Types of Fades Explained (and How to Get Each at Home)
5 min read · Updated August 2026
Every fade name describes the same basic idea — hair blending from longer on top to shorter on the sides — but they differ in where the fade starts and how it's shaped. Here's every common type of fade in plain English, who each suits, and how to get it (at the barber or yourself with an auto-fade clipper).
On this page
Fades by height: low, mid and high
The most important distinction is simply how high up the head the fade begins.
- Low fade — starts just above the ear and the nape. Subtle and versatile; great for professional settings and the easiest to do yourself.
- Mid fade — starts around the temple, roughly halfway up. The most popular all-rounder; balances contrast and subtlety.
- High fade — starts high on the sides for a bold, high-contrast look. Sharp, but the least forgiving because there's more short hair on show.
With the FadeClipper the height is the only real decision — you start your upward glide at that line and the blade blends everything below it.
Fades by shortest length: taper vs fade vs skin fade
- Taper — the gentlest: only the edges (neckline and sideburns) shorten, and the sides stay relatively long. Barely-there and very natural.
- Fade — the sides blend much shorter than a taper, down to a very short length.
- Skin / bald fade — the fade goes all the way to bare skin at the bottom. The sharpest and highest-maintenance. See our skin fade at home guide.
Every fade is technically a taper, but not every taper is a full fade. If you've searched 'taper vs fade', that's the whole difference in one line.
Fades by shape: drop and burst
- Drop fade — the fade line curves down behind the ear, 'dropping' lower at the back for a rounded shape. Flatters most head shapes.
- Burst fade — the fade fans out in a semicircle around the ear, leaving the back longer. Popular with mohawks and mullets.
Which fade suits you?
- Want low-maintenance / office-safe? Low fade or taper.
- Want a classic all-rounder? Mid fade.
- Want maximum contrast? High fade or high skin fade.
- Rounder head shape? A drop fade softens the back nicely.
- First time doing it yourself? Start with a low fade — it's the most forgiving.
Doing any of these yourself
The reason self-fading used to be hard is that a normal clipper makes you manually blend several guard lengths. An auto-fade clipper does that blend mechanically, so the only thing that changes between a low, mid, high, drop or skin fade is where you start and how you shape the line. For the full step-by-step, see how to fade your own hair.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between a low, mid and high fade?+
It's where the fade starts. A low fade begins just above the ear, a mid fade around the temple, and a high fade higher up the side of the head. Higher fades show more short hair and look bolder; lower fades are subtler and easier to do yourself.
What is the difference between a fade and a taper?+
A taper only shortens the edges (neckline and sideburns) and keeps the sides fairly long. A fade blends the whole side and back down to very short or to the skin. Every fade is a kind of taper, but a taper isn't necessarily a full fade.
What's the difference between a drop fade and a burst fade?+
A drop fade curves down behind the ear so the fade line drops lower at the back. A burst fade fans out in a semicircle around the ear and leaves the back longer. Drop fades suit most styles; burst fades pair well with mohawks and mullets.
Which type of fade is easiest to do yourself?+
A low fade or a taper. Both keep the shortest, most visible section low on the head, so mistakes are easier to hide and correct than with a high or high-skin fade.
Do it yourself with the FadeClipper
The auto-fade blade blends the fade for you — a sharp cut at home in minutes, for a one-time $89.99.
See the FadeClipperKeep reading
How to Fade the Back of Your Own Head
The back of your head is the hardest part of a self-fade. Here's the exact mirror and phone-camera setup, the gliding technique, and the mistakes to avoid — so you can fade the back solo.
How to Do a Skin Fade at Home
A skin fade (bald fade) blends your hair all the way down to bare skin. Here's how to do one yourself at home — where to start the fade, how to take it to zero cleanly, and how to avoid patchiness.