The taper
A taper only works the edges: the sideburns and the neckline. The hair gets gradually shorter as it goes down, but it usually finishes with a little length rather than bare skin.
It grows out gracefully, which makes it a safe call for conservative offices, longer gaps between cuts, and anyone trying short sides for the first time.
The fade
A fade takes the blend further and higher. The hair goes from your chosen length on top down to very short, often to the skin, all the way around the sides and back.
Where the blend starts gives you the type: a low fade starts just above the ear, a mid fade at the temple, and a high fade near the top of the head. A skin fade (or bald fade) finishes on bare skin. A drop fade curves down behind the ear, and a burst fade arcs around the ear and leaves length at the neck.
How to ask your barber
Say where you want it to start (low, mid or high), how short you want the bottom (skin or a guard number), and what you want on top. A photo on your phone settles any doubt.
At Original Walker's every haircut includes straight razor detailing where it's needed, so the line up and neck are crisp whichever you choose.
How long each one lasts
A skin fade looks sharpest for about a week and most people refresh it every two to three weeks. A taper holds its shape longer, often three to four weeks.
Quick questions
Is a fade or a taper better for an office job?
A taper or a low fade is the safer, more conservative look. A high skin fade is bolder.
What does a skin fade cost at Original Walker's?
Fades and tapers are both part of the standard $45 haircut, razor detailing included.
By the barbers at Original Walker's Barbershop, North Austin. Updated 2026-11-06.