- Fade haircut lookbook
- Inspiration video
- Piece of history: the relatively new style
- Good to know
- Fade definition and combinations
The fade haircut lookbook
The Low Fade
The low version is, as you now know, the classic fade. This classic version has been used by men since the invention of the electric hair clipper in the early 1920s and has since been known as the classic version.
It is a versatile cut because you can also combine different hairstyles with it.
With the classic version, the same length of the clippers is usually maintained throughout.
Below you can see some examples of the regular fade in combination with a quiff, pompadour, disconnected side/top, and long hair.
The Bald Fade
Also called the “skin fade” or bald shave, this unique variant immediately stands out. The contrast between the neatly shaved sides and the full head of hair on top is guaranteed to attract attention.
It is a trendy men’s haircut at the moment and it is also easy to create.
Fade haircut video
Good to know
- Depending on the hairstyle you choose for the top of your head, you don’t have to worry too much about your face shape to go for the Fade Cut
- If you are not used to a shave, the cold winter months will suddenly feel a lot fresher
- Men of all ages opt for shaved hairstyles because these hairstyles are easy to combine and therefore versatile
- Your hair length will be cut significantly on the sides and back, depending on the hairstyle you choose to pair your fade with
- Your hair type wouldn’t be affecting the outcome of this look that much
- Because the sides and back of your head are closely shaved, the contours (and scars, cuts…) of your head will be clearly visible
- The fade also appears in the men’s haircuts trends guide + this year’s men’s hairstyles inspiration guide
- A fade is also called an ‘overflow haircut’
Fade hairstyles have been popular among Dutchmen for several years and they’re definitely not going anywhere anytime soon.
The reason men often choose the fade is for its practicality.
These types of hairstyles are easy to maintain and a monthly visit to the hairdresser or barber is enough to shine with a trendy look.
Another reason to choose it is the fact that fade hairstyles are haircuts from the foundation for many popular men’s hairstyles.
But there is also a change going on. Where fade hairstyles are usually worn in combination with other short hairstyles on top of the head, we now see combinations with medium and even long hair.
Fade cuts work great with, for example, a slick back, quiff, the pompadour, or side part.
Regardless of your preference, a fade haircut will certainly look the part and doesn’t tie you to a particular hairstyle, making it easy to combine.
Fade definition, versions and combinations
A fade hairstyle is a style in which the hair gradually lengthens from the bottom of the neck towards the top of the head.
To create the look, an electric hair clipper on the same one setting throughout. Then a gradual transition is shaved between the long hair on top of the head and the sides and back.
There are three different, clearly recognizable versions, namely:
- The low fade: also called the classic or regular fade. This version is often chosen by the Dutchman because it is a good basis for combinations with, for example, classic men’s hairstyles. The hairline starts with shaved hair at the bottom of the neck and lengthens towards the top of the head.
- The high fade: a newer and currently trendy version. The gradation from short to long hair starts from about the center of the head and ears.
- The bald fade: a version in which the sides and back of the head are bald. The transition from short to long hair starts from the ears instead of from the bottom of the neck (as it does in the classic version).
Note: A fade is not the same as an undercut, even though the two are often used interchangeably because they are very similar.
The difference is in the length of the hair between the sides and back and the hair on top of the head.
With an undercut, this difference is so great that it creates a clear contrast. With a fade, the sides and back will gradually and nicely flow into the hair on top of the head.
In addition, a professional-looking fade requires more work and expertise.
We recommend having this done by a barber or hairdresser with enough experience. Technically, you could possibly give yourself an undercut if you own a good pair of clippers.
Piece of history: the fade is a relatively new style
If we compare the fade with age-old hairstyles such as the buzz cut or Caesar cut, it’s easy to see that this is a relatively new hairstyle.
And that is thanks to Leo Wahl, the inventor of the clippers. In the early 1920s (1921 to be precise) he patented a design for a clipper that he had been working on for more than 10 years.
It was a commercial success and thousands of clippers were sold within the first year on the market.
This particular design has enabled other companies to respond to the demand for quality electric shavers.
To this day, a century later, his company, Wahl Clipper, is still a major player in the beauty and fashion industry.
