SIDESPerimeter only — a slight taper at the temples and nape, no fade up the side
NECKLINELined up sharp at the nape
UPKEEPRe-cut every 4 weeks
THE SIDES
Temple fade
A temple fade is not really a fade at all. The clipper work is confined to the perimeter: the hairline is lined up crisp at the temples and the nape, with a slight taper in the last half inch, and the bulk of the hair on the sides keeps its full length. It is how you get a sharp edge without losing volume — which is why it is the standard finish on twists, locs and a grown-out afro.
Also called taper, brooklyn fade, temple taper, lineup.
See one on your face — freeCut with a temple fade
Every one of these is photographed at this fade. Tap any of them to see it on your own face.
Also works with one
These are cut with something else by default, so the photographs show that instead — but ask for a temple fade and your barber will know exactly what you mean.
- Buzz cut
- Crew cut
- Textured crop
- Caesar cut
- Quiff
- Pompadour
- Slick back
- Side part
- Ivy League
- Curtains
- Middle part with a taper
- Blunt fringe
- Spiky
- Messy textured
- Blowout
- Modern mullet
- Afro
- Curly top with a fade
- Curly fringe
- Twists
- Sponge twists
- 360 waves
- Cornrows
- Locs
- Loose perm
- Tight perm
- Comma hair
- See-through fringe
- High top fade
- Textured fringe
- Rat tail
- Jheri curl
- Frosted tips
Questions
- What is the difference between a temple fade and a taper?
- They are the same idea and often the same words. A temple fade emphasises the lined-up edge at the temples; a taper emphasises the softened corner. Ask for either and you will get a perimeter cut with the sides left long.
- What is a temple fade good for?
- Anything where the length or texture on the sides is part of the cut — twists, locs, an afro, a shag. A fade up the side would remove the thing you grew.