A men’s high fade haircut is when the sides and back are shaved shorter, starting closer toward the top of the head. This popular hair trend for men has been proven to be a bold way to make a statement with your hair.
Notably worn by Hollywood hunks Zayn Malik, Brad Pitt, Justin Timberlake, and Justin Bieber, a fade haircut is for men seeking to focus all attention on the hair on top.
High Fade vs Low Fade
High fades feature a blended shaved cut that begins at or above the temple area. On the other hand, low fades start an inch or less above the ears.
There are a bunch of trendy men’s haircuts and hairstyles that can be raised by the high faded cut – buzz cut, slick back, faux hawk, crew cut, man bun, and much more. You’ll surely have a long list of options to choose from before you head to the barbershop.
Before your next haircut, check out these photos of the most popular high fade haircut ideas!
#1: Higher Fade on Curly Hair
A sharp blade is required to make a curly high fade this sleek! Complementing a high skin fade with curly hair will surely emphasize the hair’s natural texture.
#2: High Fade Undercut
The high faded style is highlighted more by an undercut. The textured hair resembles a light mohawk for a diversified men’s undercut fade.
#3: High and Tight Fade
Such a skin-bound high and tight haircut produces a bald-like appearance that makes everything look well-put. A high and tight fade like this adds contrast when worn with a sharp line-up around the hairline. This cool cropped cut also looks great on a low fade if that’s your thing. A low-maintenance style is always a good way to go, especially for military guys.
#4: Brushed Up High Bald Fade
The short back and sides have been around for decades. This brushed-up high bald fade is a good modern example. Men’s high fade haircuts are probably the most asked for style. They’re easy to maintain and look sharp and tidy. This cut has been blended perfectly at the temple following the flow of the head shape. One of the best products to use for hold is a matte paste, this will give you all day hold and a dry finish.
#5: Stylish High Fade with a Beard and Mustache
A classic side part will always be in fashion. This stylish high fade with a beard and mustache is a great example. It has been taken down to the skin and faded high to the top. The hair sweeping over will be left longer for the weight to hold it. The side of the beard has been faded into the bulk of the big beard; this makes the whole style flow much better. Remember to ask your barber for product advice for your beard. Most shops will stock an array of suitable items.
#6: Blonde Waves with a High Fade
No matter your hair type, these blonde waves with a high fade will add height and texture to your style. One of the most popular versions of this look, for men who don’t have naturally wavy hair, is a mohawk section with a perm. Don’t forget to use curl cream or pomade to tame your frizz and show off the blonde highlights.
#7: Thick Brunette Faded Cut
An option for thick hair is to keep it short and easy to manage, and this thick brunette faded cut is a good example. My favorite way to fade thick hair is to take it high; you can create a nice transition into the top. You might be tempted to keep the fade low, but mushrooming is possible as it grows out. I would use sea salt spray and a good styling powder for a natural finish.
#8: High Fade for Thick Hair
If you have blonde thick hair, then a high fade will suit your cut very well. Taking it high and working it into the top tightly creates a nice illusion of color contrast. The back of the hair has been dried in the direction of the crown, and it’s important to do this to avoid any of it sticking up. The front has been scrunch dried to form the wave and finished off with a design known as tiger scratches.
#9: Handsome Short Cropped High Fade
If you want an easy-to-maintain style, a short-cropped high fade will suit you. The back and sides have been taken down to the skin and faded at the temple to keep the sides and back sharp. The top has been cut short. This length doesn’t need a lot of styling, so it can be left natural. If you like using product, my best advice is to use a matte paste for a strong hold and no shine. To keep it fresh, you must visit your barber regularly.
#10: Dark Brown Mohawk with a High Fade
Mohawks have been a classic for as long as I can remember. This dark brown mohawk with a high fade is a good example of the modern twist that can be put on them. The fade has been disconnected at the back to prevent cutting into it, but then faded into the top at the sides. The fade has been left heavy to complement the weight and length on top. Mohawks suit a round face shape as it’s helpful to elongate the face.
#11: Sharp Skin Fade with a Long Top
If you have a square or round face shape, then it’s worth considering a sharp skin fade with a long top. The fringe length elongates your face, drawing attention away from the shape. Taking the sides down to the skin creates more emphasis on the style on top. Be prepared to style high fade with fringe daily, as it needs attention. Use a dry sea salt spray and finish with a good styling powder.
#12: High Fade for Thick Coarse Hair
This high fade men’s haircut for thick coarse hair has been kept quite tight around the crown area with more weight at the front. This allows you to style your hair into curls. It’s helpful to have the fade high as this will enable your hair to grow out well without leaving you with too much weight on the sides. I suggest a combination of sea salt spray and styling powder to give you a natural finish.
#13: Textured Messy Crop
Many gents are now opting for a longer top, which can be described as textured messy crops. The sides started at the skin and faded into a heavy blend, creating the illusion of an undercut and allowing more weight to be left on top to style. When I do these cuts, I leave length on the sides to style. I prefer to rough dry it with sea salt spray and use a styling powder to create texture and movement.
#14: Fresh Blonde Waves
You’ll look styled to perfection with these fresh blonde waves. The fade finishes the look and leaves a lot of length for creative styling. One of the biggest advantages of curly haircuts for men is how easy it is to create volume without too much work. You can use styling powder on your dry hair to ensure a natural finish.
#15: Dapper Sharp High Fade
More guys now want a nongreasy finish and slick sides, as seen with this dapper sharp, high fade. It has been faded high and heavily blended into the top to leave weight and length to carry off the sharp finish. One of the easiest ways to get volume is to dry some volume spray from the root up to get the height. The finished look can be achieved if you can use a hair dryer effectively. The best product to finish with will be hairspray, as you can spray small amounts and style each section.
#16: Handsome Short Quiff and High Fade
A handsome short quiff and high fade leaves you with a very sharp and clean finish. It starts at the skin around the ears and then fades tightly to the top. The top is cut short and graduated, leaving a longer fringe to style into the quiff. Regarding styling, I recommend blow-drying your front up to hold it in for the day. If you have thick hair or your hair naturally goes forward, you will need a strong paste to hold it in place.
#17: Amazing Sharp Fade
An excellent sharp fade is a very popular and on-trend style. You can see that the fade has been left heavy to work into the shape of the fringe to give an incredibly sharp finish. One of the best ways to describe this to your barber is to ask for a heavy blend and have a photo ready to back up your explanation. This has a very natural finish. It would be best to avoid heavy products like clays and pomades. Instead, it’s best to stick with a light styling powder to achieve the look.
#18: Brunette Combover and High Fade
If you’re looking for a mens haircut that is short on the sides and long on the top, this one is for you! A high skin fade is always the way to go for a crisp, clean look. If you prefer a wet look, ask your stylist or barber about a shine pomade. You’ll want one that has extra hold to keep the long hair on top in place.
#19: High Fade with Platinum Frosted Tips
Men’s coloring is becoming increasingly popular, with blondes and greys being the most requested. The color has grown slightly, leaving platinum-frosted tips and brilliantly contrasting with the high fade and dark roots. You do need the right aftercare to keep the platinum look. If you can get the products from your barber, then do so. If not, a good purple shampoo once a week to tone it will work nicely, and remember to leave it on for a few minutes for the best results.
#20: High Fade + Beard Fade + Natural Texture
A popular cut is a high fade paired with a beard fade and lots of natural texture. This has been skinned down perfectly, disconnected from the beard, and blended heavily into the textured top. His beard has been faded at the base of the neck to keep a natural look and then lined sharply at the cheeks to create the perfect contrast. For styling, I would recommend a good sea salt spray and texturizing powder to give the volume and matte finish. You will need to see your barber every 2-3 weeks to keep this fresh.
#21: High Skin Fade with Brushed Up Top
The skin fade remains a classic style that will be chosen for years. A modern twist can be seen in this high skin fade with a brushed-up top. It has been taken down to the skin and blended into the scissor work, leaving enough to line in the sides. The top has been cut in a graduation layer to create the volume for the finished style. Drying some volume spray into it will give the lift and finish off with a styling powder to create a hold and natural look.
#22: Purple Top + High Fade with a Beard
Men’s coloring is getting more and more popular, as you can see with this purple top. It pairs nicely with the high fade and beard, and it has been faded high and tight, creating a disconnection with the color. Keeping the fade and color fresh will require some maintenance, and a fade-up every 2-3 weeks will be needed. Vivid colors drop quicker than your natural colors, but this depends on the guy. Still, on average, you’ll need to get the color touched up every 6-8 weeks.
#23: High Fade Comb-Over
The trending high skin fade comb-over resembles a faux hawk, all defined by the hard line. The high fade haircut men love rounds the face and accentuate the comb-over even more.
#24: High Fade with a Man Bun
The ultimate cool guy haircut is the high fade with a man bun. You get the best of both worlds by keeping the sides short and cleaned up, with the option to wear your long locks up or down.
#25: Super High Fade Haircut
A super high fade haircut is suitable for guys wanting a low-maintenance style. Super high fades give anyone 3 weeks to a month between visits and a clean look along the way. This cut is mainly worn by military personnel, but it’s still a very effective style for any guy.
#26: High Fade Buzz Cut
A high fade buzz cut is a very sharp haircut for any occasion. Regardless of age or lifestyle, a high fade is a go-to. Low maintenance and very appealing for any man with any hair type or texture. Remember, make sure your barber executes a sharp hairline to tie the haircut together.
#27: High Fade with Dreads
High fade with dreads is a modern spin on the dreadlock style. This cut is for men if they’re having issues with their dreads falling on the neck or if they have too much hair but don’t want to cut it too short. It will give you everything your looking for and is very stylish when paired with dreadlocks.
#28: High Fade + Fringe
High fade + fringe involves clippering close to the head, on the sides and back, and above the midway line. Styling the hair with a fringe falling forward with either a blunt line or texturizing sweep softens the forehead height. It can add structure to a softer face shape or diminish angles for a strong conformation.
#29: High Fade + Slick Back
A high fade with a slick back style works well for men with long-shaped faces as it complements the head and face shape well. Plus, it’s quick and easy to style. This slick back has been faded at the sides from skin taken high into the sleek top. The maintenance of this style is relatively low. A good pomade will give you the hold required throughout the day.
#30: Curly High Top with High Fade Haircut for Afro
Black men enjoy this well-kept high top fade, as it highlights their afro curls even more with all the ease of the fade around the head. A clean line-up and easy maintenance would also complete the package of this high top with a high fade hairstyle!
#31: High Fade Pompadour
This high fade pompadour tells us that if all else fails, you must pomp it up with a wide-tooth comb with your medium-length hair. The high fade cut matches the longer hair like the modern pompadour on top and makes a nice gradation with the clipper-shaved sides
#32: High Faded Cut with a Side Part
This side part haircut is a go-to for men’s high fade hairstyles. Stylist Dion made a precise skin fade that highlights the ducktail styling. What’s great about this high fade with part is its versatility, as you can play with various styles using the hair on top.
#33: High Temp Fade
What’s good with a high temp fade is that it gradually gives a change in hair length in such a smooth manner as it reaches the back of the head. The sideburns add a contrast to the faded area and connect your whole look together.
#34: Spiky Hair with High Bald Fade
Keep it straight and simple with a clean high bald fade that goes smoothly around your head. Pair it with a spiky texture to achieve one of those edgy high fade hairstyles worth flaunting!
#35: High Skin Fade Faux Hawk
Ask for zero on the razor to achieve this high skin fade around the sides while having a short, dense trim at the top. The added shaved hair designs on a high fade with faux hawks, such as this one, can make the casual look one of a kind.
#36: High Fade with Long Hair and Hard Part
This high fade cut gives the head a more rounded look while the quiff maintains an area to be styled freely. Ask your barber to clean up the edges on the side of the head when you have a high fade with long hair on top like this. You can’t go wrong with a simple matte pomade when it comes to hair products.
#37: Quiff with High Faded Line
Cool haircuts like this high fade with quiff are only for some guys. What more can you add to a seemingly normal fade? A stylish, geometric razor cut line and a combed-up faux hawk fade!
#38: High Fade on Short Hair
If the beard doesn’t say it all, this higher fade on a short haircut is a work of art. A smooth fade style that cleans the ear area of any hair while maintaining a thick hair styled up the flat top. It’s a clean cut that only takes a pro who knows how to use their trimmers.
#39: High Taper Fade with Part
For all the sharp-edged shape faces out there, try this high taper fade to mimic a rounder look. It’s a very professional style. For something more rugged, go with slicked-back hair. It’s one of the more popular styles for guys in their 30s.
This high fade with taper takes more maintenance than most other styles, according to Allen, so be prepared to spend more time styling your hair. Check out more men’s tapered haircuts.
#40: High Drop Fade
This haircut’s fade is its maximum potential. It’s a nicely blended high drop fade. It’s razor-sharp for its sharpness and style. The ideal face shape for such short haircuts for men should be oval, round, or oblong. The length must be kept short and smooth to look sharp. A trim is recommended once a week.