If you were alive around the 1990s then you know that iconic women like Toni Braxton and Grace Jones completely dominated the news cycle because of their fade hairstyle. While most hairstyles come and go, faded hair style has created its niche in our zeitgeist for decades now.
In this article, we hope to go into the depths of this versatile yet edgy hairstyle.
History of the Fade Haircut
The Army is known for having very strict grooming standards. The fade was implemented in the Army during the 1940s and 1950s. The hairstyle soon started gaining traction both amongst the civilians and the veterans who donned it to look professional.
Over the next few decades, the Black community continued to experiment with this hairstyle, and around the mid 1980s came the edgier version of the fade, a high top and would go on to ingratiate with the golden era of hip-hop culture. Around the 1990s, American women started to try out the hairstyle as well with many female artists inspiring black women to try the hairstyle.
Difference Between Taper vs. Fade Hairstyle
As a hairstylist, it can be infuriating to hear people say taper when they mean a fade and get upset when the haircut comes out looking wrong. It is a commonly held misconception amongst people that taper and fade are the same. They are not. However, they are similar and I don’t tend to hold it against people when they get mixed up.
A good rule of thumb for new or up-and-coming hairstylists is to ask your clients to bring a reference photo with them so that things don’t get lost in translation. For people who are not hairstylists or hair care experts, a taper is a haircutting technique where the length of your hair changes from short to long as you move up your head.
In simple terms, you’ll notice that in a haircut with tapered sides, there is a gradual but subtle change in the length of the hair. With the shortest hair around the nape of your neck and sideburns and the longest pieces on the top. This hairstyle tends to be very flexible and versatile as you can play with the length of your taper.
On the other hand, a fade will also involve cutting the hair from shortest to longest but unlike a taper where you see a gradual shift in the length, the fade can be very dramatic and abrupt. So, you can easily notice when a person has a fade when there is a prominent edge and the linework is super precise.
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Types of Fade Haircuts
There are predominately three types of fade haircuts. Other types of faded haircuts are just a variation of these three types. Let us see what they are-
- Low-Fade Haircut: A low-fade haircut is where the hair is shaved closely to the skin just around the neck and the sideburns. Usually, the transition from the longer to the shorter hair is a little subtle but still easily noticeable.
- Mid-Fade Haircut: In a mid-fade haircut, the hair is shaved till around the middle of the head. This type of fade is much more noticeable than the low fade.
- High-Fade Haircut: And lastly in a high-fade haircut, the length of the hair decreases rapidly from the top of the head to the nape of the neck. Usually in this type of fade haircut, the nape of the neck is shaved extremely close to the skin. The transition from the top of the head to the bottom is drastic.
Stylish Fade Hairstyle for Women in 2024
Platinum Blonde Low Fade Hair Cut with Freestyle Design
Classy Platinum Blonde Low Fade Hair Style
Ultra Short Fade
White Blonde with Curly Top and Zig Zag Design
Edgy Platinum Fade Cut
Red Fade Cut with Long Curls on Top
Fade Cut with Black Curls
Striking Yellow Fade Cut with Short Hair and Floral Design
Yellow Fade Cut with Green Star
Relaxed Hair Fade Cuts with Freestyle Designs
Dark Plum Color on a Modern Pixie Style Haircut
This is an elegant take on the all time favorite pixie haircut.
Fade Cut with Braids
Short Hair with Green Fade Cut
Fluorescent Green Fade Cut
Green Fade Cut with Braids
Haircut style with some bright hues, bold braided bright and beautiful.
Ultra Short Black Hair Fade Cut
Fade Cut with Short Curls
Stunning Fade Cut with Braids
Under cuts with designs are fun edgy and classy
Fade Cut with Mohawk
White Blonde with Relaxed Hair
Short haircut with customized blonde color.
Sparkling Red Fade Cut with Natural Hair
Fiery Red with Short Curls
Fade Cut with Shamrock Flower Design
Copper Curly Hair With Faded Sides
Fade Cut with Blue Shades
Fade Cut with Cherry on Top
Undercut Fade
Fiery Magenta Fade Cut
Sleek Dramatic Pixie Style with Honey Ombré Color
Ginger Top Fade Cut
Fade Cut with Floral Design on Black Hair
Classy Grey Hair Fade Cut
Fade Cut with Winged Design
Pink Relaxed Hair with Fade Cut
Burgundy Color Relaxed Hair with Fade Cut
How To Achieve a Fade Haircut?
A fade haircut is not a haircut that you can attempt on yourself because the chances of making a mistake around the back of your head are extremely high. But it is still relatively easy to perform on somebody else. This haircut is perfect for people of all ages and can help you save a lot of money on hair products and hair appointments. So, let us check it out.
Prepare your hair for a haircut by shampooing and conditioning the hair. Detangle the hair with a wide-toothed comb. Before you start fading your hair, trim the top of the head because that will help you go ahead with lining up the fade. Take out as little or as much hair during the trim depending upon your personal preference.
Once the hair on top of the head is trimmed properly, use a three-guard shaver to shave around her head, sideburns, and nape of the neck. Cut the hair as evenly as possible.
The reason why I like to use a three-guard shaver first is because you can always take out more hair but you cannot add hair. In my experience, giving a fade is extremely easy when you go from top to bottom, that is longest to shortest.
Continue shaving the hair until you get to the length of the hair you desire. Now, it is time for the lineup. Set the shaver on the shortest guard and follow the natural line of the hair to clean up the edges. Be extremely careful around the ears. Repeat the process on the other side of the head and make sure that the edges are similar on both sides.
Once you have finished trimming the sides of the head and have lined up the front, now it is time to move your way to the back of the head. You have the fades on the sides of the head to guide you while you shave the back. Shave until the two sides get to meet in the back and then line up the nape of the neck to give the finishing touches. Finish the styling process with a moisturizer and curling gel.
Common Mistakes Made During a Fade Haircut
1) One of the most egregious mistakes made during a fade haircut is not listening to the advice of your barber and the barber not clarifying before cutting the hair what you exactly want. So many of the fights that take place inside of a barbershop happen because of miscommunication.
2) As discussed above there is a confusion between tapered haircuts and faded haircuts amongst the general public. In my experience, asking your client for a reference photo before cutting their hair is a great way to build confidence and know exactly what your client wants.
3) I would also like to advise clients to consult with their hairstylist before getting a haircut. Everybody’s hair is different. Just because something is a trend doesn’t necessarily mean that it will look good on you. Your curl patterns and the state of your natural hair play a huge role in a particular hairstyle looking good on you.
4) The next most common mistake made during a fade is shaving the hair from the bottom up. You need to assess how even the hair growth is on the sides of the head before you closely shave the skin. That is why you always shave from the top to the bottom or from the longest to the shortest.
Maintenance of Faded Haircuts
Aside from the products you should use to maintain a faded haircut, maintenance also requires getting regular touch-ups, every two to three weeks, to keep the fade looking fresh. While the touch-ups can be bothersome for some, the benefits of faded haircuts for your natural hair will definitely outweigh this minor inconvenience.
Many women tend to opt for this hairstyle because it is a stylish yet low-on-effort hairstyle that gives their scalp and hair a break from constant styling, tugging, and tension caused by longer hair. Plus, shorter hair is also easy to manage when you want to wear lace front wigs.
Now, when it comes to maintenance, you can maintain your normal routine but with the added bonus of frequent shampooing and conditioning. Just because your hair is shorter doesn’t mean that you can stop caring for your hair. Moisturize your hair regularly and use curl-defining cream, foam mousse, and leave-in conditioner to style your hair. Also, wrap your hair in a bonnet before going to sleep.
How Often Do I Get a Touch-Up With a Fade?
I recommend my clients to get a touch-up every two to three weeks when they get a fade. Regular touch-ups are a great way to maintain the style in the long run and they can also help you grow back your hair in a cleaner and more defined way. Regular touch-ups are also necessary for promoting healthy hair growth.