23+ Best Mid Fade Haircuts for Men

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Mid Fade Haircut Men

The mid fade haircut is a stylish fade that has been around for decades. It’s a versatile look that can be tailored to suit any man’s individual taste.

Whether you’re looking for a low-key look or something more daring, the mid fade has got you covered.

In this article, we’ve rounded up the best mid fade haircuts for men. From classic cuts to modern styles, there’s something for everyone. Get inspired and find your perfect mid fade haircut below!

What is a Mid Fade Haircut?

A mid fade haircut is a type of men’s haircut that starts halfway up the back and sides, gradually taking the hair from longer to shorter. It is defined by hair tapering on the sides and back and ending between the temple and ears, gradually blending the hair.

Mid Fade vs High Fade Haircut

The mid fade offers a balance between detail and length and is a subtle fade that falls between the high fade and low fade. It is highly versatile and can combine many types of hairstyles to create different looks.

The Medium Fade Haircut

The mid or medium fade is suitable for all hair types and textures and is relatively low maintenance. With the right styling products, you can achieve a formal look for the workplace or a fun look for nights out.

Best Types of Mid Fade Haircut Styles and Ideas

The best fades are versatile, trendy, and stylish and can be adapted to suit different lengths, textures, and hair densities. The medium fade men’s haircut fits this bill.

Mid Skin Fade

Mid Skin Fade
Mid Skin Fade

A mid skin fade haircut is a stylish and edgy skin fade variation that gradually fades the hair on the sides and back down to the scalp. The medium skin fade haircut offers a sleek, sexy finish that looks great with short, medium, and long men’s hairstyles.

Mid Fade Curly Hair

Mid Fade Curly Hair
Mid Fade Curly Hair

A mid fade curly hair is a type of haircut that combines the precision of a fade with the versatility of curly hair. It typically features short to medium length curls on top, gradually fading to a bald or mid skin fade on the sides and back.

This style allows the hair’s natural curl to shine through while the fade helps to add tidiness and control. To achieve this look, it is important to invest in high-quality hair care products designed specifically for fluffy curls, such as mousse.

This style can also be adapted to create a sleek look with bangs or to highlight the texture of your curls. A medium fade is a great way to show off short or long curly top and kick up a regular curly fade a notch.

Mid Fade Short Hair

Mid Fade Short Hair
Mid Fade Short Hair

A mid fade short haircut is a style that blends the hair gradually from longer to shorter hair, starting from the middle of the head. It is a low-maintenance look that pairs well with other short styles, such as a classy buzz cut, French crop, crew cut, comb over, or military haircut.

The mid fade creates a balance between the sides and top and can be combined with a short style to create contrast and focus attention on the styling on top. For those dealing with thin hair, the mid fade can give the appearance of fullness, allowing for a clean taper with a thick and textured hairstyle.

It is a popular style with the young generation, and when combined with fabulous temple faded hairstyles, it looks even more polished. It’s also perfect for those with a receding hairline.

Lastly, a mid fade can be combined with a low sheen wax or paste to keep the thicker hair tamed and looking natural.

Mid Bald Fade Haircut

Mid Bald Fade Haircut
Mid Bald Fade Haircut

A mid bald fade is a modern men’s haircut with an edgy and rugged look. It involves shaving the sides and back of the head to create contrast and styling the longer hair on the top.

Popularly called a 0 fade, the bald fade haircut ranges from a zero or razor cut to a maximum of four, depending on the desired graduation.

The mid bald fade looks great on all types of hair, including thick, straight, and curly. It is a low-maintenance cut that looks more dramatic when paired with the balding effect.

Mid Fade Comb Over

Mid Fade Comb Over
Mid Fade Comb Over

A mid fade comb over is a modern take on the classic comb over hairstyle. It features a gradual transition from long hair to shorter hair on the sides and back, with the fade starting at the middle of the head.

On top, the hair is combed over to one side. This variation provides a fashionable update to the old-fashioned comb over, adding a swept-back front and a hard part for a structured finish.

It is the perfect haircut combination of classic and modern, allowing for a customizable style that can be tailored to suit any look. It is a popular hairstyle because of its versatility, allowing for a range of styles from understated to edgy, from casual to professional. Additionally, the mid fade comb over looks great on all hair types, making it a go-to for men of all ages.

Mid Fade Buzz Cut

Mid Fade Buzz Cut
Mid Fade Buzz Cut

A Mid Fade Buzz Cut haircut is a timeless, classic look that combines a buzz cut hairstyle with a well-defined mid fade. This edgy cut starts with clean-shaven sides that gradually blend into the scalp, creating a sleek mid fade and sexy finish.

This modern short fade looks great with short, medium, and long men’s hairstyles and is easy to maintain. The mid-fade buzz cut is a versatile and practical choice for guys with busy lifestyles since it requires minimal maintenance and styling.

Mid Fade Long Top

Mid Fade Long Top
Mid Fade Long Top

A mid fade long top is a modern and fashionable hairstyle that combines a mid-level fade with long hair on top. The mid-level fade strikes the perfect balance between a short and long fade, creating a professional yet effortless look.

Longer hairstyles are trending, making giving this haircut even more popular. The mid-level fade typically starts between the temples and ears and tapers down to the nape of the neck, while the top layer of hair is long and stylishly styled.

This hairstyle can work with straight, wavy, or curly hair and can be transformed into a slick back, comb over, or pompadour with ease.

To ensure a light touch, a strong pomade should be used to define the style and maximize hair density and movement. The mid fade long top haircut is also flattering for round face shapes because it removes width from the sides.

Mid Fade Taper

Mid Fade Taper
Mid Fade Taper

A mid fade taper is a popular type of taper fade for guys that blends the hair on the sides and back of the head, creating a clean and sharp finish.

The mid taper haircut goes well with a fade. It’s a versatile combination that can be paired with various hairstyles, such as slicked back, brushed forward, or spiky hair look. It is also an ideal choice for guys who don’t want to show too much scalp, as it sits somewhere in the middle of a low fade and a high fade.

Of course, it looks dashing as a skin taper fade!

Long Hair Mid Fade Haircut

Long Hair Mid Fade Haircut
Long Hair Mid Fade Haircut

Long hair with a mid fade haircut is a popular men’s haircut that gradually decreases hair length from top to bottom, beginning in the middle of the head. It can be used to create a contrast with the long hair, making it appear fuller and thicker.

Mid Fade With Beard

Mid Fade With Beard
Mid Fade With Beard

A mid fade with a beard is a super popular haircut featuring a fade at the midpoint and transitioning up into the hair and down into the beard.

It is different from other mid fades in that it is a more rugged, manly style with the hair shaved at the bottom and sides and longer, styled hair on top to create contrast with your beard styles or even a solo mustache.

Mid Fade Haircut for Black Men

Mid Fade Haircut Black Man
Mid Fade Haircut for Black Men

The mid fade haircut for black men is the gold standard for style. This low-maintenance cut offers contrast and allows the hairstyle on top to stand out while still keeping a neat, crisp look. The result is a modern, rugged look.

Drop Mid Fade

Drop Mid Fade
Drop Mid Fade

A mid-drop fade haircut is a type of drop fade haircut that follows the curve of the head and tapers towards the neck. It starts at the midpoint of the head and gradually transitions from long hair to shorter hair, ending around the middle of the head and behind the ears.

With the low transition at the back of the head, this high-maintenance fashionable haircut allows for a sharp outline and can be adapted to suit various hair lengths and textures. It is also a subtle fade, falling between the high fade and low fade, and is perfect for those looking to strike the right balance between detail and length.

Mid Fade Slick Back

Mid Fade Slick Back
Mid Fade Slick Back

A mid fade slick back is a stylish hairstyle featuring a mid-length fade at the sides and back of the head and slicked back hair on top. It is a modern, masculine look that can be worn on various occasions.

Mid Fade Straight Hair

Mid Fade Straight Hair
Mid Fade Straight Hair

A mid fade straight haircut is a modern men’s hairstyle that combines a mid-level fade with thick, straight hair on top. This versatile cut is suitable for men of all ages and can be styled to create a range of short and long hairstyles.

For men with straight hair, the mid fade straight haircut provides plenty of styling options, from a quiff to a mohawk, faux hawk, or a man bun.

Mid Fade Undercut

Mid Fade Undercut
Mid Fade Undercut

An undercut with mid fade is a popular variation of the traditional undercut that is achieved by shaving the sides of the head from the ears to the temples. This look creates a unique twist with a disconnected and edgy feel.

It is a great way to add texture and contrast to your hairline while still keeping the sides neat and tidy. The medium fade allows you to keep the sides shorter while still having some length on the top, creating a more voluminous look.

The undercut can be combined with different hair lengths, textures, and styles to create a stylish and modern hairstyle. Check out more undercut fades.

Mid Fade With Design

Mid Fade With Design
Mid Fade With Design

A mid fade with a design involves gradually shortening the hair on the sides and back from the middle of the head while adding a design element to the hair pattern.

The mid fade with a design is a statement look that is sure to turn heads and gives off a bit of a rebellious vibe and personal touch. Even adding a cool lineup or nape designs for an added twist is a perfect addition to add personality to your mid fade designs.

Mid Fade Textured Top

Mid Fade Textured Top
Mid Fade Textured Top

A mid fade haircut is a versatile style that features gradually tapering sides and back, ending between the temple and ears. It can be combined with a textured top, such as a crew cut or quiff haircut, to create a stylish and modern look.

This style is suitable for many occasions and all hair types and can be adapted for desired results.

Mid Fade With Waves

Mid Fade With Waves
Mid Fade With Waves

Mid fade cuts are a popular and stylish way to display wavy short hair. It involves tapering the hair on the sides and back of the head, halfway up the head, and leaving the top longer for a fringe, a comb over, or a messy look.

Styling with light creams or sea salt spray can help create a charming and natural wavy look.

Mid Fade Messy Top

Mid Fade Messy Top
Mid Fade Messy Top

A mid fade messy top haircut is a versatile and subtle fade style where the transition from short to long hair occurs near the temples. It can be adapted to suit various lengths and textures and can be combined with any other hairstyle to create that messy look.

The mid fade is ideal for men who want to give their hair a neat and polished appearance with just a little random mess on top.

Mid Fade Middle Part

Mid Fade Middle Part
Mid Fade Middle Part

The style adds a mid fade to a men’s middle part haircut by gradually blending the sides and back of the hair from longer to shorter, starting from the middle of the head.

It is a versatile style that can be adjusted in length from zero to twelve and can be combined with any existing hairstyle. The mid fade creates a subtle contrast with the top of the head, giving it a polished and neat look.

Crew Cut Mid Fade

Crew Cut Mid Fade
Crew Cut Mid Fade

A mid fade crew cut is a masculine look favored by men for its no-fuss, simple short appearance. The mid fade crew cut is different from the standard crew cut in that it offers more definition.

Mid Fade Edgar Haircut

Mid Fade Edgar Haircut
Mid Fade Edgar Haircut

A mid fade haircut is a modern and stylish look for men, featuring a gradual taper from long to short between the temple and ears and textured hair on top. It is a versatile look that can be styled from a crew cut to a modern quiff hairstyle, and can be combined with any hair length or type.

Mid Fade Crop Top

Mid Fade Crop Top
Mid Fade Crop Top

A mid fade crop top is a popular type of fade haircut that offers a bold, flattering look. This style is especially flattering for those with rounder face shapes as it takes away width from the sides and creates a balanced look. The top is usually French cropped and the angular fringe adds a cool touch to the trendy mid fade.

Burst Mid Fade

Burst Mid Fade
Burst Mid Fade

A burst mid fade is a men’s haircut that combines a mid fade with a burst fade. Starting around the middle of the head, the hair is tapered off in a circular pattern around the ears and ends just above the ears. This style gives the face structure and emphasizes the hair style on the top of the head, creating an eye-catching look.

How to Get a Mid Fade Haircut

The mid fade is a versatile, stylish haircut that can be adapted to fit any hair length and texture. It is a subtle fade, falling between the high and low fades, and is easily achieved with a little clipper work.

  1. Step 1: Cut the top hair in the style of your choice. Use a razor or trimmer to define the edges for a sharper look. Use hair clippers from 0 to 4 to shape your fade.
  2. Step 2: Dampen your hair and section the top with a hair clip.
  3. Step 3: Create an undercut to add more depth to the fade. Use a razor or trimmer to shave the bottom section of your hair.
  4. Step 4: For a mid fade, taper the sides between your temples and ears.
  5. Step 5: To add more texture and dimension to your cut, layer the top of your hair.
  6. Step 6: To achieve a sleek and neat look, design a curving edge from your temple with a razor or trimmer.
  7. Step 7: Use scissors to trim the top of your hair to create a full-on crew cut.
  8. Step 8: Style the top of your hair with pomade into a slicked back, side-swept, or any other look of your choice.

How to Maintain a Clean Mid Fade Cut

  1. Use appropriate styling products such as clays, pomades, hair sprays, or gels to keep the mid-fade haircut looking good.
  2. Start with a mid fade cut, where the taper from long hair to short hair is near the temples.
  3. Incorporate a classic style like a hard part, faux hawk or other style.
  4. Choose a length for the fade that suits you and your hairstyle., from numbers 0 to 4.
  5. Use a light-hold product to give the hair structure if it is thick, wavy, or unruly.

How to choose the right mid fade haircut for your face shape?

  1. Analyze your face shape – this is the most important factor when deciding on a fade haircut.
  2. Take into consideration your lifestyle – what kind of environment do you work in, and how much time can you dedicate to haircuts?
  3. Consider the mid fade – characterized by hair tapering on the sides and back and ending between the temple and ears.
  4. Adjust the mid fade to your preference – from zero to four, and combine it with any other hairstyle.
  5. Show a picture to your barber – the easiest way to get the exact medium fade you want is to provide the barber with a photo.
  6. Talk to friends and family.

FAQ

What is a 0 Mid fade?

A 0 mid fade is a hairstyle that combines a low fade with a mid fade. The hair is faded down to the skin at the sides and back, and then fades up to the midpoint at the top of the head. This style is also known as a zero fade or bald fade.

Is high fade better than mid fade?

When it comes to deciding between a high fade and a mid fade, one must consider their face shape, lifestyle, and preferences.

The high fade has a transition at the temples, while the mid fade has a transition about one inch above the ears. The high fade offers an edgy and daring vibe, while the mid fade gives a subtler look.

The medium fade haircut has more versatility as it can be adjusted to fit any length and texture of hair, allowing for both a formal and casual look.

Which fade is best?

Choosing the best fade for you is a personal decision that largely depends on your face shape and lifestyle. There are three main types of fades; low, medium and high. Each of these has various variations with different effects.

A mid-level fade strikes the perfect balance between a short and long fade and can be paired with any dressing style.

A high fade is characterized by very short back and sides and gradually gets longer further up your head. If you want more definition, then a skin fade is the best option.

Ultimately, the best fade for you is the one that looks the best on you and complements your one-of-a-kind style.

How do you ask for a mid fade?

When asking for a mid fade, you are essentially asking for a taper that starts around the midway point of your head. To ask for this type of fade, you would simply tell your barber or stylist that you would like a mid fade.

How long does a mid fade last?

A mid fade typically lasts for three to four weeks before it needs a touch-up. The shorter the fade, the more maintenance and care it requires, as the shortest clipped hair area is smaller, giving you a less dramatic look. The length of the fade also affects its final look, as a shorter fade will give a more extreme look than a longer fade.

Conclusion

There you have it, 23+ of the best mid-fade haircuts for men. We hope this guide has inspired you to try out a new style.

Remember, the key to getting a great fade is to find a reputable barber who can execute the look you’re going for.

And don’t forget to use the right products to style your hair. Thanks for reading!

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AUTHOR

I'm the founder of Bald & Beards, an amateur barber and I've been obsessed with men's grooming, styles, and trends for over 20 years.