Taper Fade Haircuts

What a taper fade actually is

A taper is the oldest move in the barber's book. The hair gets gradually shorter as it comes down the head, and the shortest of it sits right at the edges of the hairline, at the sideburns and the nape of the neck. The rest of the sides and back keep some length.

A fade does the same job across a much bigger area. The whole of the side and back is taken down short, usually close to skin at the bottom, and blended up into the longer hair over a band of several centimetres.

A taper fade borrows from both. The bottom goes down close, like a fade, but only at the hairline around the ears and at the neck. From the front it reads as a neat traditional cut. From behind, or up close, you see the sharp finish a fade gives.

Taper vs fade

The difference is how much of the head gets cut short. A taper only changes the length at the edges, so your natural hairline is still there, just shorter. A fade takes the whole side down and replaces the outline with skin or near enough.

A taper grows out gently, and three weeks later it still looks like a haircut. A fade looks sharpest in the first week and then shows every day of growth. If you want to understand the fade family on its own terms, the types of fade page goes through each one.

One practical warning. Plenty of barbers hear the word "fade" and take the sides down further than you meant. If you want only the edges done, say "taper" first and "fade" second.

If you want the graduation with no close-to-skin edge at all, ask for a plain taper haircut, cut with scissors or longer clipper grades so your natural hairline stays.

The types of taper fade

The name changes with where the taper starts. Everything else follows from that.

Low taper

De low taper fade starts just above the ear and runs down to the neck. From the front you can barely see it. It is the safest choice for a first attempt, the easiest to grow out and the one that will pass without comment in any workplace.

Mid taper

De mid taper fade starts higher, roughly level with the middle of the ear, and blends up towards the temple. The contrast is visible from the front without being loud. It suits most heads and most tops, and it is the one barbers tend to recommend when you cannot decide.

High taper

De high taper fade starts up near the temples, well above the ear. It takes a lot of bulk out of the sides, which is why it suits thick and curly hair that would otherwise push outwards. It also shows the shape of your head more than any other version, so any bump or scar at the back will be on display.

Skin taper

A skin taper is any of the three above taken right down to bare skin at the bottom, with a foil shaver or an open blade instead of a grade 0. It gives the cleanest edge there is and the shortest life, because skin shows stubble within days. The huidvervaging page covers the full version.

Burst taper

The burst taper curves around the ear in a semicircle and leaves the back longer at the neck. It is most often worn with a curly top, a strip of length down the middle or a modern mullet. De uitbarsting, uitdoven page has the details.

The five side by side

The cutting interval is the honest cost of each one. The higher and closer the taper, the faster it loses its edge.

Choosing a height

Start with your hairline. If you are receding at the temples, a high taper runs straight into the recession and draws a line to it. A low or mid taper leaves enough hair at the sides to keep attention off it, and the haircuts for balding men page goes further into that.

Then think about your hair. Fine straight hair shows every clipper line and needs a patient barber. Thick or coarse hair hides the blend but grows outwards, which is where the higher tapers earn their keep. The hairstyles by hair type page has more on matching a cut to what grows.

Last, be honest about how often you will go back. A low taper bought every four weeks looks better than a skin taper stretched to six.

What to wear on top

The taper only decides the sides. The top is a separate choice, and almost anything short to medium works with it.

A crop met textuur of een Franse oogst over a mid taper is the common pairing and needs the least styling. A quiff of een slick back wants a low taper, so the sides have enough length to sit under the volume. A high skin taper with a short straight fringe and a sharp line-up is an Edgar. For the rest of the options, the volledige lijst has every style we cover.

Hoe vraag je het aan je kapper?

Barbers work from three decisions. Give them all three and you will get what you pictured.

Where it starts. Low, mid or high. If you are unsure, point to the spot on the side of your head.

How short it goes at the bottom. A grade 0, a half grade, skin, or a grade 1 if you want it softer. Ask for the neckline tapered into the neck, which grows out more gracefully, or squared off.

What happens on top. Say how much length to take off rather than how long to leave it, or ask for it "scissor over comb, just tidied". If you want texture, ask for it to be point cut.

Tell them if you want a line-up around the forehead and temples or the natural hairline left alone. And bring a photo of the back and side, because a front-on photo shows almost nothing of a taper.

Frequently asked questions