What Is a Taper Haircut and Taper vs Fade Comparison
In this article, we’ll introduce the taper haircut with a step-by-step tutorial and compare taper with fade hairstyles.
What Is a Taper Haircut?
A taper haircut is a stylish and trending men's hairstyle that features a gradual decrease in hair length from the top of the head to the neckline, creating a smooth and blended transition with no sharp lines. This classic cut involves blending different lengths of hair together with clippers, resulting in a polished and clean-cut look that's suitable for almost anyone. Characterized by longer hair on top and shorter hair on the sides, the taper haircut allows for a range of styling options as the hair grows out, so it is a great choice for those who want a timeless look without too much fuss. With its low-maintenance requirements and adaptability to various hair types and lengths, it's no wonder that celebrities like David Beckham have sported this cut.
How to Do a Taper Haircut (Step-by-Step)?
1. Starting Point: Begin the taper at the first point of consistent hair growth, typically around the bottom of the ear.
2. Initial Trimming: Use trimmers to remove hair below the starting point, creating a clean baseline.
3. Shaving: Use a shaver to achieve a skin-close finish below the trimmer line, blending the edges carefully.
4. Open Clipper Section: Create the next guideline about half an inch above the shaved area using open clippers with a taper blade.
5. Blending the Bald Line: Use a closed clipper to blend out the line between the shaved area and the open clipper section, gradually opening the lever to create a smooth transition.
6. Creating the One Guard Section: Apply an open #1 guard about half an inch above the previous section.
7. Blending with Closed One Guard: Use a closed #1 guard to blend the line between the open clipper section and the open #1 guard section.
8. Half Guard Blending: Employ a half guard, set halfway open, to refine the blend between the #1 guard section and the open clipper section.
9. Two Guard Section: Use a closed #2 guard to blend the top of the #1 guard section into the longer hair above.
10. One-and-a-Half Guard Blending: Apply a #1.5 guard, set halfway open, to smooth out any remaining lines between the #1 and #2 guard sections.
11. Final Detailing: Go back through the haircut with various guard lengths to address any inconsistencies or lines, working your way down from longer to shorter guards.
12. Line Up: Finally, use trimmers to clean up and sharpen the hairline, completing the taper haircut.
Types of Taper Haircuts
What is a low taper haircut? What are the most common or popular tapered hairstyles? Here are some trending options.
- Low taper: A subtle style that begins tapering around the ears and neck, maintaining longer hair on top while offering versatility to suit various face shapes and personal styles.
- Mid taper: A balanced option that starts tapering around the temple area, striking a middle ground between subtlety and boldness.
- High taper: A more dramatic style with a larger fade area that begins tapering near the crown or high on the sides, offering a bold and noticeable transition from long to short hair.
- Skin taper: A sharp and clean finish where the hair is tapered down to the skin, typically not extending higher than the temple area, and can be combined with other cuts and tapers.
- Side-part taper: An asymmetrical style featuring a distinct parting, with one side tapered and the other left longer, suitable for both neat and relaxed looks.
Taper vs Fade Haircut Comparison, What Are the Differences Between Them
Taper and fade are different hairstyles, even though sometimes they are used interchangeably. The most recognizable difference between fade and taper haircuts is taper shows a natural decrease in length while fade can get abruptly shortened in length.
| Taper | Fade | |
| Typical hair length | Longer | Very short or down to the skin |
| Length transition | More conservative, gradual | Can be dramatic and abrupt |
| Technique | Can be cut freer with blending | Use smaller clippers |
| Barber requirement | Require fewer barber trips | Requires regular trims |
| Focus | Focuses styling on top | Draws more attention to the blended transition area |
| Styling options | More | Fewer |
| Maintenance | Low | Regular upkeep is needed |
| Appearance | Smooth and blended look | Sharp lines and a pristine look |
Which haircut is better for men? If you prefer a low-maintenance style that's easy to upkeep, a taper might be the way to go, offering a versatile look that can be worn messy or styled with products for a more polished appearance. On the other hand, if you're looking for a bold and striking style, a fade could be the perfect choice, but be prepared for more frequent visits to the barber aboout every two weeks to keep it looking sharp, as well as some at-home maintenance on the neckline.
Low Fade vs Low Taper
A low fade is a similar haircut to the low taper, the main difference between them lies in a fade can suddenly change hair length. A low fade usually starts just above the ears, curving around the hairline and create a rounder head appearance, a low taper also starts to get short above the ears. The low fade is considered more conservative than a high fade, similar to a classic taper fade. Both styles involve a gradual shift in hair length and offer a polished look, with the low fade explicitly noted for its ability to pair well with longer hair on top and even beards.
Skin Fade vs Taper
A skin fade, also known as a bald fade, is a bold and dramatic haircut that blends short hair into the skin, creating a striking contrast with longer hair on top. Unlike a taper, which offers a softer, more gradual transition and leaves more length on the sides and back, a skin fade starts with longer hair on top and progressively shortens down the sides and back until it seamlessly blends into the skin. In addition, skin fades require more frequent maintenance, typically needing touch-ups every few weeks to maintain their crisp appearance, while tapers are generally lower-maintenance and grow out more gracefully.
Taper vs Drop Fade
A taper involves gradually reducing the length of hair from the top of the head down to the hairline only in the sideburn and neck areas, leaving the hair at a short but noticeable length. A drop fade takes the taper a step further by literally fading the hair down to the skin completely on the sides and back of the head, so that the hairline appears to gradually disappear into the skin. Unlike a basic taper, with a drop fade the fade starts higher up on the head and follows an arc down below the point where it starts at the temples, giving it a distinctive curved shape that tapers the hair down to nothing but skin.