Skin Fade vs Other Fade Styles: Which One Suits You?

A skin fade cuts the hair down to bare skin at the sides and back before blending up into length on top. It's the sharpest, most defined fade style going around. If you want that fade look without going quite that short, a low fade, mid fade, high fade or taper all keep more length at the bottom of the fade and are easier to grow out between visits.

What actually is a skin fade?

"Skin fade" specifically means the clippers go all the way down to skin at the lowest point of the fade, usually right around the ear and neckline, then blend up smoothly into whatever length you're keeping on top. It's the most dramatic contrast you can get in a fade, and it's why it's become the most searched haircut term out there. It photographs well and it's unmistakably sharp.

Skin fade vs low fade vs high fade vs taper

A low fade keeps the fade line close to the bottom, near the ears. It’s subtle and works well for a more corporate look. A high fade pushes the fade line up higher on the sides, giving a bolder, more contrast-heavy result that pairs well with more length or texture on top. A taper is the gentlest of the lot. It shortens the hair gradually without ever going down to skin, which some workplaces and more conservative dress codes prefer. All four can be finished as a skin fade at the bottom if you want maximum contrast, or kept softer if you don't.

Which fade suits your hair, face shape and job

Thicker or curlier hair tends to hold a high fade's contrast better, since there's more length on top to work with. Finer, straighter hair often looks cleaner with a low fade or taper, where there's less of a hard line to grow out awkwardly. If you're in a workplace with a stricter dress code, a taper or low fade reads as neater day to day. And if your face is rounder, a higher fade with more length on top helps elongate things; if your face is longer, a lower fade balances it out better.

How to keep a fade looking sharp between cuts

A skin fade grows out fastest of all the fade styles, simply because there's more distance between "faded to skin" and "regrowth". Most men are back in the chair every 2 to 3 weeks to keep it crisp. A low fade or taper stretches a bit further, closer to 3 to 4 weeks. If you're not sure which one fits your lifestyle, tell your barber how often you're realistically going to come in and let that steer the style, not the other way around.

Not sure which fade suits you? Book in with a Core Benefits barber and we'll talk you through it in the chair.