Fade, Taper and Undercut: The Side Terms Explained
Fade, taper and undercut all describe the sides and the back. They differ in how short the hair goes, how much of the head it covers, and whether it blends into the top or stops at a line.
Fade
A fade cuts the sides gradually, from very short or skin at the bottom to longer higher up, so there is no line where the lengths meet.
Its height is where the shortest part ends. A low fade starts just above the ear, a mid fade around the temple, and a high fade near where the head starts to round at the top. A skin fade takes the bottom down to bare skin.
Taper
A taper shortens only the edges: the sideburns and the neckline. The rest of the sides keep more length, so it looks softer than a fade and grows out more gradually.
Undercut
An undercut cuts the sides and back to one short length and leaves the top long, with no blend between them. The top falls over a clear step. The two block is an undercut: the sides go to a number 2 or 3 and are not connected to the top.
How to choose
A fade gives the sharpest outline but needs the most upkeep: a low fade needs refreshing every two to three weeks. A taper is the gentlest change. An undercut keeps length on top without bulk at the sides, and starts to show after about four weeks.
