The term “fade” means blending hair of varying lengths. The fade graduates from the ears and neck, creating a smooth transition from very short hair on the back and sides of the head to longer hair on the top. In a high fade the graduation starts high up the head.
A high fade can be combined with any other haircut on the top, including a crew cut, slick back, undercut, a pompadour, faux hawk or anything else you want.
Table Of Contents
- 50 Most Popular High Fade Hairstyles
- Wavy Top High Fade Haircut
- Textured Crop High Fade Haircut
- Buzz Cut High Fade Haircut
- Lined Up High Fade Haircut
- Crew Cut High Fade Hairstyle
- Pompadour High Fade Haircut
- Slick Back High Fade Hairstyle
- Tapered Cut
- High Top
- Comb Over High Fade Haircut
- Skin Fade High Fade Hairstyle
- High and Tight High Fade Haircut
- Long Top
- Undercut
- Hard Part
- Quiff
- Curly Top
- Afro
- Temple Fade
- Spiky Top
- Faux Hawk
- Braided Top
- Flat Top
- Caesar Cut
- Mohawk
- How to Maintain High Fade Haircut
- FAQs
50 Most Popular High Fade Hairstyles
Wavy Top High Fade Haircut
Photo @kalin_barber
Short sides long top haircuts are in vogue. And, if you have curly or wavy hair, adding a high fade will draw attention to your curly top locks while keeping them tamed.
Textured Crop High Fade Haircut
Photo @pjabreu
If you want to keep your thick mop the textured crop haircut with a high fade is a great, versatile look.
Buzz Cut High Fade Haircut
Photo @pjabreu
The combination of the “old school” buzz cut and the modern high fade gives you a sharp and trendy style that you can flaunt around town.
Lined Up High Fade Haircut
Photo @pjabreu
A lineup paired with a high fade adds definition and sharpness to any haircut you’re sure to love.
Crew Cut High Fade Hairstyle
Photo @pjabreu
Crew cuts are easy and clean. And a crew cut combined with a high fade looks equally cool at a party and the workplace.
Pompadour High Fade Haircut
Photo @pjabreu
If you love the classic “rock and roll” pompadour hairstyle of the 50s, you can give it a modern twist by combining it with a trendy high fade.
The pompadour hairstyle needs time and effort to maintain, but you can easily do it using the best styling hair creams.
Slick Back High Fade Hairstyle
Photo @pjabreu
The slick back hairstyle is a timeless, classic style. And you can elevate the stylishness and sophistication of the look with a high fade.
Use premium hair oil for men to maintain the slick back style.
Tapered Cut
Photo @dynasty_barbers
When you consider taper vs fade the basic difference between the two is in length. And a tapered cut finishes around the ears and temples combined with long hair at the top, which you can style in different ways.
High Top
Photo @pjabreu
The trendiest hairstyle in the 80s and early 90s, the high top seems to be making a comeback.
And, when you add a high fade to the mix, you get a super trendy and modern hairstyle.
Comb Over High Fade Haircut
Photo @j.d_barber
You will love the comb-over style combined with a high fade if you have thinning hair. The comb-over adds volume and the shaved back and sides give you a stylish look you want. You can use the best hair tonic to style your hair and get fuller hair with supplements.
Skin Fade High Fade Hairstyle
Photo @pjabreu
If you want to sport a sharp, bold look, a high bald fade or a high skin fade is the perfect haircut, especially for men with thinning hair. DHT blockers stop hair loss and make your hair appear fuller.
High and Tight High Fade Haircut
Photo @pjabreu
If you are looking for a minimalist, yet stylish haircut, then the high and tight style is the perfect one that will give you a polished and neat look.
Long Top
Photo @pjabreu
A high fade with very short sides and back, combined with a long top, is a prominent, striking and low-maintenance hairstyle.
Undercut
Photo @pjabreu
Emerging as a popular hairstyle across the globe, the undercut has long hair on the top, which you can style into a pompadour, quiff or the ultimate fuckboy hairstyle, a slicked-back undercut.
Hard Part
Photo @pjabreu
A high fade style, combined with a hard part, gives you a simple and discreet style that is professional yet stylish and trendy.
Quiff
Photo @pjabreu
If you have a high forehead a quiff is the best style to show it off. And, when combined with a high fade, you have an uber-cool kind.
Curly Top
Photo @pjabreu
If you have curly hair then a curly top fade helps to maximize your hair and the high fade keeps it neat.
Afro
Photo @pjabreu
Adding a high fade to your afro can help to add some shape. And the high fade helps to create a balance between the volume of your afro at the top and the short and smooth sides and back.
Temple Fade
Photo @pjabreu
If you’re aiming for an edgy look, then the temple fade is just the style to opt for, which adds a lineup along your temple and forehead while keeping the focus on the top.
Spiky Top
Photo @pjabreu
The spiky top haircut with a high fade is an excellent choice if you want a playboy look with a boyish charm that allows you to instantly move from your meetings to date nights.
Faux Hawk
Photo @kalin_barber
Combining a mohawk with a high taper fade gives you a faux hawk with a softer yet fresher style that you can easily sport even at the workplace.
Braided Top
Photo @pjabreu
A braided top keeps your unruly curls tamed and gives you a dapper look. Piled-up braids on top of your head, paired with a high fade, are guaranteed to give you a bold and showy look.
Flat Top
Photo @pjabreu
A high fade adds to the overall look and makes your flat-top hairstyle the focal point.
Caesar Cut
Photo @pjabreu
When you team the Caesar cut with the hair combed forward along with a high faded cut on the back and sides you get a haircut with a modern twist.
Mohawk
Photo @pjabreu
If you think a mohawk is too bold for your workplace you can get a style with longer sculpted hair on the top and a closely-cropped high fade on the sides.
Photo @pjabreu
Photo @pjabreu
Photo @pjabreu
Photo @pjabreu
Photo @pjabreu
Photo @pjabreu
Photo @pjabreu
Photo @pjabreu
Photo @pjabreu
Photo @pjabreu
Photo @kalin_barber
Photo @kalin_barber
Photo @kalin_barber
Photo @kalin_barber
Photo @pjabreu
Photo @kalin_barber
Photo @kalin_barber
Photo @dynasty_barbers
Photo @dynasty_barbers
Photo @pjabreu
How to Maintain High Fade Haircut
Step 1 – Do it regularly
A high-fade haircut is quite dramatic, but the more intense looking the haircut is the more quickly it will grow out.
So, to keep your high fade style looking good for a longer time,you must maintain it regularly.
A bit of shaping and light trimming on your own can help to keep your haircut.
Step 2 – Maintain the hair shape
Working with your hairstyle and shaping it can help. Longer hair needs more time, effort and products than shorter hair.
For instance, if your hair is very straight, you may have to trim and shape it more frequently and if you have curly hair, you must try to cut it when it is dry. If you’re unsure what to do with your specific texture and shape of the hair then consult your hairdresser.
Step 3 – Use appropriate products
Using the right products is key to keeping your high-fade haircut looking neat, fresh and not overly styled.
Further, different types of fade haircuts need other products and care.
For instance, a high fade needs more time and effort than a low fade style. A pompadour will need to be styled with the right products.
Hair waxes and clays can keep the pompadour dry and high, but it may cause too much product build-up over time.
So, it is better to use a good gel or pomade for a glossy, high-sheen look. Conditioner is essential for short hair to keep it moisturized and well-hydrated. Using a matte product and working it through the hair on top will give you a nicely tousled and stylish look.
You can speak to your barber to choose the best styling products or try out different products to determine which or a combination of products is the best for you.
FAQs
Is a high fade a professional look?
A high fade haircut is a nice, professional look, especially when paired with a high skin taper, slick back, combover, or pompadour.
Is a high fade better than a low fade?
Both a low fade and a high fade are good haircuts. The style you choose depends on your personal preference.
If you want a bold and edgy look, opt for a high fade; if you want something less intense, go in for a low fade.
Can a bad high-fade haircut be fixed?
You should visit a reputed professional barber to fix a bad high-fade haircut.
If the fade is uneven, patchy, or poorly blended, you may have to wait one to two weeks for your hair to grow out and then go to your barber and have it fixed by taking the fade a bit lower the next time.
How do you ask for a high-fade haircut?
Ask your hairstylist for any haircut you like, be it a buzz cut, crop, crew cut, or any other style, and ask them for a high fade on the back and sides. Take reference pictures of hairstyles you like to show your barber what you have in mind.
What face shape is best for a high-fade haircut?
High fade haircuts with short sides and back and some length on top elongate the head. So, if you have a rectangular face, this style may not be the best for you, or it may be better to consider a style with a short top too.
If you have a round or heart-shaped face styles like quiffs or pompadours paired with a high fade will work well.
But if you have an oval-shaped face, you can choose any hairstyle with a high fade.
Michele Meesh Antunes is the lady of the Beardoholic writers team and a genius when it comes to hair and beard styles that suit any face shape. She’s been a barber for years now and, no matter your personal style, she knows exactly what beard, hairstyle and length suit you. She brings the women’s perspective on beards, beard care, haircuts and hairstyles and male grooming.