25 Modern Bald Fades to Show Your Barber (2024)

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

Textured Skin Fade

"A water-based pomade will keep those baby hairs in place, and will add nice shine on the shaved sides," says Davie. Try the Hanz de f*cko Two Ton Pomade.

Bleach-Out Mid-Skin Fade

According to Davie, "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." He adds, "Keeping those corners dark allows for the mid-skin fade to pop a bit more, too."

Burst Fade

Davie 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.

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."

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.

High Skin Fade to Texture

"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."

French Crop High Skin Fade

"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."

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."

Low Skin Fade

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."

Gentleman's Buzz with Fade

"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.

Wedged Drop Fade

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

Skin Fade with Natural Part

"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."

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."

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.

Mid-Skin Fade with Side Part

"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.

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.

Crop With Long Fringe and Natural Texture

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."

Swept Top with Skin Fade

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

Bald Fade with Ice Pick Sideburns

"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."

Gentleman's Cut with High Skin Fade

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."

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.

Fade to Flat Top

Vintage is he new modern. This 1950s flat top style works best on hair that has a lot of texture and volume for the added height that the look is known for. Always smooth at the top, ask your barber to determine the length of your profile according to how much of a fade you're looking for.

Pompadour Fade

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."

Soft Pompadour Fade

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

High Bald Fade with Carved Part

There is almost an ombré effect to this high bald fade with a defined part. What starts out as a bald fade transitions into shaved, textured top with a clean hairline. A longer, slightly more natural beard serves as a nice complement to the look.