Are you planning to upgrade your style? If yes, you must try the taper fade haircut. The flexibility and styling options of this cut make it an ideal choice for men. You can style it in many different ways – side parting, slicked back, spiked up or tousled.
From Conor McGregor and Brad Pitt to Zac Efron and Ryan Reynolds, this cut has become the ultimate choice in the fashion and entertainment industry. What’s best about this haircut is that it gives a naturally clean, sleek and classy look, suitable for every occasion – be it college, work, parties or events.
Moreover, it goes perfectly well with all face types – round, oval, square, etc. If you are someone who loves to stay on trend, taper fade is the best haircut for you. In this article, we have shortlisted the top 35 taper fade haircuts for men in 2023. No matter what type of hair or face you have, there are options for everyone in this guide.
As the name goes, a taper fade haircut is a type of fade that combines the features of a taper cut. It is quite similar to the taper cut, but there are some differences. This haircut features longer hair on the top and shorter hair on the sides and back.
Unlike other fades, this cut is shorter and easily blends down to the skin. Here, the barber goes for a quick fade around the neckline and sideburns. This helps to create a natural and clean look. Also, the area behind the ear is cleaned up to get a perfect arch-line.
This haircut is called a taper because here, the length of hair gradually decreases as it moves towards the bottom, thereby fading into the skin. This haircut is quite modern and stylish and can be commonly seen in pictures or posters at barber shops.
Taper fade haircut can vary depending on the length of the fade – it can be low, high or medium. You can choose from different styles depending on your hair type or personal preference.
Top 35 Taper Fade Haircuts
Here are the top 35 taper fade haircuts you can try to upgrade your style. We have categorized these haircuts to help choose the best option:
Haircuts With Taper Fade
Here are the 4 most common types of haircuts with taper fade:
Mid Taper Fade
If you are looking for a simple fade with tapered sides, this is the best haircut for you. While there are many types of taper fade cuts, you can try the mid fade and add your own touch to it. In this type of cut, the sides are tapered an inch or two above your ear to offer a balance. If you have thick or wavy hair, you can always try this haircut to make your hair more manageable and reduce your styling time.
Very Low Taper Fade
This is one of the most subtle taper fades as the transition starts at your ears and then follows the hairline. As the name goes, the fade is very low in doesn’t offer much contrast. However, this cut is very elegant and provides clean lines for a structured look. Even though the fade is low, there is no hair near your ear. This helps to create a clean look and bring out your facial features.
High Taper Fade
Another type of haircut you can choose is a high taper fade. Here, the fade starts near the crown of your head and then blends with the skin as it moves towards the neck. This cut offers more contrast to your look as the fade is high. If you have voluminous hair, this haircut is ideal for you. One advantage of this high fade is that it can make your face appear slimmer.
Taper + Fade
While taper and fade are two different haircut techniques, you can blend them to create a unique style. This haircut is a mix of fade and taper. This means your hair will be short on the sides and back and long on the top. The barber will trim down the sides to create a smooth transition and remove hair from behind your ears. Unlike fades, you can easily spot the line curve just above your ear, which gives this cut its own in this type of cut.
Best Low Taper Fades:
While low taper fade is in itself a type of haircut, it can be further categorized into different styles. Here are some of the best low-taper fade haircuts for you:
1. Long Hair Low Taper Fade
If you have long and straight hair, try this type of cut. Here, the barber will not compromise on your hair length and keep it mostly as it is on the top but will create a low taper fade on the sides. This way, the contrast will not be too harsh, and it will give you a clean look as the hair will be pretty short around the ears.
2. Wavy & Messy Low Taper Fade
While taper fade is mostly known for its clean look, you can add a new twist by keeping it a bit messy. In this type of cut, the sides will in low fade, but you can keep the top messy. If you can, use gel and create messy, subtle spikes on the top, and just leave it tousled. This cut is great for young boys and teens.
3. Low Taper Fade Curly Hair
One way to bring out your beautiful curls yet still keep your hair manageable is by choosing a low-taper fade. While the sides will buzz, the top part will retain your curls. You can keep it long or short and even leave them flowing at the front. You can try this haircut if you have jet-black curly hair.
4. Clean Side Part
If you are looking for a sophisticated haircut, this is the best option. As the name goes, the sides will be short but not enough to create much transition. There will be a clean, defined line on the side to help you with the side part. You can part your hair on the side and comb the front part slightly back to create an elegant look.
5. Short Brushed Back
This is one of the simplest types of low taper fade, but you can sport it to rock any occasion. Here, the hair will be short on the top, which you can easily brush back to make it more neat. The taper fade on the side will complement the overall brushed-back look. The best thing about this cut is that it is very easy to style.
6. Low Taper Mullet
You can also go with a mullet haircut and pair it with a low taper fade. Mullet was quite popular back in the day, but slowly, the trend is returning. If you are someone who takes fashion seriously, you can try this cut and show people how good it looks on you. Instead of a full mullet, you can trim it in a nice V shape to make the style even more unique.
7. Low Taper Fade with Designs
Another type of low-taper fade you can try is the one with designs. You can keep the hair on the top long or short and create designs on the sides around the fade of the back of your neck to add a bold new touch to the look.
Best High Taper Fades:
If you want to keep the fade prominent on the sides and experiment with different hairstyles are the best hair taper fades to try:
1. High Taper With Fringe
This is the best haircut for modern and stylish men. In this type of cut, the hair will fade on the side, right from the top, and the fringe will add even more versatility to the look. If you have thick hair, you can try this cut to remove access hair from the sides and make your face well-defined.
2. Korean-Style High Taper Fade
The K-pop culture has taken the world by storm. From food to clothing style, everything Korean is not trending. So, if you are looking for a new haircut, you can try the Korean-style high taper fade. Here, you can keep the dark, straight hair on the top and create a heavy transition with the fade to bring out your facial features.
3. High Top with High Taper Fade
If you have a flop top Afro-hair, this cut can truly boost your personality. The top part of your hair will be cut in the right shape and design, and there will be a taper fade around the sides. This cut will add a few more inches to your height and give you a crisp look.
4. Quiff With A High Fade
The quiff is back in trend, and there is no better way to showcase this style than pairing it with a high taper fade. It is a masculine hairstyle where the top of your hair is choppy to style it backward. The fade transition will add a touch of spice to the look, making it easy to manage.
5. Skin Taper Fade
This is one of the easiest hairstyles you can manage. In this cut, your hair will be very short on the top, and there will be a bald taper fade on the sides. This look is best for summer, and you can rock it with some cool metallic ear piercings.
6. Mohawk High Taper Fade
You can also try a Mohawk with a high taper fade. The gradual fade around the sides will further enhance the spiky Mohawk on the top. You can either keep the hair on top in a thick strip or trim it down, depending on your style.
7. High Taper Fade Man Bun
If you have long hair and want to try the taper fade, you can go with a high fade with a bun. The hair will be long on the top around the crown area of your head, and the sides and back will be short to create a high taper fade. You can then make a man bun out of the long hair to get an edgy look.
Best Mid Taper Fades:
If you want to create a balance between the low fade and high fade, you can always choose mid taper fade cuts. Here are some of the best options to try:
1. Mid Taper Fade with Pushed Forward Top
As the name goes, in this type of cut, the mid taper fade will complement the long hair on the top. You can use gel to push the hair forward on the top to make your features sharper. While the top will be messy, the sides will be clean and go well with your overall look.
2. Mid Taper Fade for Kinky Hair
If you have kinky hair, you can choose the mid taper fade cut for quick and easy styling. The sharp fade on the sides will perfectly bring out your textured and kinky hair. The transition from long to short hair and the kinky curls on top will result in a captivating look.
3. Short Pomp With Mid Taper Fade
As a classic hairstyle, the pomp is always in style, and you can make it even better with a mid-taper fade. To avoid drawing too much attention, you can keep the pomp short and then fade the sides for a sleek and iconic look.
4. Caesar Cut With Mid Taper Fade
If you are looking for a manly gladiator-style haircut, this is the best option. The taper fade on the sides, and the short, slightly fringed hair on the top will make it easy to style. You can further complement this look by keeping and beard.
5. Mid Taper Fade With Slicked-Up Top
This style is very cool and stylish, typically designed for college and high-school boys. Here, along with the mid taper fade on the sides, you can keep the top hair long and slick back for a cool-dude look. This way, the hair will be easy to manage and style.
6. Curly Thick Top With Mid Taper Fade
If you have curly hair that takes a lot of time to manage, you can try this amazing cut. The hair will be longer on the top, and there will be a good amount of thick curls at the front. The sides will be short, with a mid fade starting from an inch or two above the temple.
7. Spiky Mid Taper Fade
Another style you can try is the spiky mid fade. This style is different from the Mohawk as the spikes are a bit tame to give you a soft look along with the fade. You can also dye or color the spikes to add a new touch to this look.
Best Taper Fade Haircuts for Curly Hair:
The taper fade cut suits all types of hair and looks great with curly hair. Here are some of the best tape fade cuts for people with curly hair:
1. Low Taper Fade With Tight Curls
Guys with tight curls can try the low taper fade for a cool and easy-to-maintain hairstyle. There will be a great volume of tight curls on the top, while the sides will have a low fade around the ear, offering a cool contrast.
2. Curly Taper Fade With Line
You can also style your curly hair with a taper fade and a line. You can keep the curls on top and back of the neck while creating a fade with a line on the side to add more definition to the overall look.
3. Taper Fade With Graffiti Design
Curly hair looks great with side designs, and you can take the look to a whole new level by pairing it with a taper fade. You can try different patterns and designs on the side to draw attention. However, this cut needs the expertise of a professional.
4. Taper Fade With Highlights
Another thing you can do is add highlights to your top curls to create a contrast. The color, along with the tapered sides, will create a unique hairstyle. You can choose from different colors like blonde, white, pink, neon blue or green.
5. Taper Fade With Men Ponytail
If your hair is curly and long, you can try the taper fade with a ponytail. The hair on the top will be long and will tied at the back in a ponytail, while the sides will be tapered along a side-line to give you a crisp look.
Best Black Taper Haircuts:
Here are some of the coolest and trending taper fade haircuts for black men:
1. Smooth Tapered Fade
As the name goes, this cut is smooth with clean lines and a messy top. The hair on the top is very short, and there is a taper fade on the sides with clear lines for a perfect look.
2. High Fade With Waves
In this haircut, the hair is short, textured and wavy with clean, tapered sides starting at a high point. You can make this cut better by adding sharp razor lines for a subtle impact.
3. Twisted Mohawk Fade
If you are looking for a modern and trendy haircut, try the twisted Mohawk fade. The top curly hair will be cut like a Mohawk, while the sides will be short to create a transition.
4. Asymmetrical Taper Fade
If you want to make heads turn, you can go for the asymmetrical cut. The hair will be uneven and leaning on the side, along with a fade. This cut needs great precision, so make sure you choose a good barber.
5. Braided Taper Fade Cut
This cut is suitable for long, curly hair. You can tie your hair in braids on the top and cut the sides short while creating a tapered fade. You can choose any type of braid to complement the look.
FAQs
What does a taper fade do?
It is a type of haircut in which your hair gradually transitions from long to short along the sides and back of the neck to blend with the skin color.
What is the difference between a fade and a taper?
These are two different methods to cut the hair from long to short. However, compared to fade, a taper is all about naturally decreasing the length. A fade, on the other hand, can be quite dramatic and short.
What hair length do I need for a taper fade?
This haircut is suitable for long as well as short hair. You need anywhere from 2 to 4 inches of hair to get this cut. You can also try it with very short hair.
Do barbers know taper fade?
Given the popularity of this haircut, we are pretty sure that the majority of the barbers know this cut.
Conclusion:
So, here are the 35 best taper fade haircuts to boost your style in 2023. It is clear from this list of haircuts that taper fade is very versatile, and you can style it in many different ways.
We have categorized the haircuts to help you with easy selection. Depending on your hair type, length and fade style, you can choose any of these styles.
We hope you like our selection of the trending taper fade cuts. Drop the name of the haircut you like the most in the comment section below.
