A fade haircut blends the hair on the sides and back from longer at the top to very short, or bare skin, at the bottom. The transition is gradual, so the hair appears to fade away. Here's what sets it apart, who it suits, how to ask your barber for it and how to style it.
Fade haircut at a glance
- Top: Any length
- Sides and back: Blended from longer to very short or skin
- Maintenance: Medium to high
- Trim every: 2 to 3 weeks
What makes it different
Fades are named two ways: by height (low, mid, high) and by shape or finish (skin, drop, burst, temple). Mixing the two gives names like low skin fade or mid drop fade.
Who it suits
Fades make the sides look slimmer, so mid and high fades flatter round and wide faces. If your face is long, a low fade or a taper keeps more balance.
Not sure about your face shape? Find it with the free face shape detector, or read our guide to men's face shapes.
How to ask your barber for a fade haircut
- Give the height: low, mid or high.
- Give the finish: to skin (skin or bald fade) or to a short guard such as a 1.
- Name any shape you want: drop, burst or temple. Bring a photo.
- Bring a photo. Barbers use these names differently, and a picture removes the guesswork.
How to style it
The fade itself needs no styling. Put the effort into the top, and book regular trims, because a fade loses its sharpness within a couple of weeks.
Variations
- Low fade: starts just above the ear.
- Mid fade: starts around the temple.
- High fade: starts near the top of the sides.
- Skin fade: ends in bare skin.
- Drop fade: curves down behind the ear.
- Burst fade: a semicircle around the ear.
- Temple fade: only at the temples and nape.
- Taper fade: only at the sideburns and neckline.
Try it before you cut
A haircut takes weeks to grow out. Upload a selfie to the AI hairstyle changer and see the fade haircut on your own face, next to up to three other styles.
Related haircuts
- Low fade
- Mid fade
- High fade
- Skin fade
- Drop fade
- Burst fade
- Temple fade
- Taper fade
- Taper vs fade
- All men's haircuts
FAQ
What is a fade haircut?
A fade haircut blends the hair on the sides and back from longer at the top to very short, or bare skin, at the bottom.
Who suits a fade haircut?
Fades make the sides look slimmer, so mid and high fades flatter round and wide faces. If your face is long, a low fade or a taper keeps more balance.
How often does it need a trim?
About every 2 to 3 weeks.
