Every type of fade, and how to tell them apart
A fade is just hair that gets shorter as it moves down the head. Everything else is a question of where the shortest point sits and how quickly the hair gets there. Once you can see that, the names stop being confusing.
The names below are the ones barbers actually use. Each links to a page where the cut is rendered on a real face, because a photo of someone else with different hair tells you very little about how it will sit on you.
Fades named for where the taper starts
Low, mid and high describe one thing only: how far up the head the shortest hair reaches. Nothing else about the cut has to change.
- Low taper fade: the blend starts just above the ear and neckline. The subtlest of the three, and the easiest to grow out.
- Mid taper fade: the blend starts around the temple. The middle option, and the most common request.
- High taper fade: the blend starts near the top corner of the head, leaving a sharp contrast with the length on top.
Fades named for their shape
These describe the line the fade follows rather than its height, which is why they can be combined with a low, mid or high starting point.
- Burst fade: the blend curves around the ear in a semicircle instead of running straight across.
- Drop fade: the line drops down behind the ear rather than staying level, following the curve of the skull.
- Temple fade: only the corners at the temples are taken down, leaving the rest of the sides longer.
What to actually say in the chair
Barbers work from guard numbers and a starting height, not from style names, and the same name can mean different things in different shops. Name the height, name the finish, and bring a picture.
The picture is where most of the disagreement comes from. A photo of a model has their hair density, their hairline and their head shape. Showing the cut on your own face removes that gap entirely, which is the whole reason the style pages exist.
See these on your own face
Questions
What is the difference between a taper and a fade?
A taper only shortens the hair around the ears and neckline. A fade blends the whole side of the head, and can go all the way to skin. Every taper is a kind of fade, but not every fade is a taper.
Which fade grows out best?
A low taper, because there is less contrast to soften as it grows. A high skin fade shows its grow-out within about a week, which is why it needs the most frequent visits.