A fade haircut works well with an afro on top to create a versatile, flattering style that embraces your natural texture, a beautiful symbol of cultural pride and self-expression. These afro taper fade hairstyles are stylish and easy to maintain, keeping you fresh and trendy with minimal effort.

From high tapers to low temp fades, these afro haircuts offer black men several modern, sleek and charming choices, with each cut reflecting a unique style. Pairing an afro with a clean-cut fade is also perfect for those who want to celebrate black pride with a retro look tailored to suit contemporary aesthetics.

Discover some of the most popular afro fade haircuts for men that will inspire your next visit to the barbershop.

Popular Afro Taper Fade Haircut Variations

Afro Fade

A classic afro fade is a modern men's haircut characterized by tightly curled coils shaped into a rounded top and paired with short, blended sides. The gradual tapering usually starts from the temples but can be blended into a skin fade for a more striking contrast against the voluminous afro. Neatly trimming the afro will keep it dense and elegant, offering a retro style ideal for any business professional or college kid.

Low Fade Afro

A low fade afro is an excellent cut for black men who want to tame tight curls with a manageable, neat style that flatters their natural texture. Start the fade just above the brow for a subtle blend, but feel free to pull this slightly higher for a dramatic appearance against the fluffy top. A couple of badass shaved designs and a connected beard give this cut a contemporary edge.

Mid Fade Afro

A mid fade afro features enviable contrast with clean-cut, balanced sides and a cool, fluffy afro-textured top. The impressive volume celebrates the natural texture of black hair without being unmanageable. The faded sides frame the face and highlight the contours of the jaw and cheekbones. Keep the back closely buzzed for comfort and add a sleek line up for structure and angularity at the forehead. Soften this sharp style with a patchy beard and trimmed mustache.

Afro Taper Fade

The afro taper fade is a popular haircut that involves short, seamlessly tapered hair on the sides with a longer afro-textured top, creating a modern style for men. The taper faded cut pairs naturally well with sponged curls to achieve a unique, textured look that's extremely flattering. Use circular motions with a curl sponge to create the twisted top and ask your barber for gradual side tapering to neaten the style and add light structure. Create an edge-up using a short guard or straight razor to pull focus to the afro and add sharp lines to the otherwise soft style.

Curly Afro with Temp Fade

An afro temple fade haircut is a trendy, easy-to-manage style that features refreshing contrast and modern edge for a cool finish. A curly afro makes a strong statement and works perfectly with skin temp fade to give the poofy top extra definition. Hydrate your natural curls for an enhanced look and gently twist separated strands to bring more volume to the style. Start the fade at the temple and seamlessly blend into the skin for an ultra-clean finish.

High Fade Afro

A high fade afro features faded sides that start near the temples or above the ears to create a noticeable contrast against the longer top. The fuller afro brings volume and height to the style, while the striking, buzzed sides create amazing visual interest. Fluff your afro with a volumizing pick and add a full beard for balance against the brushed-out style.

Curly Afro Taper Fade

A curly afro looks eye-catching with a balanced taper fade, creating sleek contours along the sides of the head for a polished finish. An elegant line up offers sharp angles and clean lines, while the sponged curls bring natural volume and texture to this style. Ask your barber to trim the curls into a rounded shape while keeping the fade pronounced to add modern depth to your style.

Thick Afro Fade with Line Up

A thick afro fade gets crisp edges from a sleek line up, giving the voluminous top the structure it needs to look meticulous. Avoid buzzing the sides back to the skin to maintain a retro, old-school aesthetic. Let the fade flow effortlessly to the sideburns and beard for a blended feel.

Long Curly Afro with High Temp Fade

A long curly afro with a fresh high temp fade is an easy-to-maintain haircut for black men that will keep you looking trendy and effortlessly classy. The dramatic temple fade offers clean, sharp lines that balance the puffed afro, creating a look bursting with visual interest and contrast. Ask your barber for an edge up to bring angularity to the face, achieving a masculine, confident feel.

Afro Taper

The afro taper is a classy black men's hairstyle that requires precision cutting on the sides and back with extra volume on top. Tapers are soft, gradual blends that combine with afros to achieve a handsome, sophisticated look suitable for any occasion. Use the short, smooth cut to balance your dense, afro-textured hair without detracting from it. The expert tapering also gives the head a streamlined appearance that you can complement with a sharp line-up.

Long Afro Fade with Beard

A long afro fade with a sculpted, full beard looks badass, bringing the fun-loving vibes of the 1970s into the modern age. The pointed beard helps to enhance a masculine jawline and create the illusion of an elongated face. Grow your afro long enough to give it multidimensional height and form a rounded halo around the head that you can shape with regular trims.

Drop Fade Afro

A drop fade afro is a cool, multidimensional haircut for black men who want to create a sharp transition between their voluminous top and sleek sides, allowing their tight, sponged curls to command attention. The distinctive drop behind the ear gives the cut structure without being high maintenance, making this fade ideal for those looking to change things up at the barbershop.

Burst Fade Afro Mohawk

A sharp burst fade can be an excellent cut that will highlight a rebellious afro mohawk, transitioning the back and sides into the longer, contemporary style. The edgy hairstyle features a defined strip of afro-textured hair that runs uniformly in the middle, from the forehead to the nape. The curved burst fade gives the afro mohawk style a contemporary flair that effortlessly showcases your natural texture.

Afro with Skin Fade

An afro looks edgy and trendy with a badass skin fade, offering a polished hairstyle that requires minimal styling to look sexy. You can fashion the afro into twists for a youthful edge or stick with a bouffant, rounded style for a 1970s look. Visit your barber for regular zero-guard trims to keep the sides looking crisp with the closest shave possible.

Short Temp Fade Afro

Practical and low-maintenance, a short, temp fade afro highlights tight coils and gets a modern touch from a sleek line up. A curl sponge creates texture on top, while the temp fade keeps the cut casual and youthful with its subtle, graduated appearance. The final look is polished and pristine, getting light tailoring from tapering around the nape.

High Skin Fade Afro

A high skin fade afro offers a rebellious take on a classic style, pairing longer hair on top with a skin-bared back and sides. The fuller afro creates awesome contrast against the sides, making the transition into a clean shave look more striking. Create a more distinctive separation between each section with a shaved surgical part around the temples.

Kinky Afro Fade with Goatee

A kinky afro fade with a goatee is a fresh, modern cut emphasizing natural curls with a visually appealing sponged texture. The mid fade features a subtle drop that gives the style its attractive shape, while the short, neatly trimmed goatee adds a mature element to an otherwise youthful look.

Thick Afro with Low Temp Fade and Beard

A thick afro with a low temp fade offers a traditional look that showcases natural texture while boasting modern allure. The fade lifts the sleek, round afro without excessive volume, making the style easy to maintain, and the creative edges along the beard handsomely frame the face.

Short Afro Mohawk with Burst Fade

A short afro mohawk with a burst fade is an edgy, low-maintenance style that makes a stylistic statement, making it a popular choice for black men. The low burst fade contours around the head and shapes the classic, afro-textured mohawk with a wide strip of hair, stretching from forehead to nape. The short curls texturize the top and a shaved line separates the sections for dimensional contrast.

High Top Afro Fade

A high-top afro fade is a bold, modern take on a retro style that packs a voluminous punch. Long hair flows upward and slightly out to create a unique profile, and clean edges make the transition to skin more subtle. The significant height stands out and requires meticulous maintenance, but the aesthetic will be worth the effort.

Afro Mullet Fade

An afro mullet fade is a simple and versatile cut suitable for those wanting to embrace their texture and honor their heritage. The hair is slightly thicker at the crown, features well-groomed volume at the front, and boasts expert tapering at the back. The clean edges at the temple pair well with the drop fade and lend the style its classic mullet shape.

Sponged Afro with Low Temp Fade

A sponged afro fade is a stylish and popular black men's hairstyle that demands attention thanks to its interesting texture and neat appearance. The long hair on top tapers down at the sides and then fades to stubble in front of the ears. Adding a blended beard and sharp edges lends the cut stunning contrast and a rugged edge.

Short Afro Fade with Edge Up

A short afro fade with an edge up is an exceptionally versatile cut that men can customize regarding hair length, height, or shape. The simple, rounded shape follows the natural contours of the head, and the mid fade creates the illusion of even more volume. Wear it with a clean-shaven face for a youthful look, or pair it with facial hair for a more personalized approach.

Short Afro Taper with Beard

A short afro taper with a beard is a quintessential style that looks as attractive in a critical board meeting as on a casual night out. The rounded profile lends the look its professional vibe and tapers brilliantly into a full-groomed beard, adding rugged masculinity.

Rounded Afro Fade with Line Up

A rounded afro fade with a line up is a sleek, handsome style that balances contemporary and classic elements for a stunning finish. The precise temp fade enhances the impeccable shape and gives the hair some extra lift. The sharp angles of a line-up and crisp edges at the nape offer a striking contrast that will turn heads.

Temp Afro Fade with Tapered Neckline

A temp afro fade with a tapered neckline is a versatile, fresh cut that combines bold, thick texture with stunning tapering. The thick curls are longer on top but gradually transition at the sides and back, fading into the skin. Wear this afro faded style with a suit and tie for formal events or a cozy tee for a relaxing night with friends.

High Top Afro with Mid Fade

A high top afro stands taller and more impressive with the addition of an abrupt mid fade. The cut requires significant length – six to eight inches of healthy, moisturized hair – to achieve its ample volume and shape. Clean edges at the forehead create a contemporary face-framing effect.

High Skin Fade with Short Afro Curls

A high skin fade is a bold addition to various cuts, including short afro curls. Fashioning the curls into a spongy wave-like texture lends the look some vibrant personality, and because most of the sides and back are bare, maintenance is simple. Angled edges at the forehead and temple sharply contrast the bubbly texture.

Big Afro with Low Drop Fade

A big afro with a low drop fade maximizes capacious natural texture for a head-turning and intense style. The rounded afro is wider than the head at its center, particularly at the hairline, and the not-so-subtle fade emphasizes the sheer size and volume.

High Flat Top Fade

A high flat top fade is a contemporary take on a vintage cut that was incredibly common in the 1980s. Moderate volume at the top of the head appears flat when viewed from any angle, and the presentation is smooth and sleek. The abruptness of the fade lends visual interest while serving as a contrasting element, and a thin goatee balances the cut.

Sharp Faded Afro Curls

Sharp faded afro curls rely heavily on curl structure and definition for a poignant and sophisticated look that is slightly tousled and casual. The fade at the sides carries through the sideburns and into the beard, where it gradually grows thicker, mirroring the shape of the cut on top.

Short Razor Faded Afro

A short razor-faded afro combines the iconic texture of afro hair with the contemporary appeal of shorter hair at the sides. The cut exudes confidence, and its versatility makes it ideal for any occasion. Personalize the cut with a lower fade, longer hair on top, or creative facial hair.

Temp Fade Curly Hair Afro

An understated temp fade is a simple way to transform a handsome curly afro for a stylish, refined look. The twisted or sponged hair is roughly the same length and thickness from the hairline across the crown, and the sharp transition from the sides to the dense curls infuses personality.

Afro Blowout Fade

An afro blowout fade is a youthful and fresh look that involves styling the hair to flow upward and back against the natural direction of growth. The resulting shape and volume are highly attractive, particularly alongside a crisp edge up and thick goatee.

Thick Afro-Textured Top with Short Faded Sides

Styles featuring a thick, afro-textured top and short, faded sides are fashionable and versatile enough to suit various events, face shapes, and hair textures. Long, loose twists pair well with stubble at the sides and back. To customize the look, consider longer or shorter hair on top, a higher or lower fade, or even a different type of texture altogether.

Curly Afro with Temp Fade and Skin Temp Fade

A curly afro with a skin temp fade is a charming style that captures the beautiful essence of short, black curls. The cut draws attention to the tight, well-defined pattern on top and can symbolize youthfulness when paired with a clean-shaven face.

Long Natural Afro with Brooklyn Fade and Line Up

A long natural afro with a Brooklyn fade and line up has a big, bulbous appearance with ample texture. The fade amplifies the difference between the short sides and the long top, and the contrasting line up is considered a staple. A longer and thicker chinstrap beard at the chin mirrors the cut.