The bald fade continues to be one of the best haircuts for men to get. Great with short, medium and long hair, the bald fade haircut is edgy and cool, allowing for guys to style all the most popular men’s hairstyles. Also known as a skin fade, the bald taper fade can be cut low, medium, or high. Moreover, men can pair this short fade on the sides and back with a comb over, faux hawk, side part, french crop, high top, slick back, mohawk, or spiky hair.
Whether you have thick, wavy, straight or curly hair, a bald taper is a skin tight cut that looks fresh and sleek with any modern hairstyle. For inspiration before you visit the barber shop, we’ve compiled examples of the best bald fade haircuts for men to try right now.
What Is A Bald Fade?
A bald fade is a men’s haircut on the sides and back that blends the hair into the skin. Using clippers, your barber will cut the hair short to shorter, seamlessly tapering the haircut into the shaved sides.
As one of the many different types of fade haircuts you can choose from, the bald taper fade can be combined with a number of cuts to create a very short, smooth finish. Men can ask their barbers for a low, mid, high, drop, burst, undercut, razor or temp bald fade.
While guys use the terms “taper” and “fade” interchangeably to indicate hair being cut short to shorter, the cuts are actually different. The difference between a taper and a fade is that a taper is longer and leaves hair while a fade generally cuts down to the skin.
For this reason, technically, a bald taper doesn’t exist, but your barber will understand you want a bald fade haircut.
Bald Fade vs Skin Fade
There is no difference between a bald fade and skin fade. A skin vs bald fade haircut will result in the same look because both terms refer to the same cut. Barbers at barbershops around the world just use different hair terminology, so you may also hear this kind of fade called a razor or zero fade.
Bald Fade Haircuts
Low Bald Fade
The low bald fade could be the right style for business professional men who don’t want to expose too much skin on the sides and back. The low bald taper fade starts right above the ears and curves around the head and neckline. Shaved to the skin and blended, the cut is classy and stylish.
Mid Bald Fade
The mid bald fade haircut delivers a fashionable cut that’s flattering on all guys. The medium bald fade starts in the middle of your sides and back, creating the contrast necessary to highlight the styling on top. Handsome and rugged, a mid taper fade offers a happy medium between high and low, and works with all hair types, lengths, and styles. lengths and types.
High Bald Fade
The high bald fade is a bold and sexy cut the women in your life will love. With somewhat of a bad boy look, a high bald taper fade haircut starts near the top of the sides and back and shaves most of your hair off. The high fade develops the most contrast, and truly highlights your hairstyle. Guys with thick, wavy and curly hair love the cut because it’s low-maintenance, easy and works with short and long men’s hairstyles.
Bald Taper Fade
Varying from other versions, the bald taper fade uses a combination of clippers and scissors to achieve the final product. Best for men who prefer a decent amount of hair on top to style as desired, this cut features shaved sides that are blended. Request either a low, medium, or high taper depending on your preference.
Bald Drop Fade
Enjoy the best of both worlds with a bald drop fade. Combining elements of a bald fade with a drop fade, your barber will cut the hair around the sides and back, and then have it drop down to the neckline. This leaves you with a shorter hairline through the sloped region and some fashionable length on top.
Bald Fade Undercut
The bald fade undercut is one of the coolest haircuts trending today. The fade undercut hairstyle combines two of the best ways to cut men’s hair on the sides and back. Modern and stylish, it works with all haircut styles and highlights the longer hair on top. If you don’t want to choose between a fade and undercut, then ask your barber for both with this awesome cut.
Bald Cut Fade
Low-maintenance males gravitate toward the bald cut fade for peak performance and style. Featuring a skin fade from the temples down to the back of the neck, this cut is shorter than others because your barber shaves the top of your hair very short as well.
Razor Fade
Before the name freaks you out, a full bald fade does not require you to shave your entire head. Instead, a razor fade utilizes a straight razor cut along the back and sides for a smooth finish that pairs well with the length of hair you most prefer on top.
High Top Bald Fade
A blast from the past, the high top bald fade draws inspiration from the classic haircut popularized in the 1980s but gives it a refreshing twist. By combining a high top with a close-cut bald taper fade along the sides and back, this cut will have you feeling fresh.
Bald Fade with Part
One of the best ways to get an updated look is through a bald fade with a part. With precisely buzzed sides and a tapered back, the length on top is styled by parting the hair along the side of your head before applying products to keep everything in its proper place.
Bald Skin Fade
A bald skin fade is synonymous with zero fades and skin fades. Essentially, when you request this style, you’ll indicate whether you want a low, medium, or high version depending on your preferred length of hair.
Bald Fade with Textured Crop
A bald fade with a textured crop takes advantage of the latest men’s hairstyles trending all over the world. Instead of taking the hair down to the skin, this variation softens the overall trim and leaves you with textured length on top to style as you please.
Bald Fade with Pompadour
Get yourself a bald fade with a pompadour to transform into a really fashionable guy. To achieve this handsome look, request a bald fade around the sides and back with ample hair on top which you can then slick back into the popular pompadour shape.
Buzz Cut Bald Fade
When you’re ready to switch things up, try a bald fade with a buzz cut for a twist on a classic style. With an overall shaved look, this cut leaves you with closely trimmed sides that require frequent touch-ups to ensure your lines stay sharp. You can even experiment with a buzz cut fade by giving yourself one at home.
Bald Fade with Beard
Transform your appearance by getting a bald fade with a beard. Once you’ve grown your beard out, trim and groom your facial hair into a stylish shape with good trimmers. After your beard is tapered to perfection, take yourself to the barber and choose a bald fade cut that best suits your face.
Blowout with Bald Fade
The bald fade blowout has been trending lately with black and white guys. To master this look, ask your barber to cut the sides down to the skin and leave some length on top to style into a cool blowout. Make sure your hairstyle has volume and is completely blown out for the desired finish.
Bald Fade with Designs
Get a bald fade with a design for a cool haircut with flair. Find inspiration and be creative with your hair designs to create a unique look.
Slicked Back Bald Fade
Step back into the past with a stylish slicked back bald fade. Tapered sides are blended into longer hair on top which is then slicked back with product to give you a modern hairstyle with retro vibes.
Quiff with Bald Fade
For those who want a really trendy hairstyle, go for a bald fade with a quiff. This look is perfect for men who want to be daring but don’t want to break the office dress code in the process.
Bald Fade Side Part
The bald fade side part provides a stylish hairstyle for guys who want to blend classic and modern styles. The bald fade can be cut high, medium or low on the sides depending on how bold you want to be. The side part haircut can be trimmed short or long on top, and men can add a line up or shaved hard part for a unique touch. Style the part to one side and leave it textured, loose and casual or neat and professional.
Faux Hawk with Bald Fade
Mohawks are an intense commitment, but a faux hawk haircut with a bald fade could be a more approachable alternative. With closely tapered hair on the sides and back, the fohawk fade leaves you with enough length on top to style a cool, edgy look without shaving your sides.
Afro with Bald Fade
If you love your textured your hair but you’re running out of ways to style it, go for a bald fade with an Afro. The combination of the sleek shave and natural Afro presents you with a modern look you’re sure to love.
Mohawk Bald Fade
A mohawk with a bald fade haircut looks edgy and chic. Instead of the classic shaved sides, the bald fade mohawk can be cut and styled for everyday wear.
Bald Fade Waves
A bald fade with waves is a trendy hairstyle for black men. With short skin faded sides and a wave haircut on top, the style is fresh and hot.
Curly Hair Bald Fade
Curly hair on top with a bald fade on the sides and back make a fashionable hairstyle. Men with curly hair often want an easy way to style their hard-to-manage, frizzy curls. A curly bald fade haircut is stylish and flattering. Just use a strong pomade, mousse or mousse to add volume and minimize frizz.
Skin Tight Fade
A skin tight fade is a very short haircut men get when they want a low-maintenance, simple look. Often associated with military cuts like the high and tight fade, this trendy style maximizes contrast and makes styling effortless.
High and Tight Bald Fade
The high and tight bald fade is a type of military hairstyle with very short hair on the sides, back and top. Easy to get and simple to style, the high and tight has become a chic and rugged look for everyday guys.
Long Hair on Top with Bald Fade
A bald fade with long hair on top allows for styling flexibility. Short sides, long top hairstyles range from the comb over to the faux hawk, fringe, brush back, man bun, top knot, and free-flowing longer styles. Ultimately, the bald taper fade with long hair is sexy and hot, and looks even better with a full beard.
Short Hair on Top with Bald Fade
There are many ways to style short hair with a bald fade. Whether you want a buzz cut, crew cut, side-swept fringe, French crop, or short comb over, short hairstyles for men will always on-trend and handsome.
Bald Fade with Line
For a unique design and cut, ask your barber to shave a line in your fade. The bald fade haircut with a line adds flair and personality to your haircut. Whether you get this line on the side or as a hard part, the result is a badass look.
How To Cut A Bald Fade
Learning how to cut a bald fade requires skill, practice, and excellent hand-eye coordination. Cutting a fade demands a seamless transition between different hair lengths, and this can only be achieved with hair clippers and guards.
Barbers must be precise with their movements to master this fade haircut. To start, your barber will use a shaver to create the fade line. This is determined by how high or low you want the faded cut to start. Below this line, your sides and back will be shaved to expose your scalp, thereby creating the bald cut.
Afterward, your stylist will attach the shortest guard number and start the tapering process. Your barber will use the electric clippers and varying combs to gradually and seamlessly transition the length. By buzzing and layering the sides and back, the hair will become longer and longer as you go up. The final style is a smooth, masculine clean-cut look.
