Rock one of the freshest looks of the year by adding the taper fade haircut to your shortlist of hairstyles to get in 2023! The taper fade works well for all types of hair – be it from coarse or afro-textured, fine, or straight hair.
So, before you take a trip to the barbershop, check out these taper fade haircut ideas we picked below for some major haircut and style inspiration!
1. Afro-Textured Taper Fade Haircut
We will begin with a taper fade that is highly popular among African American hairstyles. The hair is cut significantly short which also helps cut down on maintenance, in the long run. The main point of the hairstyle is the wavy top that is brilliantly complemented by the clean lineup.
2. High Pompadour
As you will soon find out, taper fade haircuts are generally classified in two ways: high or low. Here, you can observe a high taper fade, meaning that the shaved part comes closer to the top than the lower alternative.
3. Comb Over
If you want a dapper approach to your haircut, this is the style for you! The comb-over provides the cut with plenty of class while the blurry fade boosts its attitude. Sport this hairstyle with or without facial hair.
4. Low Sharp Undercut
To showcase the opposite of #2, here is what a low taper fade looks like. As opposed to its high alternative, the shaved part comes closer to the neck and ears. Let’s say that it’s a discrete alternative to an undercut.
5. Side Parted Long Hair
Mixing long and short hair is an awesome way to rock this haircut. In other words, your taper can feature shorter hair, while the top can shine through its long locks. It’s the ideal look for the rebellious man who isn’t afraid to go against the grain when it comes to hairstyles.
6. Mohawk
Likewise, you can also mix taper haircuts with a mohawk – be it a shorter or a longer one. We recommend keeping it short if you have naturally afro-textured hair, we recommend you go for a shorter mohawk – it will create a cool effect, especially if there are some sponge twists involved as well.
7. Deep-Parted Hair
While this hairstyle is similar to the comb-over we showed a bit earlier, it stands out thanks to its deep part. This makes for a very clean-cut look – especially thanks to the surgical line that accentuates the different elements of this hairstyle.
8. Swept Up & Discrete Haircut
Instead of combing the hair to the side, consider going for a swept-up look. This is the ideal hairstyle for men who have relatively short hair – just enough to gel it up in a flattering way and complement the tapered hairstyles.
9. Short Afro Hairstyle
Most fade cuts will look amazingly well with an afro hairstyle. This cutting technique will not only shape the afro in a way that complements the face shape, but it will also make both visibly easier to maintain over time.
10. Long Curly Top
Consider mixing a low taper fade with a long curly hair top to get one of the most original short sides, long top hairstyles out there! The fact that the taper fade is low highlights the hair’s natural texture. Feel free to experiment with high taper fades too if you have this hair type.
11. Waves Cut
We have seen how this haircut looks with deep waves, but what about naturally wavy hair? If you prefer longer hair on top of the head, this might just be the best take on a taper fade for you. Also, the subtle shaving will draw attention to your wavy locks while shaping them accordingly.
12. Bleached Hair
Adding a bit of color to your hair is always an excellent way of expressing your personality. If you resonate with summer vibes, splash some sun into your hair by bleaching it or going for a shade of blonde. However, be wary of the damage that long-term bleaching can cause.
13. Faded and Tapered Undercut
This is possibly one of the most natural-looking alternatives for a haircut. It’s not as shaved down as other options so the outcome resembles a faded undercut. This can be an excellent cut for men with thick hair.
14. Curly Hair
It’s easy to see why the taper fade is so popular among men with curly hair. The contrast between the shaved portion and the curly top is remarkable. Moreover, it’s an inspired choice for summertime so you won’t “melt” from the added heat that long, thick, and curly hair comes with.
15. Thick Hair
Speaking of thick locks, here’s yet another fine haircut choice for men with this type of hair. The fading is gradual, ends in a skin fade, and emphasizes the thickness of the strands and contouring them in a suitable way. Don’t hesitate to go for a high or low version of this approach.
16. High Top Fade with Lines
Remember what we said earlier about the visual impact of surgical lines? Well, this shot undoubtedly proves our point. If you don’t want to part your hair, consider getting this kind of line shaved on one side for bonus style points.
17. Wispy Layers
Another nice aspect of taper fade haircuts is that they go well with layered hair. As a result, if you have straight hair and a layered haircut, you can shave down the sides and the back to amplify the impact of the overall look.
18. Neck Taper Cut
Some men prefer a subtle approach to any haircut, so for that, we present the neck taper. As the name suggests, this cutting method focuses on the nape as it discretely shaves down the back of the hair.
19. Spiky Hair
To confirm just how versatile this haircut is, here is a photo of a taper fade with a spiky hairstyle top. If you opt for this type of styling, we recommend going for a high taper fade to better complement it. A lower approach may not turn out as well as expected.
20. Dapper Haircut
Here’s another example that brings out the dapper quality of a proper haircut. The hairstyle is based on retro fashion, particularly the trends that were popular among men in the 50s and 60s. It goes to show that some trends are truly timeless.
21. Hungarian Mustache
Taper fade haircuts are often paired with well-groomed facial hair. While you will notice a lot of beards in many of our examples, here is one where the spotlight is on the mustache and makes for a “hipsteresque” look.
22. Buzz Cut with Scruff
We often get inspired by military haircuts for modern and clean-cut hairstyles. One straightforward example is the buzz cut, one of the most common such cuts. To add a fresh touch to it, combine it with a taper fade.
23. Side Slicked
For that irreplaceable and irresistible rock’n’roll look, consider maintaining a medium-length hair top. When it’s about eye or nose length, you can more easily toss it carelessly to the side for an effortless look.
24. Crew Cut
Crew cuts are also part of the military hairstyles family and another type of haircut that looks amazingly well with taper fades. Essentially, it’s a smart way of adding a modern twist to a classic hairstyle.
25. Textured Top
You can quickly bring any hairstyle up to a new level with the help of some skillful layering. It’s no different for this type of haircut – as long as the top is kept long. Encourage your barber to layer away for a full, textured, and dynamic result.
26. Pompadour Hairstyle
We’re going back to the classic with this style and it’s easy to see why the pompadour has withstood the test of time. You can easily spice up a pompadour hairstyle with a taper fade and transform it into a modern and very cool look!
27. Low Cut with a Large Beard
Even the largest of beards work fantastically well with taper fades. When getting your hair cut by an expert barber, talk to them about shaving and shaping the edges of your beard to make for a cool transition from the hairstyle to facial hair.
28. Low Afro
While some men like rocking a big afro, others prefer a shorter and well-trimmed one. In this case, we have this fresh hairstyle that works wonders for black men as it expertly combines short afro hair with a taper fade and a skillful line-up.
29. Deep Undercut with Medium-Long Hair
Even though this example doesn’t showcase a classic taper fade haircut, it does give you a better idea of what it would look like when paired with a deep undercut. It is quite the statement hairstyle and requires mid-length to long hair to get it right.
30. Slicked Back
Returning to hairstyles for men who are more inclined towards subtlety, here is a slicked-back hairstyle that shines through its clean lines. The taper fade itself is almost undetectable, but that’s the mark of a well-cut hairstyle.
31. Dreadlocks
Dreadlocks and a taper fade really are a match made in heaven. The two styles complete each other perfectly as they help bring out the best individual elements in each. Basically, it’s all thanks to the bold contrast between the thick, rugged dreads and the cleanly shaven sides.
32. Man Bun Style
No matter how long your hair is, you can always rely on a taper fade to help perfectly outline the hairline. Additionally, it’s a great haircut for men who would prefer to tie their long locks up in a bun – the combination will help highlight both the man bun and the taper cut.
33. Two Tone Hairstyle with Taper Fade and Decal Mullet
Why settle for one hair color when you can rock two (or more)? To boost the curly mohawk even more, consider adding a secondary hair color. Opposing shades like this dark brown with platinum blonde will make for a head-turning look. The short mullet cut also helps shines further light on the two-tone hair.
34. Messy Spike
Over the past few years, a messy hairstyle converted from a sloppy look to a highly sought-after one. Go for a styled faux-messy hairstyle by starting from a taper fade with a long hair base. Then, simply rake your fingers through your hair and tousle it without a care and that is it!
35. Complex Undercut with Shaved Design
Taper fades and undercuts, in general, can be the canvas for your creative nature and your barber’s skills. Make that haircut stand out even more by adding in some shaved designs. Take the ones below as inspiration and add your own to twist them to make them truly yours!
36. Classic High Top
We’re going through a true 90s-style revival, so a flat top cut just couldn’t miss this list! Still, don’t hesitate to add a modern twist to yours by also asking for a clean taper fade and a surgical line to separate the two.
37. Kinky Curls
While we have already pointed out several examples, a lineup is such a significant hairstyle detail that it deserves an entry of its own. It can make the whole difference, especially when paired with a taper haircut and when you have coarser hair.
38. Decal Back
If you like the idea of having a funky design hairstyle but don’t want to get too flashy with it, consider a subtle geometrical undercut design. As you can see in this photo, the shaved design focuses on the nape area and helps accentuate it thanks to the zig-zag shapes.
39. College Top & Very High Cut
This hairstyle combines a messy Ivy League haircut with a high taper fade for a look that just screams rebel intellectual. The classically polished look is modernized by both the messy top styling and the edgy skin fade sides.
40. Ginger Faded
Redheads can really bring out that unconventional color of theirs through this very cool messy top taper fade and facial hair look. The gradually shaved sides help accentuate and bring to attention the various shades of copper and blonde and red in this man’s hair.
41. High Man Bun with Low Taper
As opposed to the first man bun hairstyle on this list, the one below is made significantly higher on the head. Like the majority of low approaches to this haircut, it’s a subtle alternative and perfect if you don’t want the undercut to stick out too much.
42. Sponge Twists
African American men can really bring out sponge twist hairstyles if they couple it with a taper fade. So you know, the style gets its name from the fact that the tight coils are achieved using a special sponge. Twist them accordingly and add some designs to those shaved sides and you’ll look classy and fly at the same time!
43. Cornrows and Precision Cut
Take those braids for men higher up the coolness scale by braiding the hair on the crown of the head into cornrows. Go for a high taper head for the rest of the hair and consider ending it in a line-up to subtly outline each of these hairstyle elements.
44. Thick Curls with Creative Design
We’re back to sparking those creative juices with this taper fade hairstyle. Even though it isn’t as complicated as some of the others we’ve presented so far, it’s still impressive – especially as it is on the subtler side too!
45. Literal “Side Part” Cut
What makes this haircut truly original is the punk approach of the whole look. Naturally, it can be worn by men with any personality, but this one definitely has an edge to it. Go for a high taper and a larger lineup.
46. Low Uniform with Faded Beard
Another great thing about taper fades is that they pair exceptionally well with beards of all kinds – as it’s been easy to see throughout this article. Aside from perfectly complementing any beard or mustache, the taper fade can actually blend them from one portion to the next.
47. Two Braids with Shaved Side
If you’re not up for a full head of braids or dreadlocks, then opt for a two-braid style such as this one. Not only will they be easier to take out if you get bored with them, but they also serve as an eye-catching top that you can style in more ways than you might expect.
48. 360 Degrees Waves
Deep waves – or 360 degrees waves – can be a smooth addition to any taper fade hairstyle. They work particularly well with high tapers as they can seamlessly connect the wavy part on top of the head to the shaved one.
49. Long Braids with Undercut
Regardless of how long your hair is, it will still look banging if combined with a taper fade. For instance, having long braids can actually be an advantage for highlighting the shaved part of the hairstyle. Make sure you keep your beard well-groomed if you have one, though, so the look won’t turn messy.
50. Dutch Braid
If you have a tattoo on your scalp, don’t hesitate to show it to the world with a taper fade. This way, you can rock long hair while also displaying your head tattoo.
51. Subtle Hairstyle
Some guys don’t want the taper fade part of their haircut to stand out that much. If this is the case for you, we encourage you to get a subtle haircut for smooth and discrete results.
52. Blonde Faux Hawk
We’ve talked about mohawks, but what about men who aren’t up for a traditional one? Well, this is where the faux hawk comes in – this hairstyle aims to reproduce the mohawk without all the heavy shaving. Style your hair towards the middle and upwards for the best outcome.
53. Short Messy Dreads
Finally, we want to wrap our selection up with a shorter version of the taper fades dreadlocks hairstyle. Even if you have shorter dreads, you can have pleasantly shape the lower part. The hairstyle also looks great if you sport a beard.
54. Clean Buzz with Slit Cut
There is nothing better than a clean buzz cut, besides maybe a clean buzz. Here he has taken his style to next level even more by adding a slit design right behind the ears.
55. Purple-Gray Top
One of the best ways to show off your new fade is to add bright colors. Here he kept his fade high and stylish that gradually is fading to a thicker and lighter section on the top. Brush it down neatly or spike it up and you are going to love your new look.
56. Messy Permed Haircut
Messy perms are back and better than ever. Here he has kept the bottom section fresh with a nice bald fade and grew the hair on top long. Keep it messy with a bit of hair paste and you are all set.
57. Edgy Taper Brown Hair
If you are looking for an edgy short hairstyle with a fade you cannot go wrong with this fancy cut. In the photo above he has kept the sides super short with a thick and even top section. Be sure to tell your barber to keep your fringe straight and thick across.
58. Wavy Front Fade Haircut
This haircut would be perfect for men who have naturally wavy hair. Here he has added a clean fade in the back and the sides and it gradually gets longer on top. Keep the front section long to form wavy bangs to get the most out of this look.
59. Fringe Hair with Front Perms
Men with curly hair already know how hard it can be to find the right hairstyle. In the photo above he has styled his curly hair perfectly with a nice fade and a thick curly section with a few layers added in. Keep the fringe in the front full and brush it down and you are going to love the way you look.
60. Permed Natural Black Hair
Next up is a dark black hairstyle that would make you look and feel ten years younger. Here he has a taper fade with a cut-in design along the back and left the top section curly and full of life. Add plenty of gel to get the most out of this style.
61. Clean Lowered Fade Cut
Layered fringes are always in style, but they are very popular in 2022 when you pair them with a nice taper fade. Here has kept the layers are textured and stylish with thick bangs in the front.
62. Natural Black Waves
Keeping natural waves in your hair takes a lot of work, but when they look as good as they do here you will never want to change them up. His barber has also added fresh lines around the edge and it looks so cool.
63. Thick Braids Hairstyle
Next up is showing you a perfect example of how to wear your hair with a nice taper fade with long hair. Here they have edged him up with a fresh line and have also trimmed up the beard perfectly.
64. Wavy Fringe Front
This next look is perfect for men who have wavy hair and like to keep it long but still trimmed up fresh. In the photo above he went with a taper fade along the sides and in the back but the top section is a few inches long and super wavy.
65. Natural Perm
If you are lucky enough to have a natural perm you should give this next hairstyle a try. Here he kept the sides fade small and it perfectly fades into a long section on the top. Leave it long enough for your curls to come to life.
66. Long Fringe Perm
Up next is a handsome hairstyle that looks good with his light brown hair but would work with whatever your natural hair color is, as long as you have a bit of a curl to it. To get this style keep the sides and back trimmed to the natural hairline and leave the bangs long and brushed forward.
67. Layered Faded Cut
Trimming your hair is a must-do for any type of hairstyle, but when you try out this next one it will be easy and you will stay looking fresh. Here he went with an almost bald and left the hair on top thick and full.
68. Smudged Front Taper Style
Another way to style your new hair is with a smudged front taper fade plus a lower skin fade. These two looks combined always make you feel and look amazing.
69. Spiky Full Kinky Curls
Next up is a stylish spiky way to wear your new perm. Here he has kept his fade short and added in a few cut-in designs along the back.
70. Slicked Mullet Style
Mullets are back in style and men have found ways to modernize them since their hay day in the 90s. Here he went with a slicked-back style with a fade along the sides and it looks so cool.
71. Clean Skin Haircut
Short taper fades are another perfect way to keep your hair looking short and stylish. Here he is wearing a style that would be perfect for men who are looking for a new military-style haircut.
72. Trimmed Haircut with Fade
Taper and trimmed styles look great on all types of hair but it shines when you have thick and straight hair. Here he went with a nice fade along the ears and grew out the hair in the front and cut in straight across.
73. High-Faded Pomp
This haircut always look good when you are going with a retro pomp hairstyle. Here he went with high fade and kept the pomp reasonable and brushed back neatly and it looks super cool.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
If you want a modest look, then go for a taper haircut. If you want to make a statement and become bold, go for a fade.
Grade one cut on the back, fading up to grade two and three.
This haircut has a minimum cost of $35.
Conclusion
To sum up, the taper fade haircut is one of the classiest yet boldest hairstyles for men you could sport. In addition to being extremely easy to maintain, the taper fade also comes with many styling options.
Whether you opt for a low or high taper fade, you can rest assured that the outcome will look like a million bucks. So, which will you pick?
To maintain a taper fade at home, we recommend using a quality hair clipper designed for home use – such as the Remmington Self-Haircut Kit or the Conair Man i-Stubble. Still, it would be best to leave it to the hands of a professional.
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