Wondering if there’s a correct answer to the taper vs. fade debate? We’ve demystified these terms in this comprehensive guide.

Read on for an overview of the different styles.

Fade vs. Taper

If you’ve ever spent lots of time on Google figuring out what exactly you should tell your barber, you’ve probably come across these two terms: taper and fade.

These terms are so confusing because lots of stylists use them interchangeably. However, not everyone does, which makes it really tricky to use these terms. When it comes to taper vs. fade, not a lot of people can actually tell you if there’s a difference or not.

As it turns out, there is a difference, but it’s pretty subtle. So if you want to get the best results next time you get a haircut, you should know what each of these terms means. That way you can make sure that your barber or stylist understands precisely what you want.

What is a Taper Haircut?

First, let’s take a look at the taper.

With a taper, your hair gets shorter as it moves down your head. Typically, this taper will reach past your ear and go down to the nape of your neck, following your hair’s natural growth.

The key here is evenness. A taper will gradually shorten your hair, resulting in a neat and even look all around.

For reference, here’s what a traditional taper looks like:

This is often referred to simply as a “taper haircut” or even just a taper. This is a barbershop staple, so you’ve probably had this exact same haircut in the past.

Despite being a more traditional style, the taper allows for a lot of possibilities. Lots of hairstyles (especially business hairstyles) use the classic taper as a base and build on top of it.

In addition, a taper allows the hair on the sides to be grown out quite a bit at the top, so you can give your hair a lot of body with a taper.