15+ Bald Fade Styles

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Plus, how to cut a bald fade

Co-authored by Luke Smith, MFA Reviewed by Jasmin Todd

Last Updated: May 1, 2024 Fact Checked

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What is a bald fade?

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Bald Fade Styles

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How to Cut a Bald Fade

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A bald fade is a put-together look that any barber worth their clippers ought to know how to execute. With this trendy style, the hair is longer on top and shortens down to the skin as it travels down your scalp. We talked to pro hair stylist Arthur Sebastian to get the buzz on what a bald fade is, exactly, the hottest bald fade styles, and how to cut a bald fade yourself.

Things You Should Know

A bald fade features hair that gradually transitions from long on top to bare skin as it moves lower on the scalp.
Bald fades often come in high, mid, or low varieties, which describe where on the scalp they begin—up top, in the middle, or down low.
A drop fade starts above the ears and then dips low at the back of the head. A burst fade tapers around the ears in a circle pattern.

Section 1 of 3:

What is a bald fade?

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A bald fade transitions gradually from hair on top to bare skin below. A “fade” features hair that gets shorter as it travels down the head. A “bald fade” gets so short that it becomes bare skin, making for a clean and modern look.^{[1]
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- A “skin fade” is the same thing as a bald fade, and the terms are used interchangeably.

Section 2 of 3:

Bald Fade Styles

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A high fade tapers to short hair high on the head, a low fade sits low, and a mid fade happens somewhere between them.^{[2]
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Research source} These are probably the most important distinctions to make when asking for a fade.
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Bald taper fade A “taper” refers to the actual hair that gets shorter, while a “fade” refers to the hair blending to skin.^{[3]
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Research source} A taper fade combines the two for a clean and sensible style that usually fades low and leaves plenty of hair on top.^{[4]
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- Be aware that some barbers might say that a “taper fade” is the same as a fade. Opinion tends to differ.
With a bald drop fade, the fade starts above the ear and dips low at the back of the head, forming an arc.^{[5]
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Research source} It’s a dynamic and well-rounded look.
Similar to a drop fade, a burst fade tapers to skin in a circle around the ear, and goes great with mohawks or mullets.^{[6]
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A fade that starts around the temples, making the face look longer (so it’s great for round faces) and shifting focus to styled hair on top.^{[7]
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These styles leave lots of hair on top, which is usually mussed up or left fairly unstyled for a casual, easy look.^{[8]
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A coiffed fade has hair that’s usually combed to the side on top, while a styled fade is any fade that has hair styled in any particular way.^{[9]
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Research source} They’re often balanced looks that allow for lots of freedom.
A naturally parted fade features hair that parts along its natural grain. For a hard-parted fade, a line is trimmed into the scalp to separate hair patterns, making for a bolder style.^{[10]
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A shaved-in design or “etching” along the side of the head adds a bit of interest and creativity to any fade.^{[11]
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Research source} Just know that they take regular maintenance to keep the design sharp.
A French crop has a hard-edged fringe of longer hair just above the fade. On a Caesar cut, that fringe extends across the forehead into short bangs.^{[12]
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A colored fade goes the extra mile, with dyed or bleached hair on top that emphasizes the transition to bare skin.
This style keeps the hair extra long on top and extremely short around the sides. It’s an edgy and alternative look.
This style covers everything from pompadours to flat-top ‘fros. Here, the bald fade is just a foundation for what’s happening on top, which usually involves lots of gel.^{[13]
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Section 3 of 3:

How to Cut a Bald Fade

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Use trimmers to cut a bald line from one temple to the other. To cut a fade, first shave a straight, even line around the back of the head about a finger’s width above the ear, from one temple to the other.^{[14]
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- After, shave everything below the line to establish the “bald” portion in the “bald fade.”
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Trim 1 in (2.5 cm) of hair above the bald line with a 0 guard. Use your shortest clipper guard and make upward, flicking motions to trim a strip of hair about 0.75–1 in (1.9–2.5 cm) wide just above the bald line, all the way around.^{[15]
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- If you’re using adjustable clippers, set them so that the clipper lever is all the way open.
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Trim 2 more strips above the last with a 1 guard and a 2 guard. Attach a size-1 clipper guard and trim 0.75–1 in (1.9–2.5 cm) above the 0-guard area. Do the same with a 2-guard right above that.^{[16]
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- Trim all the way around the head, so that it looks like the hair is shortening in “steps.”
Use a 1.5 guard to lightly trim along the line between the 2-guard strip and the 1-guard strip. Do the same with 0.5 guard along the line between the 1-guard strip and the 0-guard strip.^{[17]
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Expert Source

Arthur Sebastian
Professional Hair Stylist

Expert Interview}
Go back along the lines with the appropriate guard or lever setting, using only the corner of the clippers and careful flicking motions to blend the fade so that the transitions are seamless.^{[18]
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