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.

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.