Keeping your hair looking clean and groomed goes a long way to giving anyone you meet a great first impression. Caring about your appearance projects confidence and attention to detail; speaking on your behalf without uttering a word. A drop fade hairstyle works for all men in all situations. There is nowhere it doesn’t belong.

Before you sit down in your barber’s chair and tell them you want a drop fade, there are a few things you need to know. First, there is a difference between a fade and a taper. A taper is more gradual and typically leaves your hair longer all around, but a fade is shorter and more drastic of a transition from the skin on your neck to the hair on top of your head. Second, keeping this look fresh requires regular trips to the barber. Knowing these two things, here are 23 ideas to elevate your drop fade.

Low fade hairstyles closely resemble the tapered style, as they have the least drastic transition from hair to skin. The fade will often start about an inch from the top of the ears. Here are a few ideas for your low drop fade. 

The mid fade shows a little more of the neck as the fade typically begins around 2 inches above the ears or higher and allows for more of a drastic change between the skin and hair.

With the high fades, you show the most extreme transitions, as the fade is almost nonexistent between the long hair on top of your head and the skin below it. These fades often begin at the curve of your head, even with the crown. 

No matter where you are in your hair journey, the drop fade has a deep roster of looks to satisfy any man. Whether a novice or hair care expert, these hairstyles elevate your look and cause every eye to never drift from your face, keeping the attention where it belongs. On you.

The Essential Guide for MenThe Manual is simple — we show men how to live a life that is more engaged. As our name implies, we offer a suite of expert guides on a wide range of topics, including fashion, food, drink, travel, and grooming. We don’t boss you around; we’re simply here to bring authenticity and understanding to all that enriches our lives as men on a daily basis.