Taper, Fade, or Undercut? Learn the Differences and Find Your Style!

Taper

Characteristics:

A taper is a classic look that gradually shortens the length of your hair as it moves down the sides and back of your head. This smooth transition from long to short hair keeps some length at the neck (vs. fading into your skin) to maintain a natural look.

Types:

Tapers can range from high to mid and low. Low tapers begin cutting the length of your hair just below your ear while mid tapers begin at the top of your ear. High tapers, on the other hand, start higher on your head and create a more noticeable look.

Style Guide:

If you characterize your personal style as clean, polished and simple, a taper may be the look for you! Pair it with a pomade like the Latitude by Great Clips pomade to make this style look even more sleek.

Fade

Characteristics:

A fade is another style characterized as hair that transitions from long at the top to short at the bottom. The big difference: the hair at the bottom seamlessly “fades” into your skin, creating a more dramatic style compared to the natural feel of a taper.

Types:

Fades are a versatile style and, like tapers, can start either higher or lower on your head. If you’re interested in one of this year’s hair trends, try out a burst fade, which curves around your ear rather than down your head.

Style Guide:

If you’re looking to turn heads with a modern, stylish cut, make a fade your new signature look! Give your look a matte finish with the American Crew Matte Clay Spray and check out our lookbook for even more fades to try out.

Undercut

Characteristics:

An undercut is our final look – and our boldest style yet! This cut features nearly shaven hair on the back and sides of the head with significantly longer hair on top. Compared to the taper and fade’s smooth transition from long to short hair, undercuts are characterized as having a sharper contrast.

Types:

There are plenty of ways to customize an undercut to find your personal style! If you have longer hair, try a slicked-back undercut to keep your hair off your face. For those with shorter hair, the disconnected undercut is a style that doesn’t feature any blending from long to short hair and is a great choice for maintaining that eye-catching appearance.

Style Guide:

An undercut is your go-to style if you’re looking to make an edgy and bold statement on your hair! Try styling your undercut with the Solutions by Great Clips Designing Taffy for an extra boost of confidence.

Now that you’ve chosen the ‘do that works best for you, it’s time to bring your look to life by heading to your local Great Clips salon! And with Online Check-In, it couldn't be easier to get your next haircut.

Did you get you a taper, fade or undercut? Tag @GreatClips in your posts on Facebook, X, Instagram and TikTok to let us know!