What is a bald fade haircut?

A bald fade haircut is typically longer on the top and then faded down the sides and back until it gets to skin length.

Can I cut a bald fade at home?

The bald fade is a pretty technical haircut to achieve on your own, unless you're a professional barber. It's definitely a haircut best left to the pros!

23 Modern Bald Fades to Show Your Barber

A fade hairstyle looks good on pretty much everyone. That’s not to say that the same exact fade looks good on every single head: Rather, for every single head out there, a perfect fade awaits. Not only that—there’s also an ideal bald fade haircut for everyone, in which the fade goes all the way down to the skin before disappearing entirely.

The skin fade (as it’s also commonly called) can be applied to nearly any hairstyle. You can wear your hair long up top and fade it anywhere on the sides—high, medium, low—as it grades into the beard or bare cheeks. Alternatively, you could rock short hair up top, then combine it with a skin fade at your desired side height. There’s a bald fade haircut that you're sure to love—you just may not know it yet.

While your barber probably knows best and you should talk to them to plan the best cut, some visual inspiration may help give you some ideas before your next appointment. So, have a look at the 23 bald fade haircuts below—all different takes on the same technique. We asked two barbers to share their thoughts on the looks: Darius Davie, a barber and the expert grooming voice behind Groom Guy, and Emmanuel Garcia, a barber in NYC. Here’s what they had to say about each one.

Meet the Expert

Darius Davie is a barber and the expert grooming voice behind Groom Guy.
Emmanuel Garcia is a barber in NYC.

01 of 23

Textured Skin Fade

Man with short natural textured hair with skin fade on sides — @pillar__chris

"A water-based pomade will keep those baby hairs in place, and will add nice shine on the shaved sides," Davie says. Try the Hanz de Fuko Two Ton Pomade ($18).

02 of 23

Bleach-Out Mid-Skin Fade

Back view of bleached platinum hair with mid-skin fade — @horatiuthebarber

"The tight transition on the sides allows the fade to pop even more and has an added touch of attitude with the design on the side," Davie says. "Keeping those corners dark allows for the mid-skin fade to pop a bit more, too."

03 of 23

Burst Fade

Davie especially recommends this style for those with oblong face shapes. "Also known as 'The South of France,' take the viewer for a ride by keeping the corners of this fade dark for a more defined transition," he advises.

04 of 23

Drop Skin Fade

"A low skin fade works well for someone with a pronounced occipital bone and prevents it from sticking out," Davie says. "The stretching of this fade can also elongate the face, thus allowing more facial balance."

05 of 23

Smooth Drop Fade

"Let the fade drop a bit and showcase the smooth transition from no hair to hair, without it feeling like a military high-and-tight," Davie says. "For added flair, apply some matte-clay pomade to showcase the natural texture." We recommend Triumph & Disaster's Coltrane Clay ($30).

06 of 23

High Taper

"As opposed to a full skin fade around the head, here you have a smaller section to work with, but can have the same result," Davie explains. "This is great if you're looking to maintain curls on top (or in this case, natural twists) but wish to add some flavor. Keep those corners a bit darker for a more 'burst' effect to the fade. Be sure to taper both the neckline and sides for a more symmetrical look."

07 of 23

French Crop High Skin Fade

Side view of man with French crop haircut with skin fade — @barberusik

"The hard transition on the sides adds some attitude to the look," Davie says. "The color of the hair should allow for a smooth bald fade that leads the eye directly to the crown."

08 of 23

Low Skin Fade

Side view of man with high-low skin face haircut and defined facial hair — @barberusik

Davie recommends this bald fade for people with flatter bone structure in the rear of the head: "Keeping the sides tight like this can also allow the free-flowing top to be styled nicely."

09 of 23

Gentleman's Buzz with Fade

Man with gelled hair with bald skin fade sides — @gentiluomobarbershop

"Remember, each time you get a skin fade with a beard, complement it by fading in the beard, too," Davie says. "You can never go wrong with some traditional pomade to lay down the straight hair for maximum control and to showcase the defined part." We like Imperial Barber's Classic Pomade ($22).

10 of 23

Wedged Drop Fade

"This one has slight wedges on the sides, and the fade drops down for a more dramatic visual effect," Davie notes.

11 of 23

Skin Fade with Natural Part

Side view of bearded man with skin fade haircut and side part — @horatiuthebarber

"Most of the time, a natural part can be topped with a skin fade like this," Davie says. "For a more defined jaw structure and full beard, the drop fade adds further symmetry and balance to the head shape."

12 of 23

Low Skin Fade for Pronounced Back of Head

"This low fade minimizes a more pronounced occipital bone in the back," Davie says. "Consider this if you have a longer neck and face profile."

13 of 23

Swept Top with Skin Fade

Side view of man with side skin fade haircut with swept longer top — @gentiluomobarbershop

"This skin fade is stretched and has a smooth transition, considering the top is much longer and will be the focal point," Davie says.

14 of 23

Gentleman's Cut with High Skin Fade

Man with styled haircut with longer top and skin fade sides — @gentiluomobarbershop

Davie likes this square cut for round faces. "The corners are cut tightly with a classic part to enhance that square shape we aim to maintain on a uniformed gentleman’s cut," he says. "Add a slick pomade and comb the sides down for your next business meeting or formal event."

15 of 23

Mid-Skin Fade with Side Part

Side view of man with mid-skin fade haircut with side part and gel — @dalie_ryosuke

"This accentuates the contours of the head," Garcia says. "It can be styled with a strong-hold, high-shine pomade to maintain the classic character of this modern cut." Try Blind Barber’s 101 Proof Classic Pomade ($20).

16 of 23

Mid-Skin Drop Fade with Hard Part

Garcia says that this textured cut transitions very well from the barbershop to the house, and it will look great every day after the cut.

17 of 23

Crop With Long Fringe and Natural Texture

Side view of man with cropped skin fade haircut with fringe and natural straight texture — @imaj_hairsaloon

Garcia recommends this high-contrast look for those with dense hair. "It can hold up to any type of styling without appearing patchy or thin," he says. "The long fringe (not bangs) is another accent piece to the haircut, which can be adjusted according to the client’s desired length and style."

18 of 23

Contemporary Drop Fade to Skin

"Less is more in terms of styling here," Garcia says, "but a light cream would be a nice way to enhance the curl definition." Try Pattern Beauty's Styling Cream ($25).

19 of 23

Bald Fade with Ice Pick Sideburns

Side view of man with bald fade haircut with voluminous curly top and ice pick sideburns — @bossiocuts

"Usually when you see a bald fade, the hair is taken down to the skin between the sideburn area and the temple," Garcia says. "This gives you the nice contrast between the sides and the top of the head. But what do you do if you want to keep the sideburns? Ice picks! That’s what you call sideburns that narrow down to a fine point along the ear. This style gives you maximum definition around the face and adds contrast to the rest of the fade. It’s sharp. It’s bold."

20 of 23

High Skin Fade

"Here the fade is taken straight along the sides and the back, rather than a drop fade that dips around the head," Garcia explains. "It’s complemented by a natural shape along the hairline, which looks great in any setting."

21 of 23

Faded Undercut

"The hair can be worn slicked back with a high-shine, high-hold pomade for a more polished look," Garcia says. Try the Fellow Strong Pomade ($25).

22 of 23

Pompadour Fade

Man with gelled pompadour with faded sides — @gentiluomobarbershop

Garcia likes the pompadour since it can be modified to suit so many hair textures and styles. "For extra drama, the smooth fade is offset by the bold hard part carved into the top," he says. "This adds updated style without sacrificing old-school class."

23 of 23

Soft Pompadour Fade

Man with soft pompadour hairstyle with side fade — @kuafor_ugurkanesim

"The mid-skin fade on the sides wraps the rest of the cut with a fresh balance of light and dark," Garcia says.

FAQ

What is a bald fade haircut?

A bald fade haircut is typically longer on the top and then faded down the sides and back until it gets to skin length.
Can I cut a bald fade at home?

The bald fade is a pretty technical haircut to achieve on your own, unless you're a professional barber. It's definitely a haircut best left to the pros!