Walk into any barbershop from Brooklyn to East LA and you’ll hear the same request. It’s almost a whisper. "Just give me that blow-out look, but keep it clean on the sides." They’re talking about the temple taper fade haircut. It’s the chameleon of the hair world.
Some call it the "Brooklyn Fade." Others call it a "Blowout." If you were around in the early 2000s, you probably saw DJ Envy or Pauly D rocking versions of this that were, let’s be honest, a bit aggressive. But today? It’s different. It’s refined. It’s the haircut that works for the CEO who has a board meeting at 9:00 AM and the guy hitting the gym at 6:00 PM. It’s versatile.
Basically, the temple taper—often called the "temp taper"—focuses the fade specifically on the temples and the nape of the neck. That’s it. Unlike a high skin fade that takes the hair down to the scalp all the way around your head, the taper leaves the bulk of your hairline intact. It’s subtle. It’s sharp. It’s the "stealth wealth" of grooming.
Why Everyone Is Obsessed With the Temple Taper Fade Haircut
Why does it work? Simple. It preserves the shape of your head.
If you have a particularly "lumpy" head shape—and look, most of us do—a full bald fade can sometimes highlight things you’d rather hide. The temple taper fade haircut is the solution. By only fading the sideburns and the back, you get that crisp, "just stepped out of the chair" look without committing to a full-on buzz. It’s the perfect middle ground.
Most guys choose this because it grows out like a dream. Think about it. When you get a high fade, you look like a million bucks for exactly four days. By day seven, the stubble kicks in and you look... fuzzy. But with a taper? The transition from the faded temple to the rest of your hair is so gradual that as it grows, it just looks like a slightly longer version of a good haircut. You can stretch your barber visits to three weeks instead of every ten days. That’s money in your pocket.
The Anatomy of the Cut
You’ve got the temple area. You’ve got the neck.
In a standard temple taper fade haircut, your barber uses a lever-open clipper or a small guard (usually a #0 or #1) right at the sideburn. They blend that up into the temple. The goal is to create a "C-shape" around the ear. If they go too high, it’s a mid-fade. If they stay tight, it’s a taper.
The back is just as important. A "tapered nape" means the hair at the very bottom of your neck melts into the skin. This prevents that awkward, blocky "shelf" look that happens when your hair grows out. It creates a silhouette that makes your neck look leaner and your shoulders look wider. Visual magic, basically.
Texture Matters More Than You Think
Don't let anyone tell you this cut is only for one hair type. That’s a total myth.
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For guys with Type 4 hair (coily or kinky), the temple taper is essentially the industry standard. It’s the foundation for the South of France haircut—popularized by Usher and master barber Curtis Smith. In this version, the taper is paired with a wide mohawk or a "burst" effect. It looks incredible because the contrast between the sharp line-up and the natural texture on top is massive.
If you have straight or wavy hair, the temple taper acts differently. It’s more of a "polisher." It cleans up the messy bits around the ears while letting you keep length for a pompadour or a side part. Honestly, it’s the only way to wear a "gentleman’s cut" without looking like you’re stuck in 1954.
"The taper is about the transition, not the destination," says Vic Blends, one of the most recognized barbers in the game. He’s right. A fade is a statement, but a taper is a detail.
Common Mistakes People Make When Requesting This
You walk in. You sit down. You say "taper fade."
Your barber nods. Ten minutes later, you realize he’s taking the clippers way too high. Now you have a high fade. You’re annoyed.
The problem is terminology. In the barbering world, "fade" and "taper" are used interchangeably by clients, but they mean different things to pros. A taper is always a fade, but a fade isn’t always a taper.
To get a true temple taper fade haircut, you need to be specific. Tell them: "I want a low taper on the temples and the neck only. Leave the hair behind my ears at a consistent length." Use your hands. Point to the spot. Barbers are visual people. If you don't specify "low" or "temple only," they might assume you want a shadow fade that travels all the way around the parietal ridge. That’s a different vibe entirely.
The Maintenance Reality Check
Look, just because it grows out better doesn't mean it’s zero maintenance.
The temple taper relies on a "line-up" or "shape-up." This is where the barber uses a t-outliner or a straight razor to create a sharp edge along your forehead and temples. That line is what makes the cut pop. Once that line gets fuzzy—usually in about 7 to 10 days—the haircut loses its "oomph."
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You can maintain this at home if you have a steady hand. A quick pass with a high-quality trimmer along the sideburns can buy you another week. But be careful. One slip and you’ve pushed your hairline back to the 90s.
Different Flavors of the Temple Taper
- The Low Temple Taper: This is the most conservative. It barely touches the sideburn. It’s great if you’re trying to keep things professional but still want a bit of edge.
- The High Temple Taper: This goes up a bit further, almost reaching the eyebrow level. It creates a more dramatic look and is often paired with a "fro-hawk" or a high-top.
- The Taper with a Beard Blend: This is the gold standard for guys with facial hair. The barber fades the sideburn down into the beard and up into the hair. It creates a seamless transition that makes your beard look intentional rather than just... there.
Dealing With Thinning Hair
Can you get a temple taper if your hair is thinning?
Actually, yes. It’s often better than keeping it all one length. When the sides are tight and faded, the hair on top looks thicker by comparison. It’s a trick of the eye. By removing the "bulk" at the temples, you draw the focus away from a receding hairline and toward the center of the head.
However, if your temples have receded significantly, a high taper might look a bit weird. You'd want to stick to a very low, subtle taper to avoid highlighting the "peaks" of the hairline. A good barber will tell you this. If they don't, find a new barber.
Real World Examples and Trends
We’ve seen the temple taper fade haircut on everyone from Drake to Justin Bieber. Drake specifically helped popularize the "clean" look—the sharp line-up with a soft taper. It’s a style that says "I care about my appearance" without saying "I spend three hours in front of a mirror."
In 2024 and 2025, we saw a massive shift toward "natural" tapers. Instead of the super-crisp, laser-straight lines, people started asking for "textured tapers." This involves using shears on the edges instead of just clippers to create a softer, more lived-in look. It’s less "Lego man" and more "effortless style."
Tools of the Trade
If you're curious about what's actually happening in the chair, it's usually a mix of tools.
- Wahl Senior or Cordless Magic Clips: These are the workhorses. They have the power to bulk-remove hair but the precision to blend.
- Andis T-Outliners: These are for the crisp edges. If you hear a loud buzzing near your ear that feels a bit "sharp," that’s this guy.
- Straight Razor: For that "ashy" line that stays sharp for days.
How to Talk to Your Barber
Don't just show a picture and look at your phone. Engage.
Ask them: "Based on my head shape, how high should we take the temple taper?" A pro will feel the bones of your skull. They’ll look for divots or bumps. They might suggest a "drop" taper where the back curves down to follow the occipital bone.
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Also, talk about the "c-wash." That’s the curved line at the temple. Some people like it sharp and pointy; others like it more rounded. This is a small detail that completely changes the "attitude" of the haircut. A sharper point looks more aggressive and "street." A rounded edge looks more classic.
Your Move: How to Pull This Off
If you’re ready to switch to a temple taper fade haircut, here is exactly how to do it without ending up with a haircut you hate.
Step 1: Grow it out first.
Don't go to the barber with a fresh buzz cut. You need at least an inch or two of hair on top and on the sides so the barber has something to blend into. If the sides are too short, the taper won't have any contrast.
Step 2: Take the right photos.
Don't just show a celebrity photo where the lighting is perfect and they have a professional stylist. Find a "chair photo"—a picture of a real person in a barber chair. This shows the cut in its raw, unfiltered state. Look for someone with your hair texture.
Step 3: Watch the nape.
Decide if you want a "blocked" or "tapered" nape. Most people getting a temple taper prefer the tapered nape because it looks more natural. If you have a very thin neck, a blocked (straight line) nape can make it look wider. If you have a thick neck, stay with the taper.
Step 4: Product choice.
A temple taper looks best with a product that has some "grip." Since the sides are short, you want the top to have some volume. Use a matte clay or a sea salt spray. Avoid heavy gels that make your hair look wet; they tend to reveal the scalp through the taper and ruin the illusion of density.
Step 5: The "Seven Day Rule."
Book your next appointment the day you get your haircut. For a taper to stay looking "fresh," you really need a touch-up every two weeks. If you wait a month, you're not wearing a taper anymore; you're just wearing a grown-out haircut.
The temple taper isn't a trend. It’s a staple. It survives because it’s functional, it’s flattering, and it’s arguably the most "honest" haircut a guy can get. It doesn't try too hard, but it doesn't settle for "just a trim" either. Whether you're rocking a 360-wave pattern or a messy fringe, the taper is the frame that makes the rest of the picture look better.
Next time you’re in the chair, skip the skin fade. Ask for the temple taper. Your hairline (and your wallet) will probably thank you for it in the long run.