50 Timeless Taper Fade Haircuts: A Guide for the Modern Gentleman (2024)

That Bloated Quiff with Undercut Taper

This undercut features a taper fade for a cut that’s full of contrast: long and short, dark and light. With the bleached top, this is definitely an edgy look.

Classic Side Part

This style combines a classic and timeless side part with a taper fade for a more updated, contemporary look. Slick and retro, this style recalls the 1950s and the styles of celebrities like James Dean and Elvis Presley.

Neat Drop fade with Curly Top

A mixture of more than one styling element makes this style a very neat one. Starting from the top the volume is kept pretty thick as curly hair looks best with volume and the sides are taper faded with a cheeky drop that helps blend into the beard.

Elegant Brushed Up Top with Sleek Temple Fade

This simple brush-up hairstyle has a high fade on the sides, creating another variation of the undercut. Any higher on the sides and we’d have to start calling this a fauxhawk!

Faux Hawk

This is a standard taper fade on the back and sides. However, the hair on top of the head will be left much longer in length so it can be styled like a fohawk.

Pompadour Taper Fade

Here’s another version of the pompadour that pairs a clean fade with a lower volume pompadour. The result is an even yet balanced look. This cut will also work well for men with thin or fine hair.

Airbrushed Taper Fade

If messy hair is your thing, this look is one you should keep in mind. This style showcases rough, tousled hair, so if your hair is naturally unruly, you can use that to your advantage.

Drop Fade Disconnected

Here’s an eye-catching style that uses long curly hair and a hard part to create a disconnected look. This is a flexible style; you can wear this style messy, as shown, or you can keep the hair on top short and more even.

Classy Brush Up with Mid Fade

This fashionable brush up look has the hair tousled and teased to create high amounts of texture and a vibrant appearance.

Fade Pomp

This style places the spotlight on the pompadour as a result of the skin fade used on the sides and back. This is a more daring style that’s great for adventurous guys.

Clean Subtle Taper Fade

This clean, manly cut is long on top and short on the sides. A little overgrown facial hair and a smile adds plenty of character.

Messy Curls

Sometimes, curly hair looks best when it’s allowed to be a little messy. This is a relaxed and casual style that’s great for men with very curly hair that might otherwise be difficult to work with.

Neat and Clean Mid Fade

Here’s a taper fade which is clean shave around the neck and chin. The fade creates a gradual transition from the striking contrast of black hair against pale skin.

Fade and Relaxed Slick Back

This slicked-back haircut is plenty modern. The sides start with long hair at the top and, after a sharp fade, come right down to a close-shave at the bottom.

Trendy Dropping Taper Fade

Here’s a messy quiff finished on the sides with a taper fade. Together with a clean shave, this is a unique, cohesive style.

Styled Brush Back

What does a classic combed back hair look like? This. The sheer class in here is quite sleek. The combed pompadour on the top makes it elegant along with sides being tapered all the way down till blending it into beard. The sharp line ups are attention to detail with a grassy beard to balance the face.

Side Turned Top with Tapered Side

Let’s call this a modern touch to a very casual taper fade with that tossed look plus the brush up with that straight top texture makes it too good of a deal to miss. The taper fade also is quite unique with that slant hairline and more of a mid fade with a complete temple fade. Thin hair with fade does wonders ha!

Dry Pushed Back Quiff

This quiff is just the right mixture of conservative and adventurous. You could dress this style up or down depending on your needs, which makes it ideal for men who need more versatile cuts.

Rock Sturdy Brush Up with Fine Fade

The brush-up style is a contemporary staple thanks to its versatile nature. This is a popular version of the brush up that features a medium fade and a prominent part.

Textured Top and Tape Up

This look might be for you if you’ve got straight and fine hair. Notice how they’ve used their natural hair texture to play along with a textured top. We love to see bangs done this way because they seamlessly merge with the slightly heavier top.

Tape Up with Neckline Design

Wavy Top with Mild Line Up

This interesting style combines messy bangs, clean sides, and a subtle line up. The result is a trendy, balanced hairstyle that stands out from the crowd.

Classic Taper Haircut

You simply can’t go wrong with this classic taper hairstyle. Great for all hair types and colors, this style is refined and easy to manage.

Disconnected Taper Fade

Taper fades are a dime a dozen and are popular for a reason. But if you are gunning for an individual look, you’d need to step it up a little bit. You don’t need any drastic changes. Just make the taper fade disconnected by shaving a line that goes around the circumference of your hair midway in the fade. Choose your line thickness to add more variation. Add a neatly trimmed classic full beard and a thick chain necklace to complete the look.

High and Tight

The high and tight fade is usually seen in military men. This style requires shaving a larger part of the sides as well as the back of the head. Buzzed hair is left on top.

Hand Brushed Tousled Blonde

Heavily texturized on the top, fade on the side and back. This haircut brings attention by being neatly elegant and a little bit spiky at the same time.

Textured Short Top Crop

This crop top is a short style with lots of texture and personality. The taper fade is extremely short, which highlights the top and front of the head for a bold, striking appearance.

Flowy Swept Back

For a shorter style with a light and flowy look to it, consider this swept back hairstyle. The taper fade on the sides and back makes the swooping hair at the front the star of this look.

Temple Taper Fade

Normally seen in men of all ages, the temple taper fade is a classic hairstyle, also known as taper fade, a temple fade, or temp fade. By changing or adjusting the blade length up or down a few sizes, you can modify the cut; it’s good at many different lengths. It is also a nice low maintenance cut, as it needs only to be cut every few weeks. This is a timeless haircut that has looked great for decades and will look great for decades to come.

Curly Taper Fade

This fashionable cut works with every style, from pop to Euro to modern groovy. It’s quite suitable for men who have curly hair. Men with such hair can check pictures of this hairstyle to see if it’s right for them.

Side Parted Classic Style

For a classic, minimal style, look no further than this side part. The taper fade accentuates the part, which can be subtle or extreme. This is a great style for students, office workers, and anyone who wants a professional yet stylish cut.

Faux Hawk

Here, a pointed fade is given. The long hair on top is spiked upward. This isn’t as dramatic as the mohawk, so it’s better suits a wider range of situations.

Comb Over

The hair on top is grown out and then combed over in a side part style or a slicked-back manner. This haircut is frequently adopted by bald or balding men to lessen the prominence of their baldness. However, many younger guys are pairing a side part style with a fade in a contemporary take on the comb over as shown above.

Undercut Brush Up

Undercuts have never gone out of fashion, and this look is a tweak on the classic style. The hair is brushed up and forward to create a small quiff, and there’s lots of motion happening all over.

Afro Taper Fade

This style is usually common with black men. An Afro taper fade style is particularly good black men with curly or kinky hairs. The curls are styled on top, and the hair on the sides and back gets faded.

Thin Hair Undercut

Undercuts can work well even if you have thin or fine hair. Here’s a twist on the undercut with a high fade that places the spotlight on the swept back hair on top. A short yet trendy look, this is perfect for thin hair.

Low Taper Fade + Pompadour

With this type of haircut, the faded length from the hair top increases from 2 inches. Hairs will fade just one inch above the normal hairline of the wearer.

High Taper Fade

If the hair gets faded with the skin at 2 inches (maximum) from the top of the hair, this haircut can be referred to as a high taper fade haircut.

Tapered Top Crop

Did you notice the undercut? No? It still exists but subtly sits there and what makes you notice is the gradual taper fade that easily fades temple into the skin. The lineup, however, is another deal, it is sharp enough to tell that details are very important. The slicked back top is the cherry on the cake and makes the whole hairstyle pop!

Finely Faded with Stranded Brush Up

Here’s a sleek quiff with the sides faded. This look also features some thick facial hair, which has been tidied up for some added elegance.

Caesar Fade

One of best types of fades for black males is the Caesar fade. The hair on top is cut somewhat longer and commonly swept to the front instead of parted on the side. Short bangs can be combed to the sides. The hair can be styled with strong hold hair gel or wax.

Messy Brush Up and Classic Taper

This elegant brush-up also features a taper fade. However, the hair is a little longer than usual; combined with the turtleneck sweater, it’s a cool look.

High Top Fade

The high top is popular among young men with curly or afro-textured hair. In this style, the hair at the sides and back is cut short. Then, they’re tapered upward to achieve the high top look. Generally, the taper starts at ear-level, and the top can be anywhere from 2 to 5 inches, depending upon the hair’s texture and customer requirements.

Waved Top with Neat Fade

Here’s a slightly longer haircut with a taper fade on the sides. Together with some light facial hair, the resulting look has a sort of skateboarder coolness to it.

Designer Top with Shaved Hairline

If you take your eyes off the incredible texture on this crop, you’ll see that it also features a parted fade at the sides. This look is definitely a head-turner!

Fine Taper Fade with Banged Front

The French crop almost always features a fade on the sides. And it almost always has an edgy, hipsterish feel when you add tattoos or piercings!

Receding Hairline with Beard

A receding hairline doesn’t mean you can’t have serious style. This look leverages a receding hairline to draw attention to a high-volume quiff. The fade on the side places even more emphasis on the hair on top and moves the focus away from the receding hairline.

Short Blowout

If you’re looking for a low maintenance style with a lot of attitude, consider this short blowout. It’s neat and tidy all over and creates visual interest with the styled front and textured sides.

Swiveled French Crop

The French crop is an incredibly popular low maintenance hairstyle that is simple and classic. This take on the French crop uses a line up and all around taper fade to add a bit of edge to this tried and true style.

Brushed Up Shaved Hairline

This hairstyle is a totally unique combination of styles. It uses a dramatic hard part (meaning the side part is shaved) and a fade, and the hair on top is brushed up as is often seen in many undercut variations.

Wavy Messy Top

If shorter is better for you, check out this messy look. Similar to the French crop, this style keeps the hair short and tidy, making it a great option for professionals and students. This will also work well for men with wavy or curly hair.

Curly Top with Undercut

This clean curly undercut takes the messiness of curly hair and makes it look rather tidy thanks to the clean fade on the sides and back.

Clean Temple Fade

This is another simple and timeless style that keeps the hair short and neat. Featuring clean edges, a gradual fade, and trimmed bangs, this look is great for guys who want a straightforward cut.

Brushed Up

This fun, youthful style is ideal for guys with thick, full hair. The hair is brushed up at the front to create a short, wavy quiff, while a taper keeps the sides and back tight for contrast.

Bloated Pompadour with Layers

If you like the pompadour but want something a bit more extreme, consider this layered look. This style will give you a lot of volume and looks much trendier than the classic slicked back appearance.

Taper Fade Slicked Back

Here’s another slicked back taper fade haircut that takes a slightly different approach. The length of the hair is blended all over thanks to a gradual fade, so this is a great choice if you want a nice halfway point between something extreme and something conservative.

Sharp Part with Taper Fade

Here’s a pompadour that’s been made unique with a hard part in the middle and a fade on the sides. The result is a fresh, young look that’ll fit anyone!

Burst Fade with Line Up

The line up is a unique style that’s become quite popular for its sharp look. This burst fade style combines a line up with a side taper fade, accentuating both the top and sides at the same time. The result is an urban-inspired hairstyle with lots of attitude.

Curly Dyed Highlights

If your hair is seriously curly, check out this style. It keeps the sides short and tight while allowing the curls to pop out, highlighting your hair’s natural appearance.

Curly Top with High Volume

This style is perfect for guys with wavy hair who want a short yet eye-catching hairstyle. With this look, you can achieve a lot of volume even with shorter hair.

Brush up Fade

Many styles today are characterized by a ton of volume on top and short sides. This brush up fade offers something familiar and classy, and it’s an excellent choice if you like this general type of style.

Curly Fringe Fade

Another look that makes use of super curly hair, this curly fringe fade keeps the sides and back high and tight, emphasizing the curly hair at the front. This is a fresh take on a standard fade that makes for a great casual style.

Side Part Fade

Short and simple, this haircut is simply a side part with a high fade. It’s a low maintenance cut that you don’t even have to style if you don’t have time to.

Low Fade Clean and Simple

Whether your hair is straight, wavy, thin, or thick, this low fade will serve you well. It’s another good choice for students, office workers, and professionals.

High Volume Fade

One of the most extreme styles on this list, this high volume fade takes the hair way up and features a fade with a line up. It’s a chiseled, textured look that’s extremely fun and casual.

Classic Fade Harvard Style

Short and textured, this Harvard-style fade bridges the gap between professional and casual. You can spike it up as shown here or simply comb it back for a more classic look.

Brushed Back Top with Subtle Fade

Slicked back top seems like a way to go when it comes to taper faded sides. This one though is a new deal because there is a slight widow’s peak with sides being very sleek. If you notice the line ups are not that clear as they are a part of the fade and the temple is completely faded with no beard for that clean look.

Casual Brush Up with Highlight Dye

Pocky temple is one of those touches that is quite exquisite. The top however is quite casual yet hippie with the highlight dye that makes it amazing. The sides are tapered for that controlled volume.

Styled Pompadour and Classic Taper

This carefully-styled pompadour has a fade on the sides, which wraps around into the facial hair. Overall, it’s a pleasantly unusual haircut.