Fade Hairstyle for Men: Low, Mid, High, Taper and Undercut
24 looks Men's cuts by style Updated 8 Oct 2026
A fade hairstyle is short on the sides and slowly gets longer as it goes up the head. The barber blends from skin or a #0 guard at the bottom to a longer guard higher up. Where that blend starts decides the look.
The low fade begins just above the ear. The mid fade begins at the temple. A high fade goes up near the parietal ridge, the widest part of the head. An undercut is different. The sides are one short length and the long top sits over them with no blend.
Each picture below lists the clipper numbers, fade height and trim interval, so you can show your barber exactly what you want. Want more top ideas? See our textured crop and quiff and pompadour pages.
Low Fade Hairstyle for Men
The low fade is the safest pick for office, college and first-timers. It looks clean but leaves enough hair on the sides to grow out well.
- Hair
- Straight or wavy, thick
- Best for
- Oval, round faces
- Upkeep
- Trim every 3 weeks
A low fade under a choppy textured top. It works for almost every face and job.
Stylist note: Ask for a low skin fade to a #2, 5 cm on top, point-cut for texture, matte clay to finish.
- Hair
- Straight, medium thick
- Best for
- Oval, square faces
- Upkeep
- Trim every 3 weeks
A classic side part over a low fade with a thin shaved line. Neat enough for interviews.
Stylist note: Low fade from #0 to #2, 6 cm on top, side part with a light hard part line, light wax.
- Hair
- Wavy, medium thickness
- Best for
- Long, oval faces
- Upkeep
- Trim every 4 weeks
Wavy hair left loose and messy on top with a soft low fade. Low effort for humid days.
Stylist note: Low fade to a #3, keep 6 to 7 cm on top, texturise with scissors, scrunch with sea salt spray.
- Hair
- Any, thick or fine
- Best for
- Oval, square faces
- Upkeep
- Trim every 2 weeks
A short buzz on top with a low fade at the bottom. The easiest cut for summer and helmet hair.
Stylist note: Buzz the top with a #3 guard, low fade from skin to #3 just above the ear.
Mid Fade Hairstyle
The mid fade starts at the temple. It is sharper than a low fade and shows off a styled top, but it still grows out gently.
- Hair
- Straight, medium thick
- Best for
- Round, oval faces
- Upkeep
- Trim every 3 weeks
A mid fade with the top swept to one side. Good for round faces because the sides stay slim.
Stylist note: Mid fade from #0.5 to #2 at the temple, 7 cm on top, blow dry sideways, light cream.
- Hair
- Straight, thick
- Best for
- Oval, long faces
- Upkeep
- Trim every 3 weeks
A forward textured crop over a mid skin fade. Sharp, young and quick to style.
Stylist note: Mid skin fade to #2, 4 cm on top pushed forward, point-cut heavily, matte clay.
- Hair
- Curly, thick
- Best for
- Oval, square faces
- Upkeep
- Trim every 3 weeks
Natural curls left full on top with a clean mid fade. Curls look tidy because the sides are short.
Stylist note: Mid fade from #1 to #3, cut curls dry on top to 5 cm, use curl cream, no brushing.
- Hair
- Straight, medium
- Best for
- Square, oval faces
- Upkeep
- Trim every 3 weeks
A comb over on a mid fade. A smart office cut that still looks modern.
Stylist note: Mid fade #1 to #3, 6 cm on top, side part, comb over with a light pomade.
High Fade Hairstyle
A high fade takes the short part almost to the top of the head. It gives a bold, sporty shape and needs the most frequent trims. For the short military look, see our army cut page.
- Hair
- Any, straight
- Best for
- Oval, square faces
- Upkeep
- Trim every 2 weeks
High skin fade with a short top. Very cool in summer and good for gym and sports.
Stylist note: Skin fade up to the parietal ridge, blend to #4, scissor 3 cm on top.
- Hair
- Thick, coarse
- Best for
- Long, oval faces
- Upkeep
- Trim every 2 weeks
A flat top on a high fade. A strong, square shape for thick hair that stands up.
Stylist note: High fade from #0 to #2, then clipper-over-comb the top flat at about 3 cm.
- Hair
- Thick, straight
- Best for
- Round, oval faces
- Upkeep
- Trim every 3 weeks
A tall quiff looks taller still with a high fade below it. Best on oval and round faces.
Stylist note: High fade #1 to #3, 8 cm at the front, blow dry up and back, medium hold pomade.
- Hair
- Straight, fine to thick
- Best for
- Long, oval faces
- Upkeep
- Trim every 3 weeks
A short French crop with a blunt fringe on a high fade. Hides a high forehead and needs no styling.
Stylist note: High fade to #2, 3 cm on top, cut a straight blunt fringe, a dab of matte paste.
Taper Fade Hairstyle and Taper Cut
A taper fade only fades the sideburns and neckline. The rest of the sides stay longer, so it looks natural and grows out slowly. A taper cut hairstyle is the right ask if you want a soft look.
- Hair
- Straight or wavy
- Best for
- All face shapes
- Upkeep
- Trim every 4 weeks
A low taper fade with a textured top. This is the most asked-for cut in barber shops right now.
Stylist note: Low taper at sideburns and nape only, #3 on sides, 5 cm textured top, matte clay.
- Hair
- Straight, medium
- Best for
- Oval, square faces
- Upkeep
- Trim every 4 weeks
A classic taper with a side part. Looks right with a shirt and tie.
Stylist note: Scissor-over-comb sides, taper the nape and sideburns, 6 cm top, side part.
- Hair
- Curly, medium thick
- Best for
- Oval, long faces
- Upkeep
- Trim every 4 weeks
Tapered edges keep curly hair neat without cutting the sides very short.
Stylist note: Taper the nape and sideburns only, sides #3, curls cut dry to 6 cm, curl cream.
- Hair
- Thick, straight or wavy
- Best for
- Oval, round faces
- Upkeep
- Trim every 3 weeks
A burst fade curves around the ear like a half circle and leaves the nape longer. A trendy fade cut hairstyle.
Stylist note: Ask for a burst fade around the ear, keep the back longer, 5 cm textured top.
Undercut Hairstyle for Men and Boys
An undercut has short sides of one length and a much longer top with a clear line between them. It is bold, easy to cut and very popular in college. An undercut hairstyle boy students ask for most is the simple one with a #3 on the sides.
- Hair
- Straight, thick
- Best for
- Oval, square faces
- Upkeep
- Trim every 3 weeks
A long slick back over short undercut sides. Clean, strong and easy to repeat each morning.
Stylist note: Sides and back #2 all over, no blend, 10 cm on top, slick back with water-based pomade.
- Hair
- Straight, fine to medium
- Best for
- Long, heart faces
- Upkeep
- Trim every 4 weeks
The two block cut hides short sides under a soft fringe. Good for straight hair and smaller faces.
Stylist note: Sides #2 under a longer top, 9 cm top cut to fall over the sides, curtain fringe.
- Hair
- Straight, medium
- Best for
- Round, oval faces
- Upkeep
- Trim every 3 weeks
A simple undercut with a medium top. Easy for boys who want something sharp without much styling.
Stylist note: Sides #3 one length, 6 cm on top, finger-push back with light cream.
- Hair
- Curly, thick
- Best for
- Oval, long faces
- Upkeep
- Trim every 4 weeks
Curls look neater when the sides are cut short. The top keeps its natural bounce.
Stylist note: Sides #2 undercut, top cut dry to 7 cm, curl cream, no comb.
Side Fade Hairstyle with a Long Top
Keep the top long and fade only the sides for a cut that styles many ways. It needs a little product and a blow dryer.
- Hair
- Wavy, thick
- Best for
- Oval, square faces
- Upkeep
- Trim every 4 weeks
A long flowing top over a low side fade. Good for wavy hair that is growing out.
Stylist note: Low fade #1 to #3 on the sides, 12 cm on top, layer it, blow dry back.
- Hair
- Thick, straight
- Best for
- Round, oval faces
- Upkeep
- Trim every 3 weeks
A pompadour rolls the long top up and back. Best for special events and thick hair.
Stylist note: Mid fade #0 to #2, 10 cm at the front, blow dry up and back, strong pomade.
- Hair
- Long top, straight
- Best for
- Oval, long faces
- Upkeep
- Trim every 4 weeks
Long top hair tied in a small knot with low faded sides. Practical in heat and under a helmet.
Stylist note: Low fade #1 to #3, leave 15 cm or more on top, tie at the crown with a soft elastic.
- Hair
- Straight, medium
- Best for
- Square, heart faces
- Upkeep
- Trim every 4 weeks
A curtain middle part sitting on a mid fade. Soft on top, sharp on the sides.
Stylist note: Mid fade to #3, 10 cm on top, middle part, blow dry each side outward.
Fade Hairstyle Chart: Clipper Numbers and Heights
| Cut | Starts at | Clipper guards | Trim |
|---|---|---|---|
| Low fade | Just above the ear | #0 or #1 to #2 or #3 | Every 3 to 4 weeks |
| Mid fade | Temple | #0.5 to #2 or #3 | Every 2 to 3 weeks |
| High fade | Near the parietal ridge | Skin to #2 or #4 | Every 2 weeks |
| Taper | Sideburns and nape only | Skin to #3 | Every 4 weeks |
| Undercut | Whole side, no blend | #1, #2 or #3 | Every 3 weeks |
Guard sizes: #0 is about 0.5 mm, #1 is 3 mm, #2 is 6 mm, #3 is 10 mm and #4 is 13 mm.
What to Tell Your Barber for a Men's Fade Haircut
- Fade height: low, mid or high. Point to where you want it to start.
- Bottom guard: skin, #0 or #1. Skin looks sharpest but grows out fastest.
- Top length: say it in centimetres, like "5 cm on top".
- Texture: ask for point cutting if you want a choppy top.
- Neckline: tapered grows out best. Blocked looks neat for a week.
Round face? Pick a mid or high fade with height on top. Long face? Stay with a low fade or taper and keep some fringe. See our face shape hairstyle for men guide. In humid weather and under a helmet, shorter tops with matte clay hold better than long slicked styles. Fades cost more at a higher-level salon or with a hot towel finish and design work.
Common hairstyle questions
What is the difference between a low fade hairstyle and a taper fade hairstyle?
A low fade blends short all around the head just above the ear. A taper only shortens the sideburns and the nape. The taper looks softer and grows out more slowly.
Which fade hairstyle for men suits a round face?
A mid or high fade with height on top suits a round face best. The short sides make the face look slimmer. Avoid flat, rounded tops.
Is an undercut hairstyle good for boys at school?
A simple undercut with a #3 on the sides and a short top is usually fine. Very short skin fades and long slick backs may break school rules, so check first.
How often should I trim a mid fade hairstyle?
Every 2 to 3 weeks. A mid fade shows growth quickly because it sits at the temple. A low taper can go 4 weeks.
What is a burst fade hairstyle?
A burst fade curves in a half circle around the ear and leaves the back longer. It works well with mullets, curls and textured tops.
Can I get a fade if I have hair fall or thin spots?
A short fade can make thin hair look fuller and tidier. If you see bald patches or sudden hair fall, see a dermatologist before changing your cut.
