A fade haircut is fresh, fashionable, and incredibly masculine all rolled into one. The versatility of this haircut is second to none. So kick back and get ready to see a variety of takes on a faded haircut right here.
From textured to tapered, high, low, artsy to classic, we featured the most popular fade haircuts that can work for almost any man, including black men.
Before your next haircut appointment, check out these photos of the best ideas for men’s fade haircuts.
The Beard Fade
One of the best types of fades for men is a beard fade that helps define the jawline. It makes a smooth transition, too!
Scissor Fade
Try a scissor fade if your hair seems to grow back heavily with a clipper cut. The beauty of a scissor fade is that it is unique to your hair and head shape. It is altered based on your measurements and preference. It is pricier than the clipper cut, but the grow-out is softer and maintains the shape of the haircut for a long time.
Boosie Fade
The Boosie fade is one of the most popular black men’s hairstyles. Such short haircuts are the easiest to style and maintain.
Temp Fade Haircut
Temp fade haircuts for men are great for guys who want shorts sides and a sharp style. Though this short haircut works on any hair type, it would look best on gents with natural curls or waves.
Clean Slick Pompadour Fade
You would have never believed a haircut can be soothing like this pompadour fade. Long, clear, uninterrupted lines, frontside and fading to the back.
This cut is slick, it’s soothing, and will go best with monochromatic outfits. This is definitely one of the more popular fade haircuts for white men.
A Fresh Comb Over Fade with a Hard Part
A fresh comb-over hairstyle with a hard part is sure to look suave with faded sides! Men with straight to wavy hair will love wearing it.
Clean and Slick Fade
The ultimate gentleman’s cut is here—it’s a clean and slick fade haircut, created by James Beaumont, a top-notch barber from Exmouth, UK.
“This style is a contour hairstyle that has a low skin fade, parting on the left and at the front top. The hair pulls towards the back creating a sculptured shape, almost silhouetting a pompadour shape from one side angle,” Beaumont describes.
Beaumont’s advice for men wanting to adopt this look is to have a consultation with a stylist or barber. The ideal head shape would be as flat and smooth as possible, avoiding indents or ridges which can cause shadows within the fading. “Medium to fine hair texture is best, avoiding a thick density so the hair can be manipulated to grow backward. If the hair is thick then we would require a longer length of that style,” Beaumont explains.
Cool fade haircuts like this need to be blow-dried when styling. Thus, these are only ideal for gentlemen who are willing to put a little time into preparing their style daily.
Kids’ Fade Haircut
This kids’ haircut is a clean, short fade pomp. It’s pretty versatile for any hair type as long as you have the personality to carry it off.
If the boy has curly hair, use a high shine pomade for a clean, detailed style. If he has straight hair, go more for a dry paste for a matte, messy style.
Drop Fade on French Crop
This look is a masculine French crop with a drop fade. What’s great about this cut would be how the layers sit just about the fringe, creating a lot of texture and movement.
This cut also complements a short fringe towards the hairline that was textured using the point-cutting technique.
If you are considering having this type of cut and have thick hair with a strong jawline, then consider having a longer fringe. If you have finer to thin hair consider more of a blunt short fringe.
Taper Fade Haircut
This is called a taper fade haircut. Its dark edges give you a really smooth and soft look that stands out, but also brings out the rest of the cut.
My best tip for getting this hairstyle is to ask yourself if you’re ok with a faded look. Most dudes who haven’t had it tried it out and loved it. It can really stand out and make a difference in your men’s hairstyle.
Normally this look starts with a zero but it can also be started with a one or a two.
Mid Fade Haircut with Design
This is a mid-skin fade with a beautiful sharp pattern consisting of four consecutive arcs containing subtle fading within them. The top of the fade is heavily textured to resemble a popular European hairstyle known as a crop, making it a really unique haircut!
Barber Enrique Tapia of California made this mid-fade haircut. According to Tapia, it requires little to no maintenance as with most haircuts with lots of texture. “Before applying any product, I make sure to blowdry the hair thoroughly while running my hands through the client’s hair instead of using a brush. After the hair is dry, I set the blow dryer on cool to help seal the cuticle and safely lock the hair in place,” he explains.
Before sitting at the barber shop and going under the blade for a similar design, it’s important to consider the following. A hair design grows back fairly quickly. With just a clipper/trimmer, you’re looking at three to four days before you start to see hair build-up.
With a razor blade finish, the design should be able to last you a good week or so. These are one of the cons of getting a hair design. Tapia recommends visiting an experienced barber who is familiar with symmetric designs and is great with a straight razor.
Slick Back Haircut with Fade
This is a signature classic slick back haircut with a fade, designed by Liam Kenny, a barber from England.
The product Kenny personally uses when styling men’s hair is the Ruezel pomades. They give good texture and finish with a matte look that still has just the right amount of shine.
Mid-Skin Fade
This is a mid-skin fade clipper cut. Stylist Casey Terramoccia of New Jersey used a number 2 on top, but since everyone’s hair is different, the size on top will vary based on the barber’s discretion and your hair type. “I like this look because it’s a very simple, classic, and clean-cut look. The beard also stands out because the top length is so short,” Terramoccia notes.
No need for products here. At the very most, Terramoccia says a beard oil might be used to add a smooth shine and softness to the beard.
This mid bald fade is recommended for a guy who doesn’t want to fuss with their hair. A rounder head shape would work best with this look, too, according to Terramoccia.
Undercut Fade
This is a tight, undercut fade. The top was cut with a straight razor to bring out texture and remove weight.
Barber Nate Juergensen of New York points out, “I really like this faded undercut because of the contrast between the clean and tight sides and the soft top with lots of movement.”
“Fades work on most hair types to show natural head shape. Men interested in getting this faded cut should be prepared to get the sides and back cleaned up monthly,” Juergensen adds.
Low to Mid Fade
This is a classic low/mid skin fade cut by Josh Mathur, a barber in St. Helens.
“The fade isn’t too harsh, meaning this style works great for the “get up and go” guys and the more corporate ones, too,” Mathur emphasizes.
He adds, “I’d recommend this style to guys who aren’t afraid to visit the barber at least once a week and want to achieve that clean and fresh look. To keep a skin fade looking fresh, a regular visit to your barber is key.”
Most men can have this style, though the best results are seen with thicker and darker hair. This look works wonders for a longer face shape, but will also work on the more common oval shape. High fade haircuts on men with a longer face shape are a big no-no.
Asian Fade Haircut
This is an Asian high fade, natural medium-length comb over hairstyle. Stylist Ganie Alvaro from Dubai, recommends using a sea salt spray product to create the texturized volume for loose and natural tousled waves, plus a texturizing clay and a bit of hairspray to finish.
“Guys with a thick or medium thick hair type on a round or slightly round face shape can wear high fade haircuts. Any kind of lifestyle can pull off this cut and style,” Alvaro explains.
Low Skin Fade Haircut
This is a low skin fade haircut. According to stylist Cairan Mclaughlin of Australia, the best thing about this low bald fade is that it’s a nice clean look for a guy who doesn’t want too much maintenance.
A dry look product, which is nothing too heavy, is recommended to style this hair.
Mclaughlin also suggests this type of style to guys who want a look that’s easy to maintain, but still stylish at the same time. “This cut always looks good when the man has thick hair because the fade is more pronounced.”
Long Hair with Faded Shaved Sides
A slight nod goes to the innovative styling of the top long hair and pairing it with the faded shaved sides. The rest of it goes to the undeniably smooth transition from thick to shaved along the sides, going down to the neck area for a fresher feel.
Low Triple Zero and Side Part Fade
Here’s a hairstyle that’s an “Ivy League” side part with a low triple zero fade, designed by barber Jasmine Shipley from Australia.
“I recommend this side part fade for men who want to look sharp and fashionable. Medium to thick hair is preferable. Since this is a sharp and square-cut, the look can be worn by most face shapes – giving them a straight and sleek appearance,” Shipley explains.
Long Hair Fade with Disconnected Undercut
Leave the longer hair on top sleek and thick while the sides remain tapered and faded for a contrasted look. What’s great about a long hair fade with a disconnection is how you can wear it up in a man bun style if desired.
Short Fade Haircut with a Line Up
This short fade haircut is shaved with a mid-skin line up. Created by stylist Dale Hince of England, this is based on the man’s hair and skin color naturally.
“I love the impact I have created how short/ textured the top is against the crispy clean box line up along with the mid bald skin fade,” Hince notes.
According to Hince, your barber should always recommend his/her opinion depending on suitability. He adds, “this style is very low-maintenance because it’s so short you don’t have to do much in the mornings. Just add your matte clay or slick Gorilla texturizing powder, rough it through, and spray!”
Mohawk Fade Haircut
This haircut is called a skin low fade without a drop and scissors on top, which means about an inch off-cut into a mohawk on top.
“What I really like about this haircut is the skin fade. I like how the low fade goes from light to dark from bottom to top and it blends perfectly on top leaving a perfect blend,” Mexico-based barber Moises Gutierrez states.
Low fade haircuts such as this are for younger kids, young adults, and teenagers. This cut works best on mostly thick hair, wavy hair, and straight hair. Any face shape can wear this faded cut, too.
Ivy League on Men’s Fade Haircut
An ivy league cut on a men’s fade haircut might give you the smoothest mood you’ve ever had.
Frohawk Fade Haircut
This frohawk hairstyle with a fade gives a tropical fun look! Stylist Jose Crespo of Connecticut says, “I love how the top texture continues down the back of the head with the natural curls!”
Military High and Tight Fade Crew Cut Haircut
A crew cut with faded sides like this has an attitude! That skin shave is tight and the side-swept hair is charming.
Bold Fade with a Combover
This is a bold fade with a combover, cut by hairdresser Abe Alobaidi of Riverview, MI.
“What I like about it is that it’s very clean-cut and keeps you fresh for a long time. With this look, you could go at least three weeks before you need another cut. I recommend this look for guys with dark hair,” Alobaidi notes.
High Bald Fade
This cut is a high bald fade haircut with the fade starting at the parietal ridge and fading to the desired length on top.
Stylist Martika Mitchell of North Carolina says, “for men with curly hair, you can use a curl sponge to maintain the top. For straight hair or any other hair type, you can use a pomade or nothing at all.”
According to Mitchell, “bald fades are very versatile and they can be cut on any hair type. They’re best for the “get up and go” lifestyle and require little to no maintenance.”
Low Fade Haircut
Here’s a low fade style by barber and salon owner Edward from Haltom City, TX.
“I suggest complementing a low fade haircut with a well-groomed beard. This creates a contrast in textures between your fade and your facial hair,” explains Edward.
The barber suggests Suavecito Pomade when recreating the style because it provides moderate hold and a matte finish.
Edward also adds, “the low fade starts extremely low with the skin at the very bottom, then blends up from that point, following the natural curvature of the head. It’s a good option for a more oblong, diamond, or triangular head shape.”
