Can You DIY a Mid Taper Fade at Home?

• High-Quality Hair Clippers: Choose clippers with various guard sizes to control the length of the hair precisely. A lever to adjust the blade height is crucial for blending the fade smoothly.


• Trimmer: A trimmer is essential for cleaning up the edges and making precise lines around the ears and neckline.


• Scissors: Haircutting scissors are necessary for trimming the top and for any touch-ups that require more precision than clippers can offer.


• Comb: A comb is vital for guiding the hair while cutting and ensuring an even fade. Use a comb with both fine and wide teeth for versatility.


• Mirror: A handheld mirror or a setup with multiple mirrors is essential to see all angles of your head to ensure an even and symmetrical fade.


• Hair Thinning Scissors: These are optional but recommended for blending the hair more seamlessly, especially between different lengths.


• Hair Clip: Hair clips can help by sectioning off parts of the hair to focus on one area at a time, making the fading process more manageable.

Equipped with these tools, you can approach your DIY mid taper fade with more confidence, knowing you have everything needed to achieve a clean, professional look.

A Mid Taper Fade is a popular men's hairstyle that blends the hair on the sides and back of the head to a shorter length as it goes down. This fade starts in the middle of the sides of the head, offering a stylish yet not too drastic transition from the top to the bottom. Achieving this look at home requires precision, patience, and the right tools.

• Hair clippers with guard sizes ranging from 1 to 4


• A mirror to see the back of your head, or a hand mirror if using a bathroom mirror


• Comb


• Scissors for touch-ups


• Haircut cape or towel to keep hair off your clothes

Step 1: Preparation - Start with clean, dry hair. Comb through to remove any tangles and to see the natural flow of your hair. Attach a longer guard (around a #3 or #4) to your clippers.

Step 2: Initial Cut - Begin cutting by creating a baseline for your fade. Start around the temples and work your way around the head, ensuring even length. This creates the foundation of your mid taper fade.

Step 3: Gradual Fading - Switch to a shorter guard (#2). Starting a bit above the initial baseline, blend the hair into the longer top. As you move down, gradually decrease the guard size to #1 to enhance the fade effect.

Step 4: Defining the Fade - For a more pronounced fade, use no guard and carefully blend the hair into the skin, starting from the bottom and working up to where your fade begins. This step requires a steady hand and a light touch.

Step 5: Cleanup and Styling - Use scissors to clean up any longer hairs on top and to blend any areas that look uneven. Comb your hair into the desired style to check for consistency and make any necessary adjustments.

Tip: Always cut less than you think you need to. You can always cut more if needed, but you cannot add back hair that has been cut too short.