Back in the mid-1900s, when the fades were newly in fashion, people considered it a hairstyle for punks. But the scenario has considerably changed!
The fade hairstyle, once considered an edgier, unacceptable, and inappropriate hairdo, had seen a massive revival in the late 2000s. And with its revival has come huge acceptability for rocking these types of hairstyles.
The fade hairstyle has become extremely popular among men of all hair kinds – who doesn’t like a Gen-Z look? But everyone interested in getting their hair done has one concern – how long do fade haircuts last?
A fade haircut lasts anywhere from 10-14 days at most. This is the average lasting period, and it may vary depending upon several factors such as how high the fade ends, the individual’s hair growth, the type of the fade, and your preferences.
But is that all that you need to know about the fade haircut duration? I think not!
Today, we will discuss the fade haircut, its lasting period, and if you can actually make it last longer in detail!
Let’s get into it!
What Is The Fade Haircut?
Before we talk about how long fade haircuts last, let’s make sure we are on the same page.
A fade refers to a gradual change in length on the back and sides of the hair. In this particular style, the hair isn’t all trimmed to the same length and has a variety of lengths blended in. The different fade heights are distinguished by how high the shortest part of the hair goes up the head before transitioning into a longer length.
The fades have seen massive evolution over the years. They were first invented as a haircut for army men, so you can imagine how disciplined the hairstyle would have looked.
In the late 1900s, black barbers introduced a newer version of the look and gave it an edgier look, aka, the flattop fades.
Then came the era of the hi-top fades, comb over fades, side-parted fades, and many more variations.
In modern days, the fade hairstyle is distinguished by a haircut with nearly shaved sides, popularly known as the skin fades.
Skin fade with long hair on the top is by far the best haircut nowadays, improving the way most men look com a lot!
Related Post: Number 2 Fade Haircut [Styles And Tutorial]
What are the Different Types of Fades?
There are various fades; people have incorporated a fusion of fades in a ton of hairstyles, especially after the trend’s resurrection. If we describe each of them, there wouldn’t be any time left for other topics that we need to cover in this post.
So, let’s just stick to the four basic categories of the fade haircut:
1- Taper Fade
The hair is kept long on top and tapered down the sides and back in a taper fade haircut. As the hair advances down the head, it becomes shorter and shorter until it blends in with the skin. This gradual fade appears sharp and neat, with no messy or unsightly edges or rough spots.
2- Low Fade
The low fade is basic technique barbers use to give the fade hairstyle a touch of refinement and grace. The hair on the borders of the head tapers down in a low fade, and the curve appears lower on the head, hence the name “low fade.”
The shaven area (or the area where hair is very short) on the sides is very low and close to the ears hence the name low fade. If this area ends higher in the side area (closer to the top hair) then it is medium and high fade accordingly.
The low fade is a very safe fade for those of you that try fade haircuts for the first time.
3- Mid Fade
The mid-fade hairstyle is a great all-rounder. It’s a tapered cut that stops between the temple and ears, halfway between a high fade and a low fade. It’s not only flattering and professional but extremely simple to manage.
Moreover, this particular cut is the most versatile of all fade hairstyles, which means you can dress it up in various ways.
4- High Fade
The high fade is the sharpest of the four fades, starting somewhere in the final third or so of the head.
This style is usually distinguished by a line that runs back immediately from the edge of the brow. The fade grows shorter as it descends the head, sometimes all the way to the skin, unlike the one-length undercut with a similar appearance.
The drop fade line will be followed by the shorter section of a high fade.
5- Skin Fade
I know we mentioned that there were four traditional fade haircuts, but we couldn’t resist mentioning the skin fade.
Actually all fade haircuts (low, medium, high) can be skin faded.
True to its label, a skin fade is that style where the barber shaves the hair on one side of the head down to the skin even with an electric shaver. It is, however, the most defined fade hairstyle, as the hair goes from bald to perhaps a 0.5 into a 1-2 at the top of the sides.
6- Drop Fade
A drop fade haircut can start high, medium, or low however all drop fades have one thing in common. The fade line on the back of the head is lower than the line on the sides.
The easiest and most common drop fade is with a high side fade.
This haircut resembles a mohawk but it is a newer and more modern and stylish variation.
If you wanna differentiate yourself from all those other men that choose the classic fade give drop fade a try!
Even though fades were first introduced as these four designs, you can now see many different variations in these base designs. For instance, you can see different adaptations of the tapered fades like low tapers, high tapers, curly tapers, faux hawk + tapers, hard part + tapers, afro tapers, bald tapers, and many more.
Likewise, low fades have evolved to low fades + blowout, low fade + crew cut, low fades + messy hair, low fades + slicked back, and the list can go on.
Simply put, all the different fade you see today are adaptations of the basic fades – you got the idea, right?
Oh, and not all fade haircuts go with every face shape, so make sure to look up which one would suit you before you head to your barber!
How Long Do the Different Fade Heights Last?
Yes, we mentioned that fades last for around 2 to 3 weeks, but that was an average duration.
Since all the different fade haircuts have varying lengths and heights, it is only reasonable that they last for different periods. For instance, if your hair growth is better than the 0.2 to 0.7 inches monthly average, then your fades would fade away much faster. Alternatively, if your barber uses shavers instead of clippers, your fades would last 2 to 3 days longer.
Here is the breakdown of how long the different fade haircuts last on average cetris paribus (if your hair growth is average and your barber uses the right tools):
Taper Fade
Taper fades typically last for around three- to four weeks. A taper fade should be polished or made from the very start every 21 days, however, some people may be ok waiting up to a month!
Low Fade
The lifespan of a low fade haircut is 14-21 days at most. After this period of time, it will need to be done from the very start.
Mid Fade
The lifespan of a mid fade is around 12 to 21 days maximum. Mid-skin fades look better between 3-10 days and they look decent for 14 days. After 14 days, these haircuts lose some of their sharpness and in 21 days they are gone completely.
High Fade
High fades last about 14 days. We advise you to cut your hair every 2 weeks if you like this haircut.
Skin Fade
How long for a skin fade to grow back is a question i hear literally every single day!
A skin fade will last around two weeks, and this duration can lessen for guys whose hair grows faster. The growth of even short scruff can make skin fades look untidy, which is why skin fades don’t stay very long. Tell your barber to use a straight razor and/ or an electric shaver to make your haircut last 2-3 days more.
But, keep in mind that a skin fade will be awesome for 1 week, good for days 8-9-10 and by the end of 2 weeks it will nearly gone. This is the harsh and only truth.
Drop Fade
Drop fade cannot escape the general rule of fades. It needs regular maintenance. 10-14 days is the duration of a drop fade. After that, it will lose its sharpness and after 3 weeks it will be completely gone.
How Often Should You Visit Your Barber For A Fade Haircut?
As much as we love fades, the sun has to set, and the fades have to go after their short life. Stepping out of the barber’s shop with fresh fades feels great until the effects fade away. After that, you will need to choose from either looking like a pile of mess or getting a touch-up.
Fun fact: men’s hair grows much faster than women’s, which is ironic because we don’t use twelve products on our hair. But this brings a complementary requirement that we should get our haircuts more frequently than women.
The optimal time to have a fade haircut redone is 7-10 days. However, this scenario does fit in an ideal world or for those with larger budgets. But, if you are one of those guys that wants his haircut to always look amazing just follow our recommendation.
The vast majority of men are on a budget or don’t care about their haircut too much. If you are one of them visit your barber every 3 weeks. Don’t get me wrong. 3 weeks is the maximum. A very fresh and sharp fade will start losing its shape in 7 days. A nice compromise is to get it done every 14 days.
If you have the budget, visit your barber or diy this haircut every 7 days. That’s optimal.
Read Also: How Much Does A Fade Haircut Cost In Different Countries?
How to Make your Fades Last Longer?
Here comes the part you have all been waiting for – how to make fades last longer? Even though there isn’t a way to stop our natural hair growth, there are some ways in which you can keep your fades fresh without spending hundreds in a salon. Want to know what those secret tips are? Read on to find out!
1- Get A Skin Fade With a Straight Razor
Choosing a skin fade made with a straight razor and an electric shaver on top of the number 0 guard of your hair clipper will make your haircut last 2-3 more days!
2-3 days is a very significant period of time when it comes to fade haircuts that we all understand up to this point do not last very long.
2- Get Longer Fades
The simplest, most effective way to make your fades last longer is by getting them longer. Obviously, this is not for everyone because most of us don’t like long fades.
Shorter fades, such as zero or classic fades, need more frequent maintenance compared to long fade haircuts. So, if your fade’s duration is not as long as you want it to be, you may need to consider a different haircut.
This is the only problem that fade haircuts and more specifically skin or close to skin (like number 1 fade haircut) have.
This choice is not my favorite, but if you like longer fades and longer hair in general, you can try them and they will last substantially longer than classic fade haircuts.
3- DIY Your Touch-Ups
Disclaimer: This activity should not be attempted by everyone. Failure to carry out the process under a controlled environment can destroy the look of your fades, which is worse than dying in Minecraft. Not joking!
Touching up a fade at home isn’t rocket science, and you can gather more courage to do so at home when you consider the price you will have to pay at the barber’s to do the same.
Good-quality hair clippers, an electric shaver, and lots of practice and patience are all you need to maintain your fade at home!
4- Use the Right Products
Fact: using the wrong hair products can seriously harm your hair and, more importantly, your hairstyle.
Style the hair on top, pointing out the difference in length between side and top hair.
Pomades, hair waxes all get the job done but everyone has their own preferences.
5- Limit Heat Damage
We all enjoy a little curling, ironing, and drying, but they all come with a price: hair damage.
Limiting the amount of heat you use on your hair is a great approach to make your fades last longer. Think of it this way; can your fades last longer if your hair has a hard time staying on your head? You’ve got your answer!
All in all, unfortunately, there are not many things you can do to keep a fade fresh for longer. That’s a very serious drawback of this haircut.
But, in my opinion, fade haircuts are still the best ever men’s haircut. Not even close.
Conclusion- How Long Does A Fade Take To Grow Out?
Whether you show go for Ryan Raynold’s low fade haircut, Brad Pitt’s mid fade, Daniel Radcliff’s fringe fade, or a Zayn Malik-inspired fade haircut, you will find our tips extremely beneficial for keeping them presentable for longer.
Oh, and one last thing, find a good barber! We can’t emphasize enough how a good barber can elevate the look of your fades or shatter the look you had in mind.
Today, we discussed how long fade haircuts last and what you can do to make em last longer.
I really hope we answered all your questions.
Remember a nice fade haircut can immediately elevate your overall style! So, make sure you’re always the center of attention!
If you have a tight budget, visit your barber every 3 weeks or teach your wife to cut your hair every week for free! Hehe!
If you have any questions or you wanna share your thoughts comment below gentlemen!
Until next time,
Stay safe,
Tasos
Tasos Moulios is the founder of Beardlong. He loves trying different beard and hair styles and blogs about them. The tips he shares come from his own experience and love for what he does.