A fade haircut is a cutting technique that tapers the hair so it eventually “fades” into the skin. Generally, this involves keeping the hair longer on top and gradually shaving it closer down the sides and back. The fade haircut is a staple when it comes to barbering services and is one of the first things taught at barber school. The phrase “how to fade hair” was one of the most popular searches of 2020 on Google. There are different types of fade haircuts, including:
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Taper Fade: This is a gradual fade that starts with longer hair at the top and gradually gets shorter towards the bottom. The hair is tapered to blend with the skin.
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Low Fade: This fade starts an inch or more above the ear and quickly graduates to a fuller, scissor-chopped height. It is best suited for medium or long styles since it blends more naturally with the fade instead of sharper disconnects.
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Mid Fade: This fade starts fading just above the ear and is a versatile option.
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High Fade: This fade starts just below the crown of the head and has the most significant amount of hair closely trimmed. It is similar to the military haircut style.
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Skin Fade: This fade tapers all the way down to the skin and is usually finished with a razor blade by the barber. It is a popular choice for a higher contrast and more defined haircut.
When communicating with a barber on what kind of haircut you’d like, it’s important to know the meaning of the terms that can be part of that conversation. Two common barbering terms that often get confused by the layman are “taper” and “fade.” All fades are tapers, but not all tapers are fades.
