A low taper fade trims your hair down right above the ears and across the neckline, letting you keep more length on the top and sides. It\u2019s the most subtle take on a fade\u2014clean enough for the office, yet still sharp. This guide covers what a low taper fade actually is, how it stacks up against other fades, 15 different ways to wear it, and exactly what to say when you sit in the barber’s chair.<\/p>\n
A taper fade gradually blends your hair from the upper sides down to your ears and neck. The "low" part means this short section begins just above your ears and traces your hairline around the back of your head. Since it sits so close to the bottom, the rest of your hair on the sides keeps its regular length, which helps the cut look natural as it grows out.<\/p>\n
A choppy, short top paired with a low taper. Just run some matte paste through it and you’re good to go.<\/p>\n
Features a short top right alongside a straight fringe. It\u2019s a clean look that requires very little daily work.<\/p>\n
The traditional side part paired with a soft taper near the ears. It’s a great choice for a professional environment.<\/p>\n
Push the front up and back, leave the sides full, and keep the taper low down by the ears.<\/p>\n
Gives you extra height and volume right at the front. Keeping the taper low grounds the style so it doesn’t look top-heavy.<\/p>\n
Let your curls stay full on top while keeping the borders around your ears and neck nicely trimmed.<\/p>\n
Keep your waves up top with a low taper right beneath them. This lets your natural wave stand out without making the sides look bulky.<\/p>\n
A standard buzz paired with tapered ears and a clean neckline. It’s the neatest, most low-maintenance route you can take.<\/p>\n
Wear twists on top and keep the taper low. It gives coily hair a defined look.<\/p>\n
Brush the hair forward to cover your forehead, balanced by a soft taper along the sides.<\/p>\n
Comb your longer hair straight back using a light styling product, grounded by a clean low taper.<\/p>\n
Keep it short up front and on the sides, leave the back long, and use a low taper to tidy up the edges.<\/p>\n
Wear your hair medium or long on top, saving the taper strictly for the ears and neckline.<\/p>\n
Blend the taper directly into your facial hair so your beard and haircut connect cleanly.<\/p>\n
Uses the same low starting point, but the hair is taken right down to bare skin to create sharper contrast.<\/p>\n
Because a low taper grows out less harshly than a high fade, you can usually stretch the time between your barber visits a bit more. Talk to your barber about what works best for your specific hair growth; just keep in mind that the edges around your ears and neck will be the first spots to look messy.<\/p>\n
A low taper is a solid choice for thinning hair because leaving the sides a bit fuller prevents the top from looking thin by comparison. If the top of your hair is getting a bit too thin to style well, check out our guide to \u03c7\u03c4\u03b5\u03bd\u03af\u03c3\u03bc\u03b1\u03c4\u03b1 \u03b3\u03b9\u03b1 \u03ac\u03bd\u03b4\u03c1\u03b5\u03c2 \u03bc\u03b5 \u03b1\u03c1\u03b1\u03b9\u03ac \u03bc\u03b1\u03bb\u03bb\u03b9\u03ac<\/a>.<\/p>\n For guys wearing a hair system, your barber can cut a low taper into your natural hair along the sides and back so it blends with the unit on top:<\/p>\n\n