While it might be most notably called the taper fade among gentlemen today, the original term is actually just a taper. Regardless of what you call it, one thing is certain, this style gives off a considerably well-groomed appearance.

Not to mention, clean and neat too.

Even if you prefer a more messy look, when it comes to your cut, the combo can create a great balance.

The original look:

Understand that a taper isn’t a true hairstyle on its own, rather it’s more like an option you can add to the back and sides instead. What the style refers to is as simple as the word itself means, literally a “taper”.

Hair that’s higher up on the top and longer in length gradually gets shorter downwards towards the nape of the neck. Eventually, tapering into the skin.

Or in other words, your hair will progressively get shorter as you move down the head. For the back of the neck, you’ll find it faded without a crisp straight line.

Explore this style:

To get a better idea of why this look has become so trendy lately, just explore these best taper fade haircuts for men below. You’ll find it paired with everything from pompadours, slicked back hair, the faux hawk and more.

If you’ve been thinking about adding another element to your cut the next time you visit the barbershop, it’s hard to go wrong. Here we take a look at the different types of taper you can have and also look at how you can style it. Let’s get started!

Height of your taper fade

One of the big decisions you need to make in terms of your taper fade is where it begins. Some prefer it to start at the top of the head whereas others like it just over the ear. Here we take a look at the different heights of your taper fade.

1. Low taper fade

Some taper fades are quite drastic whereas others are more delicate. The low taper fade is more on the subtle side as it starts just above your ear and often isn’t as dramatic as other types of taper fade.