Skin fade, taper or regular haircut: which one should you book?

Most people who sit in our chair know roughly what they want. The tricky part is the name. A fade, a taper and a regular haircut can all look short at the sides, but they're different cuts, and booking the right one means you get the right amount of time in the chair.

The regular haircut

A regular haircut is exactly what it sounds like: your barber takes the length down all over and shapes it the way you ask. It might be clippers on the sides and scissors on top, scissors all over, or one clipper length everywhere. If you want to keep some length at the sides and you're not after that smooth blend down to the skin, this is your cut.

It suits you if you grow your hair a bit longer, wear a classic side part, or just want a tidy-up that keeps your current style.

The taper

A taper gets shorter as it goes down, but only around the edges: the sideburns and the neckline. The rest of the sides keep more length. It looks clean and grown-up, and it grows out gently, so it's a good pick if you can't come in every couple of weeks.

Ask for a taper if you want a neat neckline without the high-contrast look of a fade.

The skin fade

A skin fade starts at bare skin, usually just above the ears or the neck, and blends up into longer hair. It takes longer than a regular haircut because the blend is the whole point: no lines, no steps, just a smooth change from skin to length.

Fades come in heights:

• Low fade: the skin starts just above the ears and neckline. Subtle, and easy to wear to work.
• Mid fade: the skin starts around the middle of the sides. The most popular choice.
• High fade: the skin goes up near the top of the head. Bold and sharp.

Not sure which height? Tell your barber how sharp you want it to look and how often you'll come back. They'll suggest a height that suits your head shape and your schedule.

How to ask for it

A photo is the fastest way to get what you want. Save one or two on your phone, ideally from the side and the back. Then tell your barber three things: how short at the sides, how much to leave on top, and how you style it day to day.

If you wear a beard, think about whether you want it trimmed at the same visit. Blending a fade into a beard looks great, and booking a haircut and beard together saves you a second trip.

Still not sure?

Book the cut that's closest and talk it through when you sit down. Your barber would much rather spend a minute asking questions than guess. You can see every service, how long it takes and what it costs on our prices page.