Fade
High Taper Fade with 360 Waves and Beard Blend
- Difficulty
- ADVANCED
- Hair Type
- 4A coily, short with wave pattern
What it is
Short coily hair on top brushed into a consistent 360 wave pattern that rotates out from the crown, sitting on a high taper fade that keeps some darkness at the bottom rather than going fully bald. The fade line runs high above the ear and blends into the waves without a hard step. Forward of the sideburn, the fade carries straight into a short beard so scalp and face read as one continuous gradient. Waves are the defining feature, not the length.
Who it suits
Only works on 4A to 4C hair short enough to lie down but long enough to bend, with a naturally strong wave pattern. Best on square and oval faces where the tight sides show off the jaw. Requires consistent daily brushing; anyone unwilling to put in that work will end up with an uneven short buzz instead.
How to ask for it
Ask for a high taper fade left dark at the bottom, not bald, with the fade line above the ear and blended into the top. Say to keep the top short enough for waves but not to clipper the pattern out, and to fade the sideburn straight into the beard.
Upkeep
Two weeks in the chair. Waves flatten and the fade line blurs. Brush morning and night, wash weekly with a moisturising shampoo, and wear a durag every night without exception.
