How to Cut a Classic Taper

A classic taper is a basic haircut any barber should know.

When it comes to haircuts, there are few that are more basic than the taper cut, which involves starting short at the bottom and increasing in length as you get to the top: often referred to as a "fade." A taper haircut requires a little bit of finesse with the clippers, but even beginners should not have much difficulty mastering the classic taper in just a few minutes.

Things You'll Need

• Electric hair clippers

Instructions

1. Mentally separate the hair into four zones: the first zone covers all the hair on the top of the head, and thus will stay the longest. The second zone is right below that, right about where one would put a headband. Zone 3 is below that, and Zone 4 is the lowest region of hair, just above the neck. A good example of a tapered cut would be to have 4-inch-long hair in Zone 1, 2 inches in Zone 2, 1 inch in Zone 3 and 1/2 inch in Zone 4.

2. Set your clippers to the length you want for Zone 1: e.g., 4 inches. Pass the clippers over Zone 1 until the hair is even.

3. Proceed to Zone 2 with the correct setting on the clipper, moving the clippers from the back of the head to the front on both the left and right sides until it is even.

4. Adjust the clippers for Zone 3, and do the same until the hair is even.

5. Set the clippers for Zone 4 and do the same as you did in the previous two zones, and the taper cut is complete.

References

• Hudson's FTM Resource Guide: Men's Short Haircuts
• 888Haircut: How to Give a Tapered Haircut