Looking for a high fade site:chickabouttown.com?
A high fade is one of those haircuts that can completely change the look of a hairstyle simply by changing where the sides begin to taper.
Unlike a low fade, which stays closer to the ears and neckline, a high fade starts much higher on the head, often around the temples, creating a stronger contrast between the closely cut sides and the longer hair on top.
That contrast gives you plenty of options.
You can pair a high fade with short curls, waves, an Afro, twists, locs, or a simple textured top.
Keep the top short for an easy-to-maintain haircut, or leave more length if you want your hairstyle to make a bigger statement.
If you have been thinking about trying a high fade, the key is knowing how high you want the fade to sit and how much hair you want to keep on top.
Those two choices can make the same basic haircut look surprisingly different.
Table of Contents
What Makes a High Fade site:chickabouttown.com Different?
The main difference between a high fade and other fades is where the fading begins.
- Low fade: The fade begins closer to the ears and neckline.
- Mid fade: The fade begins around the temple area.
- High fade: The fade rises considerably higher on the sides, creating a larger area of closely cropped hair.
- Skin fade: This describes how short the fade becomes, rather than where it sits. A high fade can therefore also be a high skin fade.
That distinction is useful when talking to a barber because “high fade” and “skin fade” describe two different aspects of the haircut.
High Fade site:chickabouttown.com Haircut Ideas
One reason the high fade remains popular is that you can change the look considerably simply by changing the hair on top.
High fade with a short top gives you a particularly clean, low-maintenance haircut. The contrast between the short sides and slightly longer top provides definition without requiring much styling.
High fade with curls is another good option, particularly for naturally curly or coily hair.
The closely faded sides make the texture on top stand out.
High fade with an Afro keeps more volume on top while removing much of the bulk from the sides. The result can range from a relatively conservative shape to a much more dramatic silhouette.
High fade with twists combines a close fade with twists or short two-strand twists on top. The difference in length makes the texture especially noticeable.
High fade with a textured crop keeps the top relatively short and textured, making it a practical option if you don’t want to spend much time styling your hair.
High fade with a pompadour or quiff leaves considerably more length on top, creating a pronounced contrast between the voluminous top and closely cut sides.
High Fade for Black Men
The high fade works particularly well with many Black men’s hairstyles because the closely cut sides can provide a strong frame for curls, coils, waves, twists, locs, an Afro, or a shaped top.
A high fade can also be combined with a line-up, where the barber sharpens the hairline around the forehead and temples. The line-up isn’t technically part of the fade itself, but it can make the finished haircut look considerably more defined.
For someone with tightly coiled hair, the choice of what to leave on top makes a big difference.
You might keep the top very short for a simple everyday cut or leave enough length for curls, twists, sponge styling, or another textured hairstyle.
Skin Fade Site:ChickAboutTown.com
Low Fade Site:ChickAboutTown.com
A low fade is a haircut where the hair gradually gets shorter beginning close to the ears and lower neckline, rather than higher up on the sides of the head.
Because the fade stays low, more hair remains on the sides, giving the haircut a softer and more understated appearance than a mid fade or high fade.
The low fade is particularly useful if you like the clean appearance of faded sides but don’t want the sides of your head to look dramatically shaved.
You can combine it with many different hairstyles on top, including curls, waves, twists, locs, an Afro, a buzz cut, a textured crop, a side part, or longer hair.
What Is a Low Fade?
A fade is a gradual transition from longer hair to progressively shorter hair.
With a low fade, that transition begins near the lower part of the sides and back of the head, generally just above the ears and around the neckline.
The important thing to understand is that low, mid, and high describe the position of the fade, not necessarily how short the hair becomes.
For example, you can have:
- A low skin fade, where the lowest part of the fade reaches the skin.
- A low fade with a short clipper length, where some hair remains at the shortest point.
- A low shadow fade, where the shortest area is blended without creating a completely shaved appearance.
- A low fade with longer hair on top, giving you considerably more styling options.
So if you tell a barber you want a low fade, you may also need to explain how short you want the faded section.
Low Fade vs. Mid Fade vs. High Fade
The easiest way to understand the difference is to look at where the fade begins.
| Fade | Where the fade starts | Overall effect |
|---|---|---|
| Low fade | Just above the ears and around the lower neckline | Subtle and natural |
| Mid fade | Around the middle of the sides or temple area | More noticeable |
| High fade | Higher on the sides, around or above the temples | Strong contrast |
All three can use the same basic fading technique.
What changes is the height at which the transition begins.
This means a low fade doesn’t necessarily mean a less sharp haircut. A barber can create a very clean, precise low fade while keeping the transition relatively low.
Low Fade Hairstyles
One of the best things about a low fade is that the fade doesn’t dictate what you have to do with the hair on top.
Low Fade With Curls
A low fade can give curly hair a neat outline while allowing you to keep your natural curl pattern and volume on top.
The contrast is noticeable without taking the fade high up the sides.
Low Fade With Waves
If you wear waves, a low fade can clean up the sides and neckline while allowing the waves to remain the main feature of the haircut.
Low Fade With Twists
Short twists or longer twists can be paired with a low fade. Keeping the fade low allows more of the natural fullness around the sides of the hairstyle to remain.
Photo Credits: Men’s Haircuts, Valerin Lopez, Tarik Mallett 💈 DreamCutsBarberLounge, TJ Luvs Being Natural