12 Effortlessly Cool Ways to Rock a Fade With Long Hair

If you want your next hairstyle to be your boldest yet, you should consider this high-contrast look.

Table of Contents

Close up of barber trimming man's hair into fade with long hair hairstyle.

In the world of men’s hair, the fade isn’t a recent phenomenon — it’s been around since the 1930s or so. Long hair on men has also been a thing for a while now.

However, pairing a fade with long hair is pretty new. This daring combination rose to popularity in the early 2010s, and it’s mostly remained in style since then.

Having a fade with long hair is a way to instantly add drama to your appearance. That’s due to the extreme contrast that takes the “long on top, short on the sides” formula to new heights.

You’ll often see this combination styled in a specific way. The hair on top is usually swept up in a thick, messy quiff, and the sides often have shaved patterns.

However, there are plenty of ways to style long hair with a fade. These less edgy variations aren’t too common, but they demonstrate that this style covers more ground than it seems.

Here’s a closer look at what exactly a fade with long hair is and how you can get the look.

What Is a Fade?

A fade is a gradual change in hair length that is applied to the back and sides of the head. With a fade, the hair is longer at the top and shorter at the bottom.

The term fade is often used synonymously with the term taper. However, there is a slight difference between a taper and a fade, so don’t use these terms interchangeably.

In practice, a fade refers to extremely short sides that create more of a transition between hair and skin. A fade will also typically have more contrast than a taper.

It’s important to be aware of the different types of fades out there. There’s a huge variety, and you don’t want to get the wrong type of fade.

For example, low fade haircuts are different from zero fade haircuts, and both those are different from drop fade haircuts.

How Do You Blend a Fade With Long Hair?

A fade with long hair is pretty similar to a fade with short hair, but there are a couple of significant differences here.

(First, for the purposes of this guide, long hair means hair that is four inches or longer.)

Ultimately, styling a fade with long hair will depend on the length of your hair and the style you want.

There are some guidelines here, but they can be broken.

It’s a general rule that the longer your hair is, the more gradual (and more subtle) your fade should be. However, if you’re after an extremely high-contrast look, then you can ignore this rule.

There are also specific types of fades that are most commonly paired with longer hairstyles. Low and medium fades are the most common.

It’s less common to see a high fade, drop fade, or skin fade. These are reserved for bolder, more adventurous hairstyles.

Finally, hair types play a role here. If you have thick, straight hair, you might want a shorter fade so that your sides don’t look too long.

Similarly, if you have thin hair, you might want to add some weight to your hair by going for a longer fade.

Low Fade With Long Hair (3 Examples)

If you’re after a fade with longer hair and want to keep it pretty subtle, a low fade is best. Here are some examples of low fades with long hair.

Low Fade Spikes

This style uses a low fade to make the spikes on top stand out.

This includes a line up — that crisp 90-degree hair on the temple — and gently curves behind the ear. Notice how the beard has a gentle fade as well (though you don’t need facial hair for this style).

Low Fade Brush Back

The brush-back style is a staple of contemporary men’s hair, and it’s often paired with a fade.

A low fade will emphasize the hair on top while retaining a high amount of presence. (In other words, the fade won’t distract from the top too much.)

Low Fade Messy Curls

This messy look is perfect for guys with curly hair who want to show off their hair’s texture.

A low-medium fade and a hard part allow the short, neat sides to contrast with the long, messy top.

Of course, you can go with a shorter fade if you want your curls to pop even more.

Mid Fade With Long Hair (3 Examples)

A mid fade (also called a medium fade) provides balance. It’s not as subtle as a low fade but not as dramatic as a high fade. Here are some styles that utilize a mid fade with longer hair on top.

Mid Fade Voluminous

If your hair is on the shorter end of the long spectrum, a medium fade might be for you.

It will make the hair on top look slightly longer, but your overall hairstyle will still look balanced. (Pairing a high fade with this length of hair can result in a look that’s too top-heavy.)

Mid Fade Blowout

If you’re after a super easygoing look, try a blowout with a medium fade.

The blowout on top creates a ton of volume and the fade counters that. A curved fade will have a more natural appearance, while a straight fade will be more noticeable.

Mid Fade Messy Fringe

Mid fades are also great for adding a bit of tidiness to an otherwise messy style.

With its tousled top and long fringe, this style is extremely messy, yet the fade cleans it up nicely. (Again, the fade isn’t so extreme that the style becomes too top-heavy.)

High Fade With Long Hair (6 Examples)

When it comes to fades, pairing a high fade with long hair will give you the most contrast. Here are some styles that use this combination.

High Fade Locs

The high fade is a defining characteristic of many black men’s hairstyles.

These layered locs use the high fade plus a shaved line to create angular, contrasting sides. For a bit more subtlety, you could opt for a drop fade.

High Fade Messiness

This intensely high-contrast look features a severely tousled top and extremely high faded sides.

The fade is also a skin fade, meaning it goes down to skin level. This makes it even more noticeable and creates much more contrast than a regular high fade.

High Fade Loose Quiff

The quiff is one of the most popular men’s hairstyles, and there are countless variations.

This one features a loose and messy quiff with the hair going in all directions. The high faded sides counter this by adding some neatness that ties the look together.

High Fade Fantasy Style

If you’ve got extremely long hair — I’m talking longer than chin length — check out this style.

This fantasy-inspired look features a unique high fade that’s even from top to bottom. (However, it’s still a high fade because it starts high on the head.)

High Fade Side Swept

Like the previous one, this style features long hair on top that’s brushed to one side and a high fade.

However, the key differences are that the hair is shorter here, and the fade is a high drop fade. It’s a bit less dramatic, but it’s still a bold one.