50 Trendy Taper Fade Haircut for Men Ideas

While it might be most notably called the taper fade among gentlemen today, the original term is actually just a taper. Regardless of what you call it, one thing is certain, this style gives off a considerably well-groomed appearance.

Not to mention, clean and neat too.

Even if you prefer a more messy look, when it comes to your cut, the combo can create a great balance.

The original look:

Understand that a taper isn’t a true hairstyle on its own, rather it’s more like an option you can add to the back and sides instead. What the style refers to is as simple as the word itself means, literally a “taper”.

Hair that’s higher up on the top and longer in length gradually gets shorter downwards towards the nape of the neck. Eventually, tapering into the skin.

Or in other words, your hair will progressively get shorter as you move down the head. For the back of the neck, you’ll find it faded without a crisp straight line.

Explore this style:

To get a better idea of why this look has become so trendy lately, just explore these best taper fade haircuts for men below. You’ll find it paired with everything from pompadours, slicked back hair, the faux hawk and more.

If you’ve been thinking about adding another element to your cut the next time you visit the barbershop, it’s hard to go wrong. Here we take a look at the different types of taper you can have and also look at how you can style it. Let’s get started!

Height of your taper fade

One of the big decisions you need to make in terms of your taper fade is where it begins. Some prefer it to start at the top of the head whereas others like it just over the ear. Here we take a look at the different heights of your taper fade.

1. Low taper fade

Some taper fades are quite drastic whereas others are more delicate. The low taper fade is more on the subtle side as it starts just above your ear and often isn’t as dramatic as other types of taper fade.

It suits hairstyles such as the pompadour and also can look a little more professional and tidy. The low fade is an ideal choice for those that want their hair a little longer than with other types of fade.

The low taper can also look great on those with long hair as the thicker sides complement it. The low taper fade haircut may not be the most popular option but we think it can look great.

2. Mid taper fade

The mid taper is probably the most common type of fade and it looks brilliant on all men. This is where the fade will begin midway between the top of your ear and your forehead hairline.

This tapered haircut strikes a great balance between the professional look of a low fade and the drastic look of a high fade.

The mens haircut has become so popular due to its immense versatility. At the same time, it looks casual as well as smart. It makes it ideal for those who still want a professional haircut without looking too corporate.

Whether you have straight hair, wavy hair or curly hair, it doesn’t matter with the mid fade. You can style it out to suit your look and head out the door with a huge amount of confidence.

3. High taper fade

The high taper fade is the most visually striking of all the fades and it starts much higher up your head, usually at the same height level, or just below, your forehead hairline. It’s a men’s hairstyle that can certainly make an impression.

The high fade can help to make your face appear thinner and is therefore great for those who have a more rounded face. You usually have very short hair on the sides and any fade hairstyle you want on the top.

It works with many different lengths of hair as you can decide to opt for something high and dramatic or you might simply want a buzz fade. It also works with lines put into your hair due to the wide area of short hair on the side of your face.

Taper fade haircut styles

Once you know the height of taper fade hairstyle you want, you then need to consider what style you want to go with it. Due to the versatility of the taper fade cut, you’re not going to be short of options. Here we’ll check out some great examples.

1. Skin fade

While the height of your taper cut is an important decision, you’ll also need to think about the length of the fade. The boldest is to go for a skin fade, also known as a bald fade, where you opt for a buzz cut that tapers away to almost bare skin above your ears.

The bald taper fade only really works with a mid or high taper. You have plenty of choice on top with longer hair making for a dramatic contrast, that looks brilliant.

2. Taper fade comb over

When you hear a comb over you often picture old men with thinning hair drawn over their crown. This is NOT what we mean here. This is a classic taper where your hair to combed from one side of your tapered fade to the other. This version of the classic taper fade looks stylish and classy.

3. Taper fade with lines

The taper fade can look special with lines cut into your hair which can be done in a variety of different styles. It only works with either a high or mid fade as the fade line should be done closer to the crown of the head. It’s a fade cut that not everyone can pull off but it can look brilliant when done well. Another great way to style it is to have a sharp parting across the top of your head.

4. Pompadour taper fade

One of the all-time great hairstyles is the pompadour. This is where you have a hair cut that is combed from the front of your head all the way to the back. The classic pompadour doesn’t have a taper fade but the modern one can look brilliant with a fade. A pompadour with fade is a modern and edgy take on the bold hairstyle.

5. Curly hair taper fade

If you have curly hair then the taper fade can be the perfect solution to look stylish while giving your hair plenty of structure. It works well with a blurry fade and a neck taper which means you only ever need to focus on styling the top of your head. The short cut sides will also provide a stunning contrast from the thick hair on top.

6. Undercut taper fade

Another way to have a striking contrast in your hair is with an undercut. This is generally where you have very short back and sides with a high fade, along with longer hair on the top. It can be a very masculine look and a great casual haircut. The top is often slicked back with the likes of pomade to keep it in place.

7. Fauxhawk taper fade

While the Mohawk might be a little bit bold for some, the fauxhawk is an excellent alternative. It’s a less dramatic version that works well with a drop fade as well as a regular fade. You’ll have a longer taper fade on the side with medium hair on the top which you can then create a faux hawk with. If you wanted to be a little bit bolder, then you can ask for a disconnected cut.

8. Taper fade with quiff

If you think that the pompadour may be a little too dramatic for you then you can go for a taper fade with a quaff. It’s another classic men’s haircut and one that has remained stylish throughout the years. It’s a versatile haircut that looks smart, yet casual. The quiff matches perfectly with a tapered cut and helps bring attention to the eyes.

9. Bearded taper fade

Whatever type of taper hairstyle you choose, it can look amazing with a beard. That distinction between longer hair on the top, a taper fade style, and then the longer hair on the beard always looks very masculine. It can look particularly good with a medium fade but any type of taper can work well.

10. Slick back taper fade

Similar to the pompadour, the slick back taper haircut is one that is a throwback hairstyle where a huge amount of product was put through your hair. Having a taper fade gives it a modern take but you don’t need to give your hair the same type of volume as a pompadour. You can either choose a mid fade or it also looks perfect with an undercut.

11. Textured taper fade

You may have naturally textured hair or like it to be styled that way. Either way, the taper fade haircut gives you a simple way to maintain it while looking great. You can have any type of fade you want as they all look great with textured hair. That being said, we think it looks its best with a high fade.