Best High Fade Haircuts for Men Trending In 2025
The high fade is a trendy and versatile haircut for men looking for a bold and stylish look. This haircut offers a striking contrast between longer hair on top of the head transitioning to shorter sides. It combines edgy aesthetics with a polished and effortless look to suit every formal and informal occasion.
The high fade haircut has become very popular over the years and is one of the favorite hairstyles of celebrities and athletes. This versatile haircut complements every face shape and hair texture. So, let us explore some of the most common and popular variations of high fade haircuts in detail.
Understanding High Fade Haircut
The high fade haircut involves dramatic tapering of the hair high up on the head around the temples. The sides are trimmed short and gradually transition down to the skin to achieve a beautiful faded contrast with the longer hair on the top. This highlights the dramatic longer hair section and also balances it out with the shorter shaved sides. Moreover, it goes well with all kinds of hair textures and face shapes with a little bit of tweaking and customizations.
High Fade Variations
There are various types of high fade haircuts, each with different features and styles. Understanding these variations is necessary as it can help you get an insight into which haircut to choose based on your face shape and hair type. So, let’s delve right into it without wasting any time.
High Fade Taper
Style: Classic and polished
Ideal for: men with oval and square face shapes
This classic variation of a high fade offers gradual tapering of hair length, starting from the sides and back of the head and blending into the skin. It is a versatile haircut and can be paired well with different hair lengths and textures that you can style in various ways. It offers a polished look with a sleek comb-over however, you can style it in a messy tousled way for a carefree vibe.
High Fade Undercut
Style: edgy and modern
Ideal for: those with square and rectangular face shapes
The high fade undercut combines the clean lines of a high fade with an undercut. The sides and back are faded closely and the top remains longer. This gives you a chance to style your hair in a pompadour, slick back looks, or curls.
Additionally, you must get this haircut if you love a modern and charming appearance that merges clean lines with a rebellious edgy vibe. It is an ideal option for those with thick and textured, medium to long hair.
High Fade Paired With Spiky Top
Style: playful and bold
Ideal for: men with oval and heart-shaped faces
The high fade paired with a spiky top offers a playful and bold style that involves spiked hair on the crown of the head and shorter faded hair on the sides. This unique look is best for men who are looking for a fun and new vibe. Moreover, you can style it with a comb and a gel or wax to give the hair a tall shape and retain it for a longer time. For a more balanced and versatile look, you can opt for a Low or Mid Fade, which offers a smoother transition between the top and sides, making it suitable for both casual and professional settings.
This haircut is suitable for casual outings and parties as it has a more informal vibe to it. Furthermore, it complements straight hair the most but you can get it with curly and wavy hair as well.
High Fade Paired With Hard Part
Style: sharp and contemporary
Ideal for: men with square and rectangular face shapes
The high fade merged with a hard part is the most attractive haircut for men with strong features. The high fade starts high up on the sides and back, around and above the temples. To give the hairstyle a clean and minimalist look, it blends down gradually into shorter or shaved hair. The hard part of this haircut is a sharp and clean shaved line that goes parallel to the hairline.
The hard part separates the two sections and creates shorter and longer hair parts that look beautiful and attention-grabbing. It depends on your preference to keep the hair at the top part long, short, or medium. Furthermore, you can style it on the side, upward, or backward.
Military High Skin Fade Haircut
Style: Minimalist and natural
Ideal for: all face shapes
This variation of a high fade cut is inspired by military grooming standards and offers a practical and short hairstyle. The high fade usually incorporates long hair on top but in this version, it is cut short, often shaved down to the skin for a minimalist look. This haircut is very easy to maintain and requires minimal to no effort to style it. Moreover, it is a perfect option for those who have an active and busy lifestyle and have no time to waste on daily styling.
High Fade Paired With Afro Top
Style: bold and natural
Ideal for: men with round and oval faces
The high fade afro top is a unique variation that combines high skin fade with an afro top. The high fade is initiated from the sides and back or above the ears while the top part embraces the lengthier, full, and textured hair. The natural coils and curls give a voluminous appearance however, the length of the top part depends on your preference.
You can use curling creams to avoid frizz and keep the curls defined and hydrated. Moreover, it complements curly and coily hair only.
High Fade Paired With Fringe
Style: modern and fresh
Ideal for: men with oval and diamond face shapes
The high fade paired with a contemporary and modern hairstyle that involves a fringe swept on a side or in a forward direction. It makes the classic fade more attractive to the youth and looks perfect in straight or slightly wavy hair. Moreover, the fringe is left longer than the rest of the hair and hangs over the forehead. You can style it with a lightweight product to define the fringe and add texture to it. If you prefer an ultra-short and low-maintenance style, the Buzz Cut is a great alternative, offering a clean and sharp look with minimal styling required.
High Fade Paired With Mohawk
Style: daring and bold
Ideal for: men with oval and rectangular face shapes
This rebellious haircut features a stripe of hair going down from the forehead toward the nape of the neck. The sides are closely faded so it can balance out the rebellious and dramatic look of a mohawk. This high fade variation is for men who love to stand out. Moreover, you need a styling product that can keep your hair structure intact for a longer time period.
High Fade Paired With Braids
Style: creative and bold
Ideal for: men with oval and rectangular face shapes
This is a culturally rich variation of a high fade and has room for showing your creativity through braids. This haircut is suitable for those who want to express their individuality and culture. The top part of the head features long hair while the sides are trimmed shorter with gradual transition from the longer hair.
You can create different designs in the braids from cornrows to more elaborate styles to give a personal touch to your haircut. You need to maintain your hair regularly and use good quality styling products to avoid damaging it.
High Fade Paired With Slick Back
Style: elegant and refined
Ideal for: men with heart-shaped and square face shapes
The high fade with a slick back is a perfect combination of an elegant and trendy look. The classic slick back gives this haircut a professional and well-groomed touch while the high fade ensures a contemporary and sharp finish.
A pomade or gel can be used to achieve the smooth sleek and glossy look of the hair. Moreover, you can wear this hairstyle in both formal and informal settings as it is a perfect balance of casual and professional vibes.
FAQs
Which is better, a low fade or a high fade?
Both are popular haircuts and it depends on your personal preference. If you like a subtle and effortless look then low fade is better. However, a high fade is better for a bold and edgy look.
Who suits a high fade?
It works for almost everyone, you can customize it to suit your face shape and hair type.
How to maintain a high fade?
Keep your hair healthy and clean and visit your barber every 2 to 3 weeks to trim your high fade and keep it fresh.
Conclusion
Everything considered, a high fade is a trendy haircut popular for its sharp and clean finish around the sides of the head. Typically, this haircut involves relatively longer hair on the top of the head that gradually transitions to shorter, closer-to-skin hair at the back and sides. You can pair this haircut with a variety of other hairstyles like a mohawk, pompadour, or spiky top and show your creativity.
Additionally, this haircut has a bunch of different variations that you can choose from based on your hair type and face shape. This blog explains all the popular types of high fade with detailed descriptions on how to style it and which face shape it suits the most.
