Mid Taper Fade Guides: Styles, Hair Types and Upkeep

The mid taper starts its blend around the temple, roughly level with the top of the ear. That single change buys visible contrast against the top without the maintenance bill a high taper hands you, which is why it has become the default request in a lot of shops.

The guides here cover the mid taper across textures — Afro, waves, locs, Asian and fine European hair — and across the styles people actually pair it with: blowouts, Edgar cuts, middle parts, mullets and beards. Each one explains what changes at this height and what to say so your barber starts in the right place.