25 Sharp Mid Taper Fade Haircuts Men Are Asking For

The mid taper fade is a cleaner option that sits right in between a low and high fade.

I look at a mid taper fade as the most forgiving style because of it’s versatility. It sits right in the middle and works great with almost any head shape. Also, you won’t have to worry about the precession that comes with a skin fade, and you won’t have to deal with the awkwardness of low taper fade hair growth like you would with low fades. I had a client once who was about 22, and had only high fades because that was the default of his first barber. When I was able to convince him to move to a mid taper fade he sat there smiling and staring. This is the beauty of a mid taper fade, it’s clean and compliments everything without being too flashy.

Mid tapers gradually change to a longer length and make my job easier. The smooth blend into the neckline and behind the ear helps the natural look. The grow out is what matters most. I care more about how it looks when you are out the door, I dont care how crispy the lineup is. When a fade falls apart in the first four days, that is not a good fade. Good mid tapers are the guys that come back in three weeks and still look good, just softer. That is really where a fade goes right. Take a look through and pick what best resembles you.

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#1: Soft Texture on a Clean Mid Taper

I really enjoy doing this type of cut. The texture on top is doing enough without overdoing. It’s like the hair is styled but it looks like they didn’t touch it at all. The fade sits perfectly and blends from behind the ear with no line. The tousled finish on top gives a nice modern touch which works for the office or for going out on a Saturday. This will look amazing if your hair has any natural thickness and with a bit of matte paste worked through the top, it will look even better.

#2 Textured Top with a Modern Mid Fade

I really like this one as it plays with volume up top without going over the top. There’s a fine line between messy and textured and this cut stays on the right side of that line. The sides are clean, and the blend is smooth, allowing all the attention to sit where it should, up top where all that texture is doing its thing. This haircut basically styles itself in the morning as long as the person has straight or slightly wavy hair, but a little product would be handy for the days when your hair is being difficult because it most definitely will.

#3 A Polished Mid Taper That Holds Its Shape

The hair has nice waves in front that keep the look from being overly corporate or stiff. Such small detail makes a huge difference in the overall feel of the cut. The blend from the tapered sides into the top being fuller is really smooth. That shows me the artist took the time to blend. I really think this is one of those styles that, in two or three days, is going to look even better than it looks now. Once the hair is able to settle into place more naturally, the cut will have this effortlessness to it.

#4 Textured Spikes on a Mid Taper Fade

This is a fun cut where you can really play with height and movement on top whilst the short sides make everything up there look more dramatic than it is. Also if your hair is finer, this style is especially good because the texture builds the illusion of more density, which is always a key focus of mine when working with fine hair. It’s pretty versatile too, you can stick it up for that extra edgy look or push it all forward for a more relaxed look. With this style a texturising product is a must though.

#5 Clean and Polished with Just a Touch of Texture

I know exactly how to achieve this look. The haircuts I do help guys avoid putting a lot of effort into their styles. I get that our efforts are appreciated, but there is still a certain talent to achieving the less is more look. My suggestion is the haircut where there are shaved edges along the length of the hair that is a little more voluminous around the crown. From a distance, one might view this haircut as having less frontal volume. The comments I have gotten are that to keep this look it will require you to come in every 2 and a half weeks to 3 if you are lucky. There are several reasons for us to appreciate consistency in hair maintenance.

#6 Top Knot on a Mid Taper Fade

This look is a win for me, and here’s why. A top knot and a good mid fade can be a surprising combo. The mid fade highlights the amount of hair and the knot accentuates the neat fade and shows off the shape of the head, which is the point behind a good fade. If your hair is long enough some waves, or some texture you should definitely give it a go. The outline of the look is great, and the best part is you can have your hair down on the days you don’t want to do the updo.

#7 Defined Curls with a Mid Taper Blend

I think my favorite thing about cutting curly hair is the tight fade on the sides and how it creates a nice contrast with defined curls on top. With curls like these, you don’t want to cut into the hair too much on the top so they can keep their shape and bounce. Whoever did this great job. A good curl cream will help keep everything defined without it getting crunchy. Just keep up with your edge cleanups because the contrast is what makes this whole look sing.

#8 Slicked Back Mid Taper with Clean Lines

This is a classic and I could do it every year. The slicked back top with mid taper is a super versatile style – it works in the boardroom and at the bar and everywhere in between. The sides being clean also helps to show off a strong jaw which is flattering if you’ve got the bone structure for it. Even if you do not have it, the proportions of this haircut usually create that illusion. For this style, you need pomade or a strong hold gel – but once you’ve found the right product for your hair, styling this becomes a five minute job.

#9 Well-Defined Texture on a Modern Mid Fade

This is a textured cut done with intention. You can see how each section is cut to fall a certain way, and that is what separates this cut from someone who just hacked at it with thinning shears. The volume on top is nice and lifts without looking overcooked with product which is the goal in my opinion. If you have straight or wavy hair and are looking for something modern but not trendy this is a really good spot to land.

#10 Soft Waves with a Tapered Mid Fade

This look is giving us all the waves! When waves and natural hair movement decide your style, you get a good and long lasting look! With beautiful colors added, the waves create even more depth and dimension. If your hair is even a bit wavy, tell your stylist to work *with* the waves. You’ll likely leave with a style that feels just right!

#11 Relaxed Mid Taper with Natural Movement

This hairstyle creates an effortless look for the wearer, which is not easy to achieve, and is one of the things I admire about this hairstyle. The waves look very organic and give life to the hairstyle without entailing too much maintenance. The taper is clean, and ensures that everything remains purposeful. I believe you’ll only need some sea salt spray along with your fingers to style this hairstyle, and on good hair days, you’ll probably need even less. This makes it one of the most low-maintenance hairstyles on this list.

#12 Bold Texture on a Mid Taper

The top texture here feels weighty – not heavy weighty but substantial – like each strand is saying “ put me here” and staying there. Cuts like this definitely need some density to work with as the height and volume on top balance the tighter sides and flatters guys with more angular features. I will say this one needs maintenance most likely every two weeks if you’re active but when it’s fresh the shape is so good that it’s worth the commitment.

#13 Spiked Texture on an Edgy Mid Taper

I appreciate the spiky look because it reminds me of the more refined looks from the 2000s, with a much better fade than anyone could get back then. I also enjoy being able to give my clients a good amount of options, and this cut certainly does that. You can choose to style it up if you’re going for a more bold look, or you can style it down for something a little more subtle. It really can go either way. If you appreciate precision when it comes to cuts, then the lines being as sharp as they are and the blends being as tight as they are will have you smiling at this cut every time you look in the mirror.

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#14: Close-Cropped Mid Taper with Subtle Detail

I’ve noticed one detail on the front of this one that keeps pulling me back. It’s so small, yet it completely changes the feel of the cut from simple to intriguing. The top crop is short enough to be really easy to manage, but long enough to see that layered texture, and the taper on the sides is nice and clean without being overly tight. This is the sort of cut I recommend to guys that want to look put together every day without having to spend more than a minute on styling their hair, which, let’s be honest, is pretty much every guy that sits in my chair.

#15 Textured Fringe on a Trendy Mid Taper

The fringe is playful and adds softness to the forehead. It also adds movement that is missing from styles that are pulled straight back. This is a good cut if your hair is fine, because the top of the cut will add texture and volume, while the tapered sides give a nice clean look. It just needs a light hold product, and definitely no heavy products to weigh it down.

#16 Polished Top with a Classic Mid Taper

I appreciate this kind of barbering since the skill of work is in the seamless transition from the shorter lengths on the sides, to the longer lengths on top. When done right, these cuts create sharp shapes that look, for want of a better term, quite posh. The hair on top is slicked back for a very neat appearance. This would mean there is probably some decent hair product used to keep everything in place. Undoubtedly, this haircut will necessitate some upkeep. If you consider it worth the investment, then this haircut will give you the best value for your time.

#17 Defined Texture on a Mid Taper Fade

The top length of this style gets just the right amount of texture without crossing over into the area where the hair loses shape and gets floppy throughout the day. This style works especially well for guys with finer hair because the textured layers on top create an illusion of thickness, and with short sides, the contrast is even more. For hold and definition, just a small amount of product will do. I suggest something with a bit of hold to keep your style in place, but not too much.

#18 Fresh and Easy Modern Mid Taper

This is the most recommended cut, because it suits most people and it doesn’t take much time, or skills to style in the mornings. Once the hair grows up a little bit, it should create a youthful look on the face. The neat taper on the sides allows it to look intentional, even if you haven’t done anything to it in weeks, and I know that’s the case for many clients. For this mid taper, the texture is relaxed and natural. which is how I think it should be styled, without any extra finesse or perfection.

#19 Curly Top with a Clean Mid Taper

The curls look amazing, and the fade underneath is doing exactly what it’s supposed to do—get out of the way and allow the curls to shine. The length on top is just right because the curls have enough space to coil and bounce without getting tangled or losing definition, and the shorter sides add contrast and make the whole look intentional. A lightweight curl cream will help you maintain these in between washes, and to be honest with this much definition you could go a few days without doing anything and still look great.

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#20: Sharp Mid Taper with Tousled Texture

Something I love about the tousled top on this is how nice and lived-in it looks. It looks like it was styled this morning, but it has been through a full day’s worth of life, and it still looks great. A good cut, in my opinion, is one that still looks good after a long day. The fade is smooth, and the transition is gradual. His hair is in a lot of texture on top, while the sides don’t need to compete because of how visually interesting they are. If your hair has any natural body to it, you could style this with just your fingers and a tiny bit of product, or go completely relaxed on lazy days and not put in any effort, and it would still hold its shape because the cut itself is doing most of the work.

#21 Textured Volume on a Mid Taper Fade

The slight wave in this style is nice. It adds a gentle touch, and helps customize what could be a more generic style. The longer top with tapered sides is pretty easy to pull off. If you have any natural wave, this cut will definitely work for you which helps avoid that weird straight look. The fullness of this cut is all from the cut itself which is clear from the natural fall and texture it has.

#22 Spiked Top on a Modern Mid Taper

This is a great hairstyle, and the mid fade with spiked top combination looks good on almost everyone. A lot of people assume that this style takes a lot of maintenance, but that is not really the case. This style helps with defining the jawline, and overall top height is good as it draws the eye upwards. For this look, you’ll need to be comfortable using a hair product with hold but no crunchy finishes. You’ll also need to touch up the fade every two weeks or so to keep that clean contrast with the top and sides.

#23 Natural Curls on a Textured Mid Taper

To cut curly hair is to create styles. I get to analyze the hair’s behavior and adjust my cut accordingly. When the curls align like this, it’s super satisfying. The curls on top are defined and bouncy, and the sides have a mid taper that frames the curls. This gives a fantastic overall shape to the head. If your hair grows fast, and curly hair often does, it can get unruly quickly. We recommend coming back more frequently to maintain the shape.

#24 Versatile Textured Top with a Mid Fade

The haircut is obviously simple, but it does the job adequately. That is positive in my situation because they were able to achieve the look with accuracy. Obviously, the individual has done this multiple times and knows the way hair flows. The top of the head has a soft and naturally looking texture that suits the cut well and is combined with the sides. Overall, this is a good haircut and the best part is the subtlety. I am sure when people say you look good they don’t even know why, and that is the best result for me.

#25 Sleek and Short Mid Taper with Fine Texture

I appreciate the restraint, the top layers have a nice texture that gives dimension avoids a really military or severe look. The blend on the sides is super seamless because when the hair is this short, there’s no room for uneven blending to hide. For a styled cut this is about as low as it gets in terms of upkeep. For a fade, that’s pretty impressive, it will look sharp and crisp for about 3 weeks before you need to come back.