Mid Taper Fade: More Definition Around the Ear, Weight Kept

What moving the taper up actually changes

Raising the taper from low to mid clears the hair that sits around and just above the ear. With a low taper, hair still hangs over the top of the ear; with a mid taper, the ear is fully framed and the curve above it is clean.

At the back, the nape taper also climbs, usually to about the bottom of the occipital bone, which gives a tidier, more squared-off back view. The upper sides, from a few centimetres above the ear to the parietal ridge, still carry length, so the head does not look narrow.

Choosing between a low and a mid taper

Choose a mid taper when a low taper looks messy on you within a week or two. That usually happens when hair is thick, grows fast around the ears, or sticks out sideways as it grows.

Stick with a low taper fade when your hair lies flat, when you want the softest possible outline, or when you are growing the sides out.

• Thick or coarse hair that bushes out above the ear: mid.
• Ears you want framed rather than covered: mid.
• Fine or thin hair: low, to keep coverage.
• Growing out toward a flow or mullet: low, or just a neck taper.
• Want a noticeable outline but not visible skin up the sides: mid.

Pairing a mid taper with a fringe

A mid taper is one of the best partners for a fringe because it removes the bulk that would otherwise make the head look round from the front. With the ears framed, the fringe becomes the focal point.

For a straight fringe we keep the top at 6 to 8 cm and point-cut the ends so they sit on or just above the brows. For a curly fringe we cut dry, curl by curl, so the length falls evenly. The fringe haircut page covers the fringe itself in more depth.

Pairing a mid taper with a textured top

A textured top over a mid taper gives a shape that is tight at the ear and loose on top, which reads modern without much effort. The blend from the taper into the upper sides has to be gradual so the texture looks like it continues down rather than sitting on a ledge.

We often use scissor-over-comb on the upper sides to keep them soft, then point-cut the top. A little matte clay worked through with the fingers is all it needs; see how to use hair clay.

Keeping a mid taper fresh

A mid taper stays sharp for about three weeks. Because more of the area around the ear is short, regrowth shows a little sooner than on a low taper, but the full upper sides still hide most of it.

Plan a cut every three weeks if you like it crisp, or every four if you do not mind a softer week. Between cuts, a neckline clean-up from a barber buys time; a home trimmer on the taper usually leaves a line.

1. Days 1 to 10: the ear outline is clean and the taper is smooth.
2. Days 10 to 20: sideburns thicken and the nape starts to fuzz.
3. Around day 21: hair begins touching the top of the ear again; time to rebook.

How we cut a mid taper at Markcutit

In the consultation we check how your hair grows around the ear and at the nape, since cowlicks behind the ear can change where the taper should sit. We set the taper with a trimmer, blend upward with guards, soften the upper sides with scissors and then cut the top.

Every cut ends with a razor lineup and includes a hot towel, a hair wash and a head massage. Book through our taper fades service, or bring a reference from our portfolio.