10 Best High Top Fade Haircuts For Men

Are you looking for men's haircut inspiration or just plain direction on how to achieve the look you are aiming for? Maybe, you have seen pictures of popular actors or musicians with a stylish and faded cut you are hoping to one day emulate. Well, look no further. Today, we are going to be discussing the ever-popular men's high top fade haircut.

One of the most iconic men’s hairstyles, that has stood the test of time, is this fade look. Popular and ever-relevant for decades, this cut is one of the most recognizable and low-maintenance styles in the world. Actors such as Ryan Reynolds and Will Smith frequently don the elegant cut and it is clear why. This style is ideal for any ethnicity, length, and style of hair.

What Is the High Top Fade?

The high top fade is a simple and stylish barber or hair cutting technique that adds detail and definition to almost any hairstyle. However, there is a plethora of these styles to choose from to fit any face shape and personal style. The idea is that there is a fade, or degradation of hair, generally on the sides. What you do with the top is up to you, and how fast or steady that fade occurs depends on the look you are trying to achieve.

This is a popular and iconic style that has greatly increased in popularity in the past few years. It is a timeless, clean, and perpetually on-trend look that can be uniquely versatile in appearance.

Why Get a High Top Fade 

Haircut Instead of Another Style?

This hairc​​ut is becoming increasingly popular in today’s culture not only because of how clean and put together it can look, but also because of how maintenance-free a lot of the styles are. Since a lot of the styling is in the degradation or fading of the hair, an excess of styling product is not necessary to achieve the look.

Additionally, with the versatility and unique ways to style one of these fade looks, there is a plethora of options, shapes, and styles to fit any face shape, hair texture, or style!

10 Best High Top Fade Haircuts for Men

If you are looking for a modern twist to the high top fade, it can be tempting to go to the barber and simply ask for just a “high top fade.” However, nowadays, the style has changed and altered to better suit a wider array of styles. Therefore, it is important to know exactly what to ask for.

Fortunately, we have explored the top 10 best high top fade haircuts for men below. We base our scoring on the level of personal maintenance required, popularity, and versatility involved in the style.

1. Taper Fade

First on our list is the taper fade. This hairstyle is one of the most popular and modern styles of the 21st century. The taper fade is often described as a subtle and ​low-maintenance style. This fade is surprisingly versatile, allowing you to keep it longer for a more of an understated look or have it shorter, using a grade zero, for a more striking appearance.

2. Skin Fade

The skin fade is another popular style similar to a zero fade in that the hair gets shorter the farther it travels down your scalp, meaning the longest part of your hair will be at the very top. However, with a skin fade, the hair is shaved down to your actual skin, not just left very short.

The skin fade is a great option for those looking to add some differentiation between their beard line and the start of their hair or sideburns. Our suggestion is to keep your facial hair at a very similar length as the hair fading into it for a more balanced and seamless transition. However, if you prefer a longer beard style, try to keep things trimmed up and sharp to maintain the clean lines and appearance.

3. Skin Fade Undercut

Third on the list is another lower maintenance fade look, it is the skin fade undercut. The skin fade undercut is another popular fade look that has increased in popularity in the past few years. This style is like the skin fade. However, the fade in which the shortness degrades is much more severe, leaving a much more sudden and stark appearance.

The skin fade undercut is ideal for those looking to leave the hair on top much longer than the sides. A popular, go-to, style with the skin fade undercut is to sweep or slick the hair on top back for a more refined look.

4. Bald Fade

The bald fade hairstyle is one of the most maintenance-friendly styles out there. This is more than reason enough for it to be such a popular look. The bald fade is ideal if you prefer to keep your hair very short or are looking for more of a buzz-cut appearance. This is a wonderful alternative to simply buzzing the entire head. With a bald fade, you add definition and detail to what normally can be seen as a plain style.

5. Temp Fade

The temp fade, or temple fade, may look familiar as it is a style made popular by actor Will Smith in 1990. This timeless classic is ideal for men with an afro or hair with tight curls. This cut's fade starts lower, around the mid or low fade region, and tapers around the temples. The precision and sharp lines that create the clean and stylish look require the skill of a barber, so we do not suggest trying it at home. Rather, leave the work to a professional to give you this classic hair look.

6. Scissor Fade

If you are looking for an easier introduction to the fade look, we suggest giving the scissor fade a try. The scissor fade is a great way to experience the more tapered style, without having to commit to extremely short lengths. The scissor fade, as the name suggests, uses scissors instead of clippers to achieve the tapered effect. However, the hair remains much longer in length.

The scissor fade is ideal if you want more of a textured appearance instead of the sharper faded lines of the shorter styles.

7. Fade Into Beard

Similar to the skin fade, the fade into beard is a great clean style. With this look, the hair on the top of the head is kept longer and we suggest adding texture or leaving a natural wave or curl to the top if you have it. The fade for this look grades to almost bald around the ears and reverses to transition into a gradual beard.

8. Long Pompadour with Fade

The pompadour with a fade is being seen everywhere nowadays and it is clear why. This clean and versatile style is low-maintenance and fun for a more modern twist on the fade.

If you can coerce your hair to stay up, this is the look for you. Keeping it long on top, this fade tapers down at the ears and can be achieved by a combination of scissors and clippers. This is an ideal style for those with coarser or ethnic hair.

9. Skin Fade with Top Texture

Next on our list is the skin fade with top texture. This is a simple and versatile look can be accomplished a few different ways. The skin fade with top texture keeps the fade at an almost bald grade around the ears and gets progressively longer up to the part. On the opposite side of the part, the hair is at least 1 to 2 inches long. To achieve the textured look, gather hair in chunks with wax for a unique appearance.

10. Dapper Fade

Last on our list is the classic dapper fade. The dapper fade is a stylish fade look where the top is long and brushed back, similar to the pompadour. However, with the dapper fade, you can see some natural wave in the hair and the sides are buzzed and tapered down all the way to the sideburns.

Conclusion

If you are looking for an easy way to upgrade your overall appearance, a haircut is always a great and simple option. With the versatility that comes with men's hairstyles and fashion, all it takes is a little research to gain the knowledge you need to select a style that works for you and helps you achieve the look you are going for.

Now that we have discussed the top 10 high top fade hairstyles for men, you can explore which style would work best for you. Do not be afraid to experiment with various styles as many of the looks build off of each other, allowing for a multitude of options as your hair grows out! Whether you are looking for a distinguished, classic, or modern style, we trust one of the looks in this top 10 list is best for you. What are you waiting for? Try it today!