A low taper fade haircut is a type of fade where the hair gets gradually shorter starting from a lower level, just above the ears. If you’re not a fan of fading too close to the skin on the sides and exposing your scalp, this one’s the most ideal to try.
It’s groomed enough but still has a gritty, rugged finish – which is what most contemporary men want because of the length you’re allowed to have for styling. Just look at the latest snaps of Justin Bieber, Zac Efron, Nick Jonas, and Cameron Dallas and their low taper fades!
Low fade means less contrast – meaning you’ll need more length on top to balance the look. Cuts like the pompadour, comb-over, side part and undercut fit this description excellently, working nicely with all hair types and styles. Tapered sides and back is a superb low-maintenance cut that’s perfect for business professionals and outgoing gents.
Seal the deal with a crisp and versatile haircut! Here are the coolest low taper fade haircuts you’ll find!
Bald Fade
A simple clean trim like a skin fade could make or break a haircut. Fortunately, a good choice was made for this one as the skin shave showed a bit of contrast to the neat crew cut.
The Crew Cut
The crew cut is a popular haircut for men that looks even better with a seamless fade. Men looking to try a faded style should opt for the crew cut as it is universally flattering and grows out nicely between trims.
The Pompadour
The taper fade just comes to life with a little bit of front hair teasing. The pompadour increases the volume that partners very well with the greatly maintained beard.
Wavy Fringe
The texture combined with the fade and the delicate wavy curls are flawlessly on a face like this.
Tapered Afro
Make those 4Cs stand out with a clean fade around the head. Scrunch it up just to give it body and hold it up using your favorite pomade.
Side Part Fade
Bring out your best self with a side part that shows off your tapered fade. Puff out those parted locks for the ultimate volumized hair.
Undercut with Beard
A mid fade with rounded layers is what you need to partner this undercut with. The staggering facial hair that will make you stand out will definitely highlight your magnificent hairstyle too.
Comb Over
The hard part did its job of disconnecting the tapered fade and the comb-over. With this differentiated look, a more youthful vibe is appealed.
360 Waves
The best clean-up look for a man with color is achieving the perfect waves with a neat shave and edge. This is a low-maintenance look that requirs just a little bit of product.
Skin Fade
This Brooklyn Fade starts at a much closer point to the ear area. Nonetheless, a smooth transition from temple to the top gives a nice venue for the perked up locks on top to stand out.
Slick Back Long Hair
Long, blonde locks, just like a prince! Make it one of a kind with some cleaned up undercut and beautiful dark roots.
Q&A with style creator, Raul Mendoza
Owner/Barber @ HeadRush Hair Studios in Tucson, AZ
How would you describe this look?
This cut is a modern-day disconnect using barbering techniques with fading and tapering. My favorite thing about this is the severe disconnect from the short to long.
Any advice for someone considering it?
Maintenance is about every two weeks to keep up on the fade and taper on the sides. I recommend not washing the hair every day but maybe every other day to maintain the color and health of the hair. Use a leave-in conditioner to revamp the style and a protein spray to keep the color from fading.
The Mohawk
Shaving approximately 2 inches above the ear and continuing around produces the right look for an undercut and a mohawk. This way, you’ll have a bigger space to play around with styling your hair, like this man opting for feathered layers for texture.
Q&A with style creator, Vanessa Michele Moreno
Hairstylist @ DAPPER&DASHIN’ Salon & Shop in Temple, TX
How would you describe this look?
This look has a modern twist on a traditional mohawk haircut. My favorite thing about this hair cut is the transition from long to short tapper on the sides.
Any advice for someone considering it?
This hair cut is for someone who has naturally curly or wavy textured hair. It’s great for a guy who likes to be outdoors.
Styling is easy – all I used is Redken brews clay pomade, put it in the hair while it’s damp, and let it naturally air dry. This style is great for any guy who marches to the beat of their own drum, a free spirit.
Curly Hair
When you want a quick clean-up of your curls, why not choose a clean and natural-looking cut like a low taper fade? This brings out your curls more plus you have less hair to worry about!
Q&A with style creator, Jacob Lopez
Master Barber @ Crisp Barber Lounge in Albuquerque, NM
How would you describe this look?
This is a sporty look with a clean drop fade. The top is shaped with forwarding movement. My favorite thing about this look is the shape, as the drop fade correlates with the shape of the top.
Any advice for someone considering it?
Little to no product is needed for this style if this is your natural texture. This style requires dense curly hair. It’s well suited for sports or daily life in general. It can be worn naturally or with curl lotion or a light matte pomade to accentuate the curls up top to give texture, luminance, and shape.
The Drop Fade
Q&A with style creator, Angel Cruz
Licensed Barber @ All-In Barbershop in Greenacres, FL
How would you describe this look?
The low taper fade is a very versatile haircut and is suited to most, as you can adapt the height and shape of the fade to suit any client. On this particular one, I combined a low skin taper fade with a pompadour style. My favorite thing about it is the perfect combination of a classic style and a fade that’s up to date.
Any advice for someone considering it?
By combining a low skin taper fade with a pompadour, it offers short sides with a long top hairstyle, helping clients with round face shapes due to the length of the hair on top. It gives the client a modern but classic look at the same time.
It is really important to choose the proper products for the specific hair type. Since it’s a versatile haircut, you can style it different ways depending on the hair type and the products you are using. I think if you combine the low taper fade with a pompadour style, it will give you a professional and classic look according to your personality.
