Markcutit · 650 Matheson Blvd W, Mississauga, ON L5R 3T2
Medium Length Taper: Volume on Top, Clean Sides, by Mark
Short answer: A medium length taper keeps several centimetres of hair on top, enough to sweep up and back with volume, while the sides are shortened toward the ear and neck. In this Mark Yousif result the sides go to bare skin around the ear, the temple is lined and the salt-and-pepper top is brushed up into a soft wave. It suits wavy or thick hair and anyone growing their top out.
The top: the reason for the name
The top is the medium-length part: several centimetres of wavy hair brushed up from the forehead and back over the crown, with visible movement and lift. Grey strands run through it, which the waves break up naturally.
The front has the most height, and the length tapers gently toward the crown. It is styled with a light hold that keeps the wave rather than slicking it flat.
What happens on the sides
The sides are shorter than a classic taper would leave them. Around the ear and down the nape, the hair goes to skin, and the darkness builds toward a line that rises at the front and dips behind the ear.
At the temple, the hairline is lined into a crisp corner. Facial hair is light: a short moustache and chin growth, with the cheeks close to clean.
Why keep the sides tight with a longer top?
Tight sides make a medium-length top look intentional. When the sides grow out alongside a longer top, the head widens and the style looks overdue; faded sides keep the silhouette tall and narrow.
This is also how many people grow into longer styles. The top gains length every visit while the sides stay clean. Our guide to medium-length haircuts covers more ways to wear this length.
How a result like this is cut
The top is cut with scissors, not clippers, because medium-length waves need to be shaped at the ends to keep their movement.
- Scissor-cut the top, longest at the front, with point-cutting to keep waves soft.
- Fade the sides to skin at the ear and nape, dropping the line behind the ear.
- Blend the fade into the longer top so there is no ledge at the crown.
- Line the temple and ears, then blow-dry the top up and back.
Who suits a medium top with skin sides, and home care
It suits wavy or thick hair that holds volume, oval or longer faces, and anyone who wants a style with more movement than a crop. Very fine hair can look thin at this length, so a shorter top may be better.
Rebook every 3 to 4 weeks, and ask for the sides only at the halfway point if you are growing the top. Blow-dry the top upward with a round brush and finish with a light cream. For the same idea with more contrast, see our long top, short sides page for Mississauga.
Medium length taper: common questions
How long should the top be for this?
Roughly 6 to 10 centimetres (about 2.5 to 4 inches) at the front gives enough length to sweep up and back.
Is this a taper or a fade?
Technically the sides are a skin fade; "taper" in the gallery name describes the overall shape narrowing toward the neck.
Does grey hair change how it is cut?
Grey is often a little coarser, so we may take more weight out of it, but the shape stays the same. Our grey hair barber page has more.
