Markcutit · 650 Matheson Blvd W, Mississauga, ON L5R 3T2
Curly Top and Mid Skin Fade: Reading a Real Studio Cut
Short answer: This is a curly top over a mid skin fade: the sides and back are taken to bare skin around the ear and blended up to about the temple, while the curls on top are left long enough to fall forward loosely. It suits wavy to curly hair that you want to wear natural, and anyone who likes a sharp contrast between clean sides and a soft, moving top.
What the photo shows, from the back and side
The photo is taken from behind the right shoulder, so it shows the part of a curly fade most people never see in their own mirror: the back and the area behind the ear. The skin is bare from the nape up past the top of the ear, and the darkest hair starts roughly level with the temple.
The curls on top are loose and springy rather than tight, and they have been left long. They spill forward over the front and down toward the eyebrow on this side, so the fringe is uncontrolled on purpose. There is light stubble on the chin but no shaped beard, which keeps all of the attention on the hair.
Why this counts as a mid fade and not a high one
It is a mid fade because the transition from skin to hair sits around the middle of the side of the head, level with the temple, instead of climbing up to the corner where the side turns into the top. A high fade would leave only a small cap of curls; here the curls still cover the parietal ridge.
The line of the fade also runs fairly level around the back. It does not dip sharply behind the ear the way a drop fade does, which gives the back a clean, horizontal band of skin under the curls.
How a result like this is built
Curly hair hides mistakes on top but shows every one on the sides, so the order of work matters. We read the curl pattern dry first, because curls shrink as they dry and a length that looks right wet can spring up much shorter.
- Set the fade line around the temple and the occipital bone with a longer guard.
- Take the bottom to skin with a foil shaver or zero-gapped trimmer, around and behind the ear.
- Blend upward in small steps until no band is visible between skin and curl.
- Shape the curls on top with scissors, taking weight out without cutting through the curl pattern.
- Finish with a razor-clean lineup around the ears and a soft, faded nape.
Who a curly mid skin fade suits
This cut suits curly or wavy hair with enough density to sit up on top, and it works best when you are happy to wear the curls mostly natural. The bare sides make a narrow head look fuller on top, and the contrast reads well in photos.
It is a poor fit if you need a conservative look for work every day, or if your curls are very fine, because the skin sides will expose how little volume there is. For more detail on curl types and fade heights, read our curly fade guide.
Upkeep: what happens after two weeks
The skin part of the fade is what shows growth first. By about two weeks the bare band around the ear is covered in stubble and the contrast softens, so most people with this cut rebook every 2 to 3 weeks.
The curls on top can go much longer between trims, about every 4 to 6 weeks, which is why many clients book a fade clean-up in between and leave the top alone. A light leave-in cream or curl cream keeps the top defined between visits.
Curly top and mid skin fade: common questions
Will a skin fade make my curls look even bigger?
It makes the top look more defined, not necessarily bigger. With the sides bare, the curls are the only volume left, so they become the main shape of the cut.
Can I get this cut in Mississauga with a specific barber?
Yes. Book Haircut Only on Booksy and pick Mark or Marcel; the curly fade page for Mississauga covers how that appointment runs.
Should I come in with my hair wet or dry?
Dry and styled the way you normally wear it is best, so we can see where your curls naturally fall before we cut.
Is a mid fade easier to grow out than a high fade?
Usually, yes. There is less bare skin to cover, so the awkward stage is shorter.
