Fades are a classic hairstyle for men that’s known for their masculine and edgy look. But between all the different types of fade haircuts, it can be confusing to know what to request from your barber. Here is a quick guide on the popular men’s side haircut to help you identify the exact style that you want.
What Is A Fade Haircut?
Before we dive into the list, let’s first talk about what a fade actually is. To put it simply, a fade refers to the transition of lengths at the sides and back of your hair. It begins at the lowest point before ‘fading’ up into the top. How each style of fade differs from each other is determined by how high the shortest part of the hair goes.
Types Of Men’s Side/Fade Haircuts To Try
Low Fade Haircut
If you’re a complete newbie to fade haircuts, the low fade is a good place to start. It’s one of the most subtle fades that begins at the bottom inch of the hair and blends just above the ears. Meanwhile, the sides and back are usually tapered in a slight curve that goes down below the neckline. Low fade cuts will best suit those with oval, square, and round face shapes.
Best hairstyles for men with low fade: Crew cut, buzz cut, French Crop, K-pop two-block, and pompadour.
Clipper guard recommendations: 1, 2, 3, and 4.
Mid Fade Haircut
As its name suggests, this type of fade haircut sits in between a low and high fade. The transition begins around the area above the ears but below the temples, and it’s, at least, two fingers’ width higher than a low fade. Overall, the style allows for a clean and sleek appearance, but with an extra hint of edge. This men’s side haircut will be especially flattering on heart, triangle, and oval face shapes.
Best hairstyles for men with mid fade: Quiff, slicked-back, side-parting.
Clipper guard recommendations: 1, 2, and 3.
High Fade Haircut
Finally, onto high fade haircuts. This type of fade haircut blends at the highest point of the head. Unlike most fades which gradually transition from short to long, this style has a slightly sharper contrast between the bottom and top portions of your hair. For that reason, it’ll require quite a fair bit of maintenance as your hair grows out. Square, oblong, oval, and pear face shapes will look the best with this look.
Best hairstyles for men with high fade: Undercut, faux hawk, quiff, and curly high top.
Clipper guard recommendations: 0, 1, and 2.
Taper Fade Haircut
The difference between a taper with a regular fade is that it’s focused on only two areas: nape and sideburns. It’s cut from long to short around the middle section of your head while it maintains the length on the top portion. The growing out process for this men’s side haircut won’t be as extreme as the other fades and offers a more natural look. These styles will look good on square, oval, and round face shapes.
Best hairstyles for men with taper fade: Comb over, Caesar, crew cut, buzz cut, and French crop, two-block.
Clipper guard recommendations: 1 and 2.
Burst Fade Haircut
The burst fade can be identified by its curved, semi-circle design. This men’s side haircut is clipped short and tapered around the ears down to the back of the head. Keep the length longer at the top to achieve a stronger contrast and balance out the proportions of your face. If you want to elongate your facial structure, focus the blending point on the lower back section of your head. It’s more suited for wider face shapes, specifically those with square, triangle, and heart-shaped faces.
Best hairstyles for men with burst fade: Mullet, mohawk or faux hawk, and Caesar.
Clipper guard recommendations: 3, 4, 2, and 1.
Undercut Fade Haircut
With this men’s side haircut, you’ll be combining both the undercut and fade into one hairstyle. It involves shaving the sides and back of your head to an almost bare look, starting from the ears to the temples. The style will usually transition from a guard 0 to a guard 3 the higher the cut goes. Oval, square, and round face shapes can pull off this disconnected haircut the most,
Best hairstyles for men with undercut fade: Pompadour, slicked-back, crew cut, and French crop.
Clipper guard recommendations: 0 and 3.
Give Yourself A Cleaner Look With These Men’s Side Haircuts
We hope this list has given you a better understanding of all the different types of fade haircuts. Besides having a good styling routine, it’s always crucial to maintain your locks with the right hair care products. It can even be as basic as replacing your old shampoo and conditioner. But if you want to prevent premature hair loss, adopting these nine habits into your lifestyle will certainly go a long way.
