Your Complete Guide to the Temple (Temp) Fade Haircut

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Check out the low temp fade, high temp fade, & other styles

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Last Updated: April 6, 2026

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What is it?

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Temp Fade vs. Taper

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Styles

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Asking for a Temp Fade

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Styling & Maintenance

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Video

With so many trendy hairstyles on our minds (and heads) these days, it’s easy to get confused between fades, tapers, and whatever other cuts are made possible by your local barber. So, if you’ve heard about a temp (or temple) fade and are wondering whether it’s right for you, we’re here to help! We’ll tell you what a temp fade is, how it differs from a typical taper, and the different styles you can try. We’ll also walk you through how to ask your barber for a temp fade, and how to style and maintain the cut once you’ve got it.

What is the temple fade hairstyle?

A temp fade is when your hair fades primarily around the temples, as well as the nape of the neck. The fade can start high on the crown (high), just below the temples (low), or on the temples themselves (mid). Unlike a typical fade, the hair on the back, sides, and top of the head is left mostly dark or grown out.

Section 1 of 5:

What is a temp fade?

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A temp fade is a cut where hair is faded only around the temples and nape. The sides and back of the head, on the other hand, are left mostly dark and slightly grown out. On the top of the head, the hair can remain natural, long, or textured—that’s up to the discretion of the person getting this style!^{[1]
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- The temp (or temple) fade is particularly notable for its sharp contrast. There’s a stark, clean edge between the temple area and the longer hair on top.
- Temple fades are also usually cut as high tapers, but there are many different potential styles. In some variations, you might see a mid or low fade, and some styles even include a sharp fade behind the ear.

Section 2 of 5:

What’s the difference between a temp fade and a taper?

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A temp fade is a type of taper that focuses on the temples and neck. Tapers come in all shapes and sizes, but they all gradually blend hair on the sides and back of the head (leaving a longer crop of hair on the top and front). A temple fade follows this general technique, but it focuses the blending on the immediate areas around the temples and the nape of the neck. Unlike a general taper, the hair is left longer around the ears, as well as on the sides and back of the head.
- Professional barber Barry Hairston explains a fade is a style where the hair “starts off bald, like skin. But, if the hair is left somewhat short instead, that’s a taper. The hair on the sides will be a little longer” than it would be on a fade.^{[2]
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  Barry Hairston
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Section 3 of 5:

Different Styles of Temp Fade

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Low Temp Fade For a low temp fade, the tapering starts very low on the temples. The blending usually begins around the sideburns and ears, rather than higher up on the temples. The hair on the top of the head can be left at any length and in any style. This look is often perceived as polished, clean, and more subtle than other styles.
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Mid Temp Fade A mid temp fade hits the sweet spot between its lower and higher counterparts. With the mid temp fade, the tapered blend starts right on the temples, about halfway between the top of the head and the ear. Compared to a high fade, the mid temp fade leaves slightly more hair on the sides, although it still leaves less than the low temp fade.^{[3]
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High Temp Fade The high temp fade is one of the more dramatic versions of the temple fade. The blending and tapering start high on the temples (near the crown), so that there’s a stark contrast between the longer hair on top of the head and the faded hair around the temples. This look is especially recommended for rounded faces, as it can imbue them with more structure and balance.^{[4]
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Drop Temp Fade A drop temp fade starts with a high fade around the temples. However, the fade is then dropped down, around the ear, and toward the back of the head (following the line of the occipital bone). This creates a rounded, defined, and contoured shape that’s great for a sharp, fresh, and balanced style.
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Afro Temp Fade This afro fade style combines a temple fade around the sides of the head with an afro on top. Barbers typically choose a high fade at the temples for this look, creating a sharp contrast that highlights the coily, voluminous hair at the top of the head. This style can also be adapted for any type of curly or textured hair.

Section 4 of 5:

How to Ask Your Barber For a Temp Fade

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Tell your barber you want a taper fade on the temples and neck. While your barber might already know what a temp fade is, it’s still helpful to give them specific details when asking for a fade. For example, say that you want a taper fade that starts around the temple area and the nape of the neck. Specify that you want your sideburns and the areas behind your ears to be slightly darker.^{[5]
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Specify whether you want a low, mid, or high fade. As with most fade styles, you can get different types and heights of temp fades, explains barber Igor Sadurskii.^{[6]
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Igor Sadurskii
Barber

Expert Interview} Let your barber know whether you want a low, mid, or high fade—or, in other words, tell them at what point around your temple you want the fade to begin.
- You can also ask your barber for their recommendation. Sadurskii explains that, when deciding on the height of a fade, it’s important to “follow the head structure because every person has an occipital on the back of the head. So, following the person’s head shape is the goal.”^{[7]
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  Igor Sadurskii
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Let your barber know how you want to style the hair on top. Temple fades can be cut with a variety of hair lengths left on top. Let them know whether you want your hair on top to be left long, cut short, or styled somewhere in the middle. If you’re not sure which option would suit you best, you can ask your barber!
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When in doubt, bring in photos or videos of your desired cut. When you’re getting any type of haircut, it’s super helpful to bring in some pictures or videos, explains hair stylist Tiffany Carnevale-Russo. Look on Google or Pinterest, find the style you’re looking for, and bring it in to your barber.^{[8]
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Tiffany Carnevale-Russo
Hair Stylist

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- She adds, “keep a level of realistic expectation” and don’t expect your hair to turn out exactly like the pictures you provided. “Just because a style looks good on a certain person doesn’t mean it’s going to fit you as well. Take your stylist or barber’s opinion into consideration, too.”^{[9]
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  Tiffany Carnevale-Russo
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Section 5 of 5:

How to Style and Maintain a Temp Fade

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Prep your locks with hair oil and comb it toward the grain. To keep your hair healthy and hydrated, apply a small amount of argan oil (or a similar product) all over the top. Then, brush or comb out your hair, making sure to follow the grain to keep your fade smooth and styled.^{[10]
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- Depending on the length and texture of hair you have on top, you may also want to blow-dry it and/or style it with a pomade or styling cream.
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Visit your barber every 2-3 weeks. To keep your temple fade sharp and prevent it from growing out, it’s best to visit your barber every 2-3 weeks for maintenance. Try to visit the same barber each time, and let them know that you simply want to tighten up the lines on your existing temp fade.^{[11]
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Use personal trimmers at home for light touch-ups. In between your visits to the barber, you can use a personal hair trimmer to lightly touch up your lines and keep them sharp. However, be careful to cut the fade along the original line that was created by your barber, and avoid pushing back your hairline by shaving too much off.^{[12]
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