In this article, we will explore everything related to fade haircuts for men and highlight some of the best fade hairstyles you can try. Let’s delve into this classic and enduring haircut.
Over the years, men’s hairstyling has undergone significant transformations. There have been trends favoring longer hair, periods when spikes dominated, and certain styles that consistently maintained popularity, while others have surfaced only to fade away.
Taking a closer look at the trends throughout the decades, one hairstyle has remained a staple since the 1940s across countless professional fields—from military men to musicians and athletes. This enduring favorite is the fade haircut.
Why Choose a Fade Haircut?
There are numerous reasons to opt for this hairstyle. First, a fade haircut provides an appealing mix of style, practicality, and adaptability. It’s an ideal option for anyone aiming to refresh their appearance while exuding a contemporary and confident vibe.
Whether you’re venturing into haircuts for the first time or seeking a change, a fade can deliver a fresh and fashionable look. Here’s what a well-executed fade can promise.
This style suits various textures and forms.
Fade haircuts enhance different textures and can be tailored to complement your natural hair. It won’t change your personal hair style, making it a flexible choice that showcases your hair’s unique texture.
For individuals with tightly curled hair, concerns about styling or maintaining their curls can be common. Fortunately, a fade can simplify your routine. By keeping your curls moisturized, the fade naturally organizes your hair.
A fade can highlight your facial characteristics.
A well-chosen fade haircut will draw attention to your strongest facial attributes. Depending on your styling choices, it can elongate or shorten the appearance of your face, as well as sharpen or soften its features. It’s all about the finer details.
Choose the right fade, and maintenance won’t be a concern.
Many hairstyles utilize the fade to minimize styling efforts. If you lead a busy lifestyle, a fade can save you lengthy hairstyling sessions.
With shorter sides, maintenance is minimal, making it a practical option for those on the go. Even if you’re opting for upkeep on the shorter sections, regular trims will suffice to keep your hair neat.
Fade hairstyles are both classic and contemporary.
If you’re someone who appreciates a versatile haircut that embodies elegance while being sleek and modern, we wholeheartedly recommend this style.
While hairstyles ebb and flow with trends, fades have withstood the test of time. They remain a classic choice that can effortlessly adapt to modern styling options, delivering a fresh look grounded in tradition.
Endless customization options abound.
Few hairstyles lend themselves to diverse adaptations like the fade. Not only is it easy to customize, but it can also enhance accompanying styles. Have you seen a fade paired with a quiff? Or with a pompadour? Fades create opportunities for your hairstyle to be noticed without overwhelming attention.
Selecting the Right Fade Hairstyle
Many factors can come into play when choosing the ideal fade hairstyle for yourself, making the decision process a bit complex.
Here’s a little insider tip: when it boils down to it, there are just two main considerations. Address these two points, and you’ll be set. Let’s highlight the crucial factors to keep in mind when selecting your fade haircut.
The shape of your face
This is likely the paramount aspect to consider when opting for a fade. While it’s important for any hairstyle, the fade is uniquely impactful, dramatically altering your appearance based on the chosen style.
First and foremost—recognize the shape of your face and decide which features you wish to accentuate. For example, if aiming for a sharper look around the jawline, seek more volume at the crown and angle it to enhance facial angles.
Your profession
This factor is also crucial when selecting the right hairstyle, encompassing two aspects that often go unnoticed.
First, consider your profession. Is it formal and demanding a particular appearance where experimentation is limited? In that case, you’ll have specific styling options but less room for creativity.
The second aspect concerns your available time for hairstyling after fulfilling your professional commitments. Some styles demand more intricate upkeep than others, so be selective about what you choose.
Hairstyles like a pompadour or those with a textured top demand more time compared to a shorter quiff, so keep these factors in mind when choosing your style.
Types of Fade Hairstyles For Men
The variety of fade styles available to you can be both exciting and overwhelming. Thus, we aim to simplify the selection process.
Here’s a list of the 10 top fade hairstyles suitable for different face shapes, professional demands, maintenance levels, and personal preferences.
1. Classic Low Fade Hairstyle
This is an ideal look for those seeking ultimate formality with minimal upkeep. Blending elements of retro styles with modern aesthetics, it offers numerous styling options on top.
Structure: The low fade starts just above the ears for a subtle, refined appearance, merging seamlessly into the neckline hair for a smooth transition.
Face Shape: This classic low fade flatters a variety of face shapes, including round, oval, and square, as its subtlety softens sharper features while providing structure.
Pro Tip: Use minimal product. The low fade looks best when it appears natural, so lean into its organic style with one product that offers a good hold.
2. Mid Fade Quiff Hairstyle
One of the most adaptable and convenient styles, this combination allows you to adjust texture as needed for various occasions. Additionally, it’s simpler to maintain than other fade styles.
Structure: The mid fade features hair that gradually shortens on the sides and back, starting from around the temple and tapering down to a close-cut length. The quiff on top is styled upward and slightly back to add volume and lift.
Face Shape: The mid fade quiff is versatile and suits many face shapes, especially oval and heart-shaped faces, particularly those with broader cheekbones. To elongate your face, consult your barber regarding the quiff length.
Pro Tip: Discuss styling tips with your barber, as the way your quiff holds throughout the day is influenced by your hair’s natural texture and the products used.
3. High Skin Fade with a Textured Top
This edgier hairstyle pairs a crisp, clean fade with a carefree, textured top. A chic messy appearance requires some effort to keep the high skin fade tidy while maintaining the right level of texture above.
Structure: The high skin fade tapers from the sides and back, beginning at or above the temples, leading to a closely shaved finish. This fade creates a striking contrast with the longer hair on top, making it a bold choice.
Face Shape: Best for those aiming to sharpen their features, this style enhances angularity due to the striking contrast between the high skin fade and textured top, making it suitable for square and angular faces alike.
Pro Tip: Ensure your textured top is well-conditioned. If your hair is slightly curly, consider using curl cream in addition to conditioner, but those with straight hair may only need conditioner.
4. Taper Fade with Waves
This style offers a twist on the high skin fade, featuring textured waves, resulting in a milder contrast than the previous option. It’s a versatile and refined choice for individuals with curly or wavy hair, adaptable across various styles.
Structure: The taper fade progressively shortens hair along the sides and back. This cut requires more dedication, as the taper retains some length and shape, allowing for a softer transition. You can opt for a low, mid, or high taper fade, depending on the look you’re after.
Face Shape: This cut is flattering for round or oval faces, adding height and angularity. However, it remains versatile enough to match almost any personal or professional aesthetic.
Pro Tip: Humidity can cause waves to become frizzy, so understand the climate in which you will be styling your hair.
5. Temple Fade with a Curly Top
The temple fade is straightforward—simply request that your barber initiate the fade from around the temples. The fade should seamlessly blend into the curls on top and the exposed skin below. For a bold contrast, ask your barber to create a clean fade.
Structure: The temple fade forms a crisp line at the temples and around the ears, resulting in a polished appearance. It tapers smoothly from longer hair on top to something closer to the scalp at the temple area, yielding a subtle fade without going as short as a skin fade.
Face Shape: This style complements both round and square faces, depending on your curl styling—wavier curls can add angles, while rounder curls may provide volume. For those with natural curls, this hairstyle is highly recommended, accentuating your hair’s texture while easing maintenance.
Pro Tip: Invest in quality curl cream, ensuring to apply it primarily to the curls on top, avoiding the temple fade to prevent a sticky appearance.
6. Low Fade with a Comb Over
This cut is perfect for those desiring a refined fade along with a sophisticated style—ideal for formal professional settings while being low-maintenance. Admittedly, maintaining all hairstyles requires some time, but low fades are easy to manage. The comb over might need practice, but it’s manageable once you get used to it.
Structure: The comb over is a classic look involving side-swept hair, generating a sleek and tidy effect. Its enduring popularity stems from the polish it brings to any appearance, while the low fade provides a subtle contrast for an increasingly professional appeal.
Face Shape: This hairstyle flatters almost every face shape since you can adapt the comb over in numerous ways. Ensure the top length is ample for easy styling, but not so long that it becomes challenging to manage.
Pro Tip: Pay attention to your comb’s teeth. A wide-toothed comb can lead to a messy appearance, while a narrow one may cause the style to seem overly arranged.
7. High Fade with a Pompadour
This cut suits those who prefer more adventurous and striking hairstyles. A pompadour is inherently dramatic, requiring commitment to pull off its spirited essence. When paired with a high fade, it achieves an edgy and stylish appearance.
Structure: The high fade involves a sharp transition, where hair quickly tapers from longer on top to very short or shaved on the sides. The pompadour, known for being styled upwards and back, introduces volume at the front while keeping the sides neatly arranged.
Face Shape: High fades enhance facial features considerably, and the pompadour extends the face’s visual length, making this hairstyle optimal for square or heart-shaped faces.
Pro Tip: Ensure your styling product has an appropriate gloss level. Pompadours naturally stand out, and excessive shine can draw too much attention.
8. Mid Fade with a Messy French Crop
A trendy hairstyle requiring significant upkeep, the messy French crop stands out in the world of casual looks while blending seamlessly with the mid fade.
Structure: Characterized by short hair with a fringe, the French crop features evenly cut hair on top, often styled with a straight-across fringe. This mid fade creates a crisp divide between the longer top and shorter sides, offering a clean appearance.
Face Shape: The adaptability of messy hairstyles allows you to adjust according to your face shape. Experiment until you find a style that highlights your best features.
Pro Tip: Use caution when applying product; the goal is for it to appear appropriately messy, so avoid heavy styling aids that detract from that look.
9. Mid Fade with a Bro Flow
This chic and effortless hairstyle remains perpetually in style, leaning towards casual while allowing for a hint of sophistication with the mid fade.
Structure: The bro flow is characterized by long, flowing hair that typically falls shoulder-length or slightly shorter and is usually parted naturally. This style thrives when hair is allowed to grow freely, creating a relaxed yet distinguished vibe.
Face Shape: This style is best for angular faces as it can soften facial features, particularly if your hair texture is wavy. A wavy texture adds an old-world charm to your overall appearance.
Pro Tip: With longer hair, proper conditioning is essential for a smooth appearance.
10. Low Fade with a Crew Cut
Concluding our list, this blend of convenience and versatility remains a go-to choice for a polished yet easy-to-style look, suitable for both formal and casual outfits.
Structure: A crew cut involves a uniformly short hairstyle, typically tapering down from the top toward the sides. Traditionally, the hair is cut quite short, yielding a clean, military-inspired appearance while contemporary versions can feature some texture or volume on top.
Face Shape: This style suits rounded or square faces well and can be tailored to complement your features through texture variations.
Pro Tip: Ensure that your scalp is well-conditioned alongside your hair, as a flaky scalp can detract from this clean-cut look more than usual since the hair is shorter.
Your Turn
We hope you enjoyed this deep dive into men’s fade haircuts. Fade styles are trendy and low-maintenance. Let us know which fade hairstyles resonate most with you.
