Jit Fade Haircut: What It Is & How to Achieve It

Barber Barry Hairston shares how to get this popular TikTok haircut

Co-authored by Barry Hairston and Marcus Pruitt, BS

Last Updated: January 29, 2026 Fact Checked

• Jit Fade Explained
|
• Cutting a Jit Fade
|
• Jit vs. Taper Fade
|
• What is a jit?
|
• Other TikTok Hair Trends

|Show more |Show less

There are plenty of popular haircuts that are taking TikTok by storm, from the blowout taper to the jit fade. We talked to barber Barry Hairston to help us explain what the jit fade is, how to cut one, how it compares to the taper fade, and more! Read on and learn all about your next potential haircut.

Jit Fade Haircut Explained

Download Image

Barber Barry Hairston says that a jit fade haircut has a very short, tight fade on the sides and back, blending into longer hair on top. The long top and short sides create a contrast that draws attention to the fade, which is shaved to the skin.

Steps

Section 1 of 5:

What is a jit fade?

1. 
   A jit fade is a short fade that sits just below the top of the ears. Hairston explains that a jit fade is “a trendy men’s haircut featuring a very short, tight fade on the sides and back” that blends into longer hair on top. The skin fade that starts at the curved part of the hairline and goes towards the back of the head, ending as the head curves into the back.

   • Hairston adds that the cut is especially popular when paired with “textured hair like curls or twists on top.”
   • The faded section is worn very short, like a bald fade, taper fade, or temp fade, says Hairston.
   • Some iterations of the jit fade are not faded in the back, but this typically depends on the preference of the person rocking the style. Hairston also says some people like to do this look with a burst fade, where the fade drops down lower behind the ears.
   • The jit fade is currently popular in Brazil and, thanks to social media, is now gaining fans all over the world.

   Meet the wikiHow Expert

   Barry Hairston is an award-winning master barber and men’s grooming specialist. He’s been recognized as a Top 50 Global Barber by Feedspot and operates TheStarsBarber Lounge in Dallas.
Advertisement

Section 2 of 5:

How to Cut a Jit Fade

1. 
   1
   Cut a perimeter where you want the bald fade to start. Hairston says that when you’re cutting a fade, the first thing you should do is go in and cut about a ¹⁄₂ in (1.3 cm) line at the top of the area where you want the skin fade to start. Line it up evenly on both sides and around the back.

   • Hairston recommends combing through the hair before you get started to “see if there are any light spots, bold spots, [or] cowlicks.” He says to also check the texture of the hair and the flow or direction of how the hair grows.
2. 
   2
   Use a longer guard to remove bulk from your hair. Hairson says to put a longer guard attachment on your clippers, like a #3. Then, clip your hair from the perimeter line down using a scooping technique, where you pull the clippers away from your head at a 90° angle. The goal at this stage is to take out some of the bulk of your hair without cutting it too short. “The more you overdirect [the clippers], the longer the hair is going to be,” says Hairston.

   • After the first pass, Hairston says to go over your hair again, but this time, bring the clippers in a little closer. Keep the same scooping motion, though. “If you come straight up on the head, it’s going to be a really tight fade.”
   • If there isn’t any bulk on the back of your hair, consider waiting to blend it in until after you complete the fade.
3. 
   3
   Gradually switch to shorter guards as you go back over your hair. Hairston says after you debulk the hair, drop down to the next guard and repeat the process. For instance, he says you might use a #2 guard, then a #1.5, then a #0.5. “By the time you get to the #2, the hair at the very bottom of the fade is really short.” Next, he says to take a #0.5 (or 1/16th) or no guards and go back over the section at the bottom of the fade.

   • “This is where a lot of people get scared,” Hairston adds. “The teeth on the clipper are closed, so open that up.” Then, he says to go over the area, flicking the clippers away from your head.
4. 
   4
   Line up the back and sides. After you’ve created the jit fade, you’ll need to clean it up. Use a pair of sharp trimmers to line up the sides and back of your hair, following the natural curve of your hair on the sides and creating a straight, sharp line on the back. Trim away any hair below the line you formed on the back to complete the lineup.

   • You can also line up the hairline on the front if you’d like, but that’s up to you!
Advertisement

Section 3 of 5:

What is the difference between a jit fade and a taper fade?

1. 
   Taper fades are longer and fade the back of the hair; jit fades only fade the sides. Hairston explains that a fade starts with the hair shaved completely down to the skin, then gradually gets longer. “Some people call it a skin tight, or just a fade” he says. “If you leave the hair kind of short, that’s what you consider a taper. It’s still transitioning, but the hair on the sides is going to be a little longer.”

   • The taper fade fades the sides and back of the hair, though, while the jit fade only fades the sides.
   • The taper fade also tends to come in different lengths, while the jit fade tends to blend at the top of the ears.

Section 4 of 5:

What is a jit?

1. 
   “Jit” is slang for “young person.” The term “jit” is most popular in Florida, where it’s believed to have originated. It refers to someone who’s younger than you, usually a teenager, or someone who’s new at something. For example, if you have a younger sibling, you can refer to them as a jit.
Advertisement

Section 5 of 5:

Other Popular TikTok Haircuts

1. 
   1
   Eboy haircut The Eboy haircut is a short, layered haircut. There are different variations of the Eboy haircut, with the two most popular being the fluffy Eboy haircut and the middle part Eboy Haircut. The Fluffy Eboy haircut involves sweeping your hair toward the back of your head until it’s fluffy and messy, while the middle part Eboy haircut involves growing your hair out and parting it down the middle.
2. 
   2
   Blowout Taper The blowout taper is a haircut that features a low taper and a large, blown-out top. The sides and back of the hair are cut into a sharp taper, while the top is left to grow. This bulky top is then blown out with a hairdryer to send it upward and outward, giving the blowout taper its name.
3. 
   3
   Ice Cream Hair Ice cream hair is a popular haircut on TikTok, especially among members of Gen Alpha. It’s a fluffy style with a rounded top, layered bangs, and edges that flip upward, resembling a scoop of ice cream in a cone. This popular TikTok style requires lots of hair to achieve, as you need enough hair for the flipped edges and layered bangs.
4. 
   4
   Wolf Cut A wolf cut is a layered haircut that takes the choppy layers from a shag and combines them with the length of a mullet. The resulting style is a choppy, layered mullet with long back layers and hair that slightly flips outward. The wolf cut is a versatile haircut that can be worn by people with all types of hair and face shapes.

   • There are plenty of different types of wolf cuts, too, from the classic wolf cut (which blends the mullet and shag) to the anime-style wolf cut (which uses bangs and sideburns to add definition to the hair).
Advertisement

Expert Q&A

Search

Add New Question

Ask a Question

200 characters left

Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.

Submit

Advertisement

Tips

Submit a Tip

All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published

Name

Please provide your name and last initial

Submit

Thanks for submitting a tip for review!