic Mohawk? Although a faux hawk fade is less drastic, it still looks striking and unique. Choose a type of fade depending on what look you want to achieve. If you want to put the top in the spotlight, nothing will work better than a high fade. And if well-balanced graduation is what you seek, medium or low skin fade will do.
Pompadour With Fade
Who says that Pompadour is good only for retro-themed parties? The rockabilly-inspired hairstyle isn’t that one-sided, especially if you are familiar with the modernizing power of fade haircuts. This pompadour fade is a fresh new take on the classic version that makes the retro style fit the current men’s image. By the way, if your hair isn’t long enough to form a pomp, you can go for a slick back fade look. Just brush your well-gelled top toward the back!
Fade Haircut + Curly Undercut
Skin fade undercut can be as different as you want it to be. You can put a signature to your hairstyle by pairing the fade with a shaved design. To add more individuality to the look, you can play around with the top and wave or curl your hair, enhancing the contrast. You can do anything your soul pleases. And to make it right, don’t forget about the accentuating fade!
High Top Fade Haircut
Now, let’s take a moment to appreciate the fade haircut black men build a whole culture with! Yes, that’s the high top fade your favorite hip-hop bands can’t do without. No wonder! The high top fade haircut looks extremely fly and non-boring while keeping the hair perfectly tamed. Needless to say, you will need to see your barber regularly to keep up with the look. But, it’s worth that.
Quiff Fade
And that’s how you can change the common picture of the quiff, showing it from an even edgier perspective. The good news is, the faded sides will not only emphasize your messy textured top but also build the contrast that will make your hair look thicker visually.
Fade Haircut + Buzz
Even the ageless minimalist buzz has its contemporary side! To unfold it, you need to let the fade do the talking. At first sight, it’s just a short fade haircut. But if you look a little bit closer, you will notice the smooth graduation, outlined details, and stylishly leveled front. Besides, this cut is pretty simple in terms of structure, so you can even try getting it yourself with some tutorials on how to cut your own hair for men.
Long Top Short Sides
While some men seek for something special for their looks, others prefer to go for classics, as they can’t go wrong with them. The best thing about long-top-short-sides hairstyles is that they can be different despite the common pattern of longer top and tight sides. You can play around with the texture on the top as well as adjust its direction. Here, for example, the style looks ravishing due to a thorough approach to the top. To recreate it, apply some firm mousse to the top and shape it in the way you prefer.
Faded Crop Haircut
The modern variation of Caesar haircut offers a lot of room for creativity and unique looks. Paired with a fade, you can not only give your cut an outlined finish but also keep yourself comfortable with your hair. This idea is another example of how far you can go once you set your imagination into motion, designing your perfect haircut. It features a soft fringe that aligns all facial features and tousled finish that gives a carefree feel to the whole look.
Fade Haircut + Comb Over
If you happen to travel in time and would like to blend with society, a comb-over haircut will do the trick, whether you’re going to the past or to the future. The truth is, such a precise and sophisticated silhouette is so versatile that it can adapt to any image and match any outfits possible. If you want to rock a rather classic version, you can ask for tapered sides. And if you want your look to express modernity, a fade will be your best weapon.
Fade Haircut With Shaved Line
Every haircut needs an exclamation point that will define your character and show what kind of man you are. And here’s one of the thousand ideas of how you can put your signature to your haircut with the help of a shaved tattoo. As it turns out, a simple line is enough to create a great visual impact and bring all attention to the top.
Spiky Faded Haircut
Although spikes are mostly associated with messy, carefree hairstyles, a men’s fade haircut can show its neat side. In this picture, you can see how the tight sides slowly graduate to textured top, finishing the look with a sense of neatness. In fact, it’s a wonderful idea for men who always need to look immaculate and still want to show their daring nature.
A fade haircut is something that you can’t go wrong with, as you can always make it work for your hair type, face shape, and style. The variety of faded options has a beginning but has no end: the gallery of trendy looks is constantly updating. So how about you to stay up to date with the latest ideas and rock the best look you could ever dream of? Just call your barber and ask for a fade.
FAQ: Fade Haircut
What is the best fade haircut?
Here are some of the fade haircuts that look well on men:
- Skin Fade Haircut
- Faux Hawk Fade
- High Fade Haircut
- Taper Fade Haircut
- Middle Fade Haircut
What is a 1 fade haircut?
A number 1 fade is a style in which the back and sides of the hair are trimmed about 3mm
with a #1 clipper guard before progressively melting into longer lengths as you go up.
There is a progressive rise in length up the sides and back, as with any other fade hairstyle.
What do I tell my barber for a fade?
- Say you’d like a temple fade with a line in the back, but I’d like to keep the top longer.
- Say that your fade should resemble Lupe Fiasco’s old fade, and it should start higher on the sides.
- An expert guide to men s fade haircuts, including which type of fade will suit your face shape and how to keep your fade hairstyle looking sharp. Source
