23 Stylish Hi-Top Fade Hairstyle Ideas

The hi-top fade, popularly known as the high-top fade, is a popular hairstyle among black guys with an extended afro on top that is trimmed flat and slowly fades on the sides and back to very short hair. The legendary 1980s hairstyle is the most preferred haircut by black men thanks to its indefinite variations of wearing it.

Are you scouting the internet for the hottest hi-top fade hairstyles in 2020? Well, no more digging deeper. 

We have found the best hi-top fade haircuts that will help you accomplish the looks of your dream. Continue reading below to choose your best look that will complement your hair type and sense of style. Good luck!

1. Mid-Textured Hair Hi-Top

In most cases, black African hair is full of texture. However, it won’t cost you anything to add a little more texture to your locks to rock this look. To rock this style, start by creating an undercut on the sides and leave medium length hair on top. The undercut should be gradually transformed into a skin fade as it approaches the occipital bone.

Finally, use a sleek water pomade to add more texture to the long hair on top. This style looks great with a clean and sharp hairline.

2. Long Top with Artistic Back

What if you want something that will make you look unique? Well, if you have extremely long hair, that will be pretty like taking a walk in the park. Long hair and designs work perfectly together to give you a praiseworthy style.

To rock this look, grow out your hair to three to four inches long and shave the hair on the sides and back. Leave the hair on top as it is but trim it to give it some shape. Complete your look by drawing designs at the back. You can also draw them on the sides, it all depends on where you want to draw attention to. Either way, you will have a bombshell look.

3. High Top Mohawk Style

Mohawk is an excellent example of funky styles, and black men mostly rock it. The best thing about the Mohawk is a myriad of ways you can style it. For instance, in this look, it is styled with a high top, ending slightly above the nape of the neck.

This radical hairstyle is paired with faded sides. To rock a standout look, it is recommended to match your hi-top Mohawk look with a long beard. This gives you a look worthy of stealing the show wherever you go. Also, make sure to tell your barber to give you a clean and tidy hairline to open up your face and reveal your best facial features.

4. Curly High Top Fade with Surgical Line

The main reason why high top hairstyles have managed to stay for so long is that all men can rock them regardless of their hair type. For example, this hairstyle is styled on thick hair, where the fading drops below the crown and immediately faded into the skin.

This is a clean and neat haircut, and it looks amazing when observed from the back where the skin fading is quite prominent.

6. Classic Hi-Top Fade

The classic hi-top fade doesn’t include a lot of sophistication. As such, this is the easiest high top fade haircut to style. The haircut involves creating a low taper fade and trimming the medium length hair on top to give it some volume.

Technically, it is the shaping and combing of this hairstyle that makes it unique. In addition, a clean hairline plays an essential role in opening up the face, so that much attention is drawn on the facial features rather than the hair on the top.

7. Voluminous Flat Top with a Fade

This hi-top fade is best described using two words; clean and neat. The hairstyle features plenty of hair length on top with sharply trimmed edges that give the style an asymmetrical look. To make the hair on top even more distinctive, the haircut is paired with a high fade cut.

So if you are searching for something tidy and neat, you can’t go past this haircut. However, it is not recommended to wear it with a beard, unless you are ready to groom them like the hair on top!

8. Classy Hi-Top Fade With Shade Enhancement

Want to look like the boss you are? Well, with the right high top fade, you can accomplish that effortlessly. In this hairstyle, the area around the temple is perfectly tapered, while the region around the occipital bone is styled into a clean fade cut. 

The faded sides connect seamlessly with the beard. If you need something more daring, you can highlight the hair on top or the beard with gray tints.

9. Quiff Pompadour Hi-Top Fade Haircut

The quiff and pompadour hairstyles are two rudimentary haircuts rocked by men across the world. The best thing about these hairstyles is numerous ways in which you can rock them.  Think about what you get when you combine three phenomenal hairstyles to rock it as one hairstyle? Undoubtedly, the look is something out of this world.

Pompadour, quiff and high top fade is the latest trend right now. If you like the stylish look, choose this hairstyle. To style it, starting by fading the hair on the sides, starting from the middle of your head downwards. Finish the style by trimming the hair on top at the same length, but leave slightly longer hair in the front and comb it to the back. You are good to go!

This style looks great when sported with a tattoo on the faded side or the neck, but without a beard.

10. Natural Style with Half Razor Part

This is a radical hairstyle created from natural manes. In this high top haircut, the back and the top are left extended and perfectly cut to offer the correct edges. To complete the look, a high fade is incorporated on the sides, and then a part is created using a razor, starting from the front and ending at the occipital bone. A clean hairline is a must in this haircut.

This is a great style for younger guys as it looks too youthful. When it comes to maintenance, you would want to visit your barber regularly for touchups to keep the shape.

11. Added Touch of Blonde

Blonde is and remains one of the most preferred hair shade. So if you want to transform the look of your hair, then blonde will serve you better. When used on the hi-top fade, the attention will be drawn on your hair rather than your facial features.

To rock this look, start by fading the hair on the sides. For a bolder look, fade the hair to the skin around the skin and along the nape of your neck. Finish the look by incorporating a blonde tone into your black locks. The bucolic blonde shade highlights the hair on the top, creating a contrasting look and breathing a new life to your hair.

12. Retro Hi-Top Fade Haircut

This is a modern twist on the standard pomp look. The hairstyle is achieved by styling long hair in the front and trimming it short but flat towards the back. It is a great look for guys who need something different from the usual hi-top fade.

13. Artistic With Dreadlocks Hi-Top Fade

This is another funky variation of high top fade, and probably it won’t be the last one since, with the hi-top fade, everything is possible. In this hairstyle, the long hair on top is styled into short dreads, and the sides are faded starting from the middle of the head.

For a more classic and standout look, the designs are included on the shaved sides, and this makes the haircut more prominent. Like the most hi-top fade cuts, a clean hairline is a must in this style. It looks great when worn without a beard.

14. Blown-Out Straight Pomp

If you want to understand the right definition of sophistication and elegance, tell your barber to give you this hi-top fade variation cut. In this hairstyle, the pomp sits perfectly on top with a lot of texture to enhance shine.

The textured pomp is then paired with an edgy fade on the sides and back that gives a clear distinction between the two regions. This hairstyle also looks great when matched with a well-groomed beard, and this makes the disconnection between the top hair and sides more noticeable.

15. Nappy Hi-Top Fade

If you are looking for a frizzy look, then you should opt for this nappy style. This hairstyle is characterized by a messy high top fade that adds attitude to the style. The neat and tidy high fade draws attention to the facial features and the front.

For a more prominent look, shave your beard such that there is little to no facial hair. This is an excellent look for folks who like stylish but casual styles.

16. Multi-Level Hi-Top Fade

What if instead of having one level on your hi-top fade, you add one, two or more levels? This will undoubtedly, give you a funky haircut worthy admiring. The levels add dimension and depth to the entire haircut.

To rock this style, start by fading the sides and back, leaving long hair on top. Next, sculpt the hair on top into specific shapes to come up with a standout asymmetrical style. If you want to pair this style with a beard, make sure that you fade the hair into the skin around the ears and the nape. This will give a distinctive part between the hi-top and the beard.

17. V-Line Hi-Top Fade

Everyone can rock a hi-top fade haircut, but this one is not for the faint in heart. With this hairstyle, your stylist will style a V-cut design and outline it with a sharp line. However, though the V-cut line usually is cut at the back where the fading starts, you can design it away from the long hair.

The manes on the sides and back gradually fade into the skin along the nape of the neck, but the hair around the ears is not faded into the skin. Apart from hi-top fade, the V-cut design looks great with many other haircuts.

18. Comb-Over Hi-Top Fade with Hard Part

The high top fade cut looks suave with many hairstyles, but it seems even more dramatic and elegant when matched with a comb-over. Many reasons make a comb-over the best style when combined with a hi-top fade. Firstly, you can incorporate diagonal bangs in order to add texture to your hair. 

Secondly, you can manipulate your comb-over and rock different looks whenever you want. For instance, you can rock it with the hair swept to the sides or front. Besides, you can pair it with a middle fade or low fade and still look great.

19. Combed Back Hi-Top Fade Haircut

Most hi-top fade hairstyles are polished and neat, and some men may find it challenging when looking for something dramatic and casual. If you need a casual look, then this is the right haircut you should opt for.

This swept-back high top style exudes that ‘I just woke up’ vibe. The hairstyle incorporates the volume of a traditional combed-back haircut, and when matched with a top fade, it offers you just the right amount of ‘shagginess.’ East to style and wear, this haircut will leave everyone wondering how you managed to rock such a seamless look!

20. Undercut Flat Top High Fade Haircut

Having been donned by notable persons such as Brad Pitt and Beck, there is no doubt that the undercut fade is one of the trendiest hairstyles in the world. Perhaps, it has secured its place in the haircuts hall of fame!

This haircut incorporates mid to longer-length locks on top. The most amazing thing is that the top manes can be styled in a variety of ways. For instance, you can style it swept back, loose, or just top it off with a neat top fade extending to the sides and back.

21. Burst Hi-Top Fade Style

If you want to rock something funky, but you don’t want to choose fauxhawk because you think it is too bold, you can opt for a less bold haircut such as the burst hairstyle and enjoy the same benefits you would have enjoyed if you chose the fauxhawk hi-top fade haircut.

With this hairstyle, extended locks are styled running from the front to the center where it gets wider and then tapers as it approaches the nape of the neck. The hair on the sides is then faded to make the top hair more prominent. If you can grow out a beard, you can pair your burst hi-top cut with it and rock a phenomenal style worthy imitating.

22. Bald Hi-Top Fade Haircut

I know you would not want to use the word ‘bald’ when describing to your barber the kind of haircut you want. However, this one is an exception, and you will know why.

The bald hi-top fade is a fade style where the skin fading of the hair starts immediately, where the long hair on top starts creating a visually high contrast look. Besides, as opposed to the hi-skin fade, the hair on top in bald hi-skin fade is slightly shorter.

23. Hi-Top Fade with Caesar Cut

This is a unique variation of hi-top fade. With this haircut, the manes on the sides are trimmed short, leaving longer locks on the top, which are then swept to the front.

 If the hair on top is slightly longer, you can sweep the bangs to the sides to rock a real Caesar cut with style. This is an excellent look for guys who want something more formal, but at the same time, classy.

What Is the Hi-Top Fade Haircut?

Often, most people use flat top and high top interchangeably. However, these are two different haircuts. Technically speaking, the flat top is an example of a hi-top fade, i.e., any hairstyle which features short sides and long and flat hair on top.

The hi-top fade was made popular by the legendary Will Smith, and since then, more and more celebrities have been donning it. Some of the notable celebrities who regularly sport high top fade are the son Jaden Smith and basketball luminary, Nick Young. 

However, not all black men can rock this hairstyle since face shape is an essential consideration when it comes to wearing this look. It determines how high to cut your hair and also how to shape the high top. I know you don’t want to get an imbalanced shape after cutting your hair! 

Once you get your favorite hi-top fade, the next thing you need to do is visit your barber regularly for touchups to maintain the shape of the manes on the top.

How to Style A Flawless Hi-Top Fade Haircut

If you want to rock a hi-top fade haircut, it is highly recommended that you look for a barber who is experienced in styling this type of hairstyle. Since the haircut needs a talented barber able to pay attention to detail and style, make sure he can style it before asking for the cut.

If possible, it is always clever to have a picture of the type of haircut you want so that he can understand better what you need!

Step 1: Clip the Hair on the Sides

The key to getting a perfect high top fade is clipping the hair on the sides and back perfectly. To achieve this, you would want to use clippers set at the guard size between “1 and “4.

Though there are different lengths, you can clip the hair on the sides. A hi-skin fade gives a sharper contrast between the locks on the top and the sides.

Step 2: Trim and Style the Long Hair on Top

You should leave at least 3-inches of hair on top. However, the length of hair that you want to leave on the top will entirely depend on your tastes and preferences, hair type, and of course, the style you want. Some guys prefer a full-blown afro while others prefer something short on top or slanting.

Step 3: Finish the Style

To keep the shape of your hair intact, you should apply hair holding product such as a gel. However, if you need a hassle-free style, you can leave it natural. If you don’t want to maintain it at home, be ready to make several trips to your barbershop weekly for touchups for your style to stay neat.

Conclusion

These suave and trendiest hi-top fade haircut ideas are the best for the guys who want to transform their looks. They are classy and chic enough to steal the show wherever you go. Before you wear one of these haircuts, it is essential to consult your barber for expert advice.