The taper haircut is a timeless, stylish and classy style that radiates confidence and looks effortlessly handsome. Balanced and versatile, the classic taper can be a low-maintenance and elegant choice for guys who want a short blended cut on the sides and back that will complement the longer hair on top.
From simple to bold, these attractive tapered haircuts will show off your sophistication, elevate your style and turn heads with a clean, textured finish.
For an understated approach, ask your barber for a low taper to achieve a polished look that will suit any length, texture or occasion. A mid or high taper can create contrast, make a statement and draw attention to your cool hairstyle.
For a fresh take, browse these classy taper haircut ideas for men to inspire your next visit to the barbershop.
Trendy Taper Haircut Styles
The Low Taper
The low taper is a subtle and refined take on the classic taper cut. This style keeps the hair longer on the sides and back, with the gradual shortening beginning lower on the head, typically just above the ears. The result is a clean, professional look that’s perfect for men who want a polished appearance without going too short. This versatile cut works well with various hair lengths on top, making it an excellent choice for those who prefer a more conservative style or are just starting to experiment with tapered cuts.
The Mid Taper
Striking a balance between subtlety and boldness, the mid taper is a popular choice for many men. This cut begins the tapering process around the middle of the head, creating a more noticeable contrast between the longer hair on top and the shorter sides. The mid taper offers a clean, sharp look that’s suitable for both casual and professional settings. It’s an excellent option for those who want a bit more definition in their haircut without going to extremes, and it can be easily styled in various ways to suit different occasions.
The High Taper
For those looking to make more of a statement, the high taper is an eye-catching option. This style starts the tapering process higher up on the head, creating a bold contrast between the longer hair on top and the much shorter sides. The high taper adds definition to your facial features and can make a strong impression. It’s particularly well-suited to men with thick hair who want to reduce bulk on the sides while maintaining length on top. This cut requires more frequent maintenance to keep its sharp look but offers a stylish and modern appearance.
The Textured Brush Up with Tapered Sides
This dynamic style combines a textured top with neatly tapered sides for a look that’s both polished and effortlessly cool. The hair on top is cut to varying lengths and styled upwards and slightly back, creating a sense of movement and volume. The tapered sides provide a clean contrast, emphasizing the textured top. This versatile cut works well with various hair types and can be styled with minimal effort, making it a great choice for men who want a fashionable look without spending too much time on their hair each morning.
The Comb Over with High Taper Fade
A modern take on a classic style, the comb over with a high taper fade offers a sophisticated look with a contemporary edge. The longer hair on top is neatly combed to one side, while the sides feature a high taper that transitions into a fade. This creates a sharp contrast and a clean, crisp appearance. It’s an excellent choice for men in professional environments who want to maintain a polished look while adding a touch of modern style. The versatility of this cut allows for both sleek, formal styling and more relaxed, textured looks for casual occasions.
The Brushed Up Comb Over with Tapered Sides
This style combines volume on top with neatly tapered sides for a look that’s both stylish and refined. The longer hair on top is brushed upwards and slightly back, creating height and movement, while the tapered sides keep the overall look clean and sharp. This cut works particularly well for men with thicker hair, as it allows them to showcase their hair’s natural volume. It’s a versatile style that can be dressed up for formal occasions or styled more casually for everyday wear, making it a popular choice for men who want a cut that can adapt to various settings.
The Textured Pompadour with Low Taper
The textured pompadour with a low taper offers a modern twist on a classic rockabilly style. The hair on top is cut to varying lengths and styled upwards and back, creating a voluminous, textured look. The low taper on the sides provides a subtle contrast without taking away from the dramatic top. This style is perfect for men who want to make a statement with their hair while maintaining a polished appearance. It works well with various hair types and can be adjusted to suit different face shapes, making it a versatile choice for those looking to add some rockstar flair to their look.
The Textured Side Swept Style with Scissor Cut Taper
This refined style combines a textured top with a subtle, scissor-cut taper for a look that’s both sophisticated and modern. The hair on top is cut to create texture and volume, then swept to one side for a polished appearance. The scissor-cut taper on the sides provides a gentle transition, maintaining a more natural look compared to clipper-cut tapers. This style is ideal for men who prefer a softer, more organic appearance to their haircut. It’s versatile enough for both professional and casual settings, making it a great choice for those who want a stylish yet low-maintenance look.
The Textured Messy Quiff with Low Taper
For a more relaxed and youthful appearance, the textured messy quiff with a low taper is an excellent choice. This style features longer hair on top that’s styled into a quiff – swept upwards and backwards – but with a deliberately tousled, messy finish. The low taper on the sides keeps the look clean without being too severe. This cut is perfect for men who want a stylish, contemporary look that doesn’t appear too polished or “try-hard.” It works well with various hair types and can be easily styled for a casual, effortless vibe.
The Modern Quiff with High Taper
The modern quiff with a high taper is a bold, stylish cut that’s sure to turn heads. This style features longer hair on top that’s styled upwards and backwards to create a dramatic quiff. The high taper on the sides creates a strong contrast, emphasizing the volume on top. This cut is ideal for men with thicker hair who want to make a statement with their style. It requires some effort to style but offers a striking look that works well for both casual and more formal occasions. The high taper helps to keep the sides neat, ensuring the style looks sharp even as it grows out.
The Combed Back Style with Low Taper
For a sleek, classic look, the combed back style with a low taper is hard to beat. This cut features longer hair on top that’s neatly combed backwards, creating a smooth, polished appearance. The low taper on the sides provides a subtle transition, maintaining a clean look without being too severe. This style is perfect for men who want a sophisticated, timeless look that works well in professional settings. It’s versatile enough to be styled more casually as well, making it a great all-around choice for those who prefer a refined appearance.
The Long Wavy Fringe with Low Taper Fade
This style combines a longer, wavy fringe on top with a low taper fade on the sides for a look that’s both relaxed and stylish. The wavy fringe adds texture and movement to the top, while the low taper fade keeps the sides neat and clean. This cut is ideal for men with naturally wavy hair who want to showcase their texture while maintaining a polished appearance. It’s a versatile style that can be dressed up or down, making it suitable for various occasions and settings. The low taper fade helps to keep the look neat as it grows out, reducing the need for frequent trims.
The Long Brushed Back Hair with Classic Low Taper
For those who prefer to keep their hair longer, the long brushed back style with a classic low taper offers a sophisticated option. This cut maintains length on top, allowing the hair to be brushed back smoothly, while the low taper on the sides keeps the overall look neat and tidy. It’s an excellent choice for men who want to showcase their hair’s natural texture and movement while still maintaining a polished appearance. This versatile style can be worn slick and neat for formal occasions or tousled for a more relaxed, casual look.
The Messy Textured Spiky Hair with High Taper and Long Beard
This edgy style combines messy, textured spikes on top with a high taper on the sides and a long beard for a bold, masculine look. The spiky texture on top adds volume and interest, while the high taper creates a strong contrast. The addition of a long beard complements the hairstyle, creating a rugged, stylish appearance. This cut is perfect for men who want to make a statement with their look and aren’t afraid to stand out. It works well with various hair types and can be styled to suit different levels of “messiness” depending on personal preference.
The Parted Quiff with Taper
The parted quiff with taper offers a stylish blend of classic and contemporary elements. This cut features a defined part on one side, with the hair styled into a quiff that sweeps up and over. The tapered sides provide a clean contrast to the fuller top. This style is versatile and can be adapted to suit different face shapes and hair types. It’s an excellent choice for men who want a polished look that’s still full of personality. The taper helps to keep the sides neat, ensuring the style maintains its shape even as it grows out.
The Two Block with High Taper Undercut
Originally popularized in East Asia, the two block with a high taper undercut has gained global appeal. This distinctive style features longer hair on top that’s cut in a “block” shape, creating a stark contrast with the much shorter sides. The high taper undercut further emphasizes this contrast, resulting in a bold, modern look. This cut is ideal for men who want to make a statement with their hair and aren’t afraid of a more dramatic style. It works particularly well with straight, thick hair but can be adapted for other hair types as well.
The Ivy League with Mid Taper
The Ivy League with a mid taper is a classic, refined style that never goes out of fashion. This cut features short hair on top that’s long enough to part, typically styled with a side part. The mid taper on the sides provides a clean, gradual transition. This timeless style is perfect for men who want a polished, professional look that’s still full of character. It’s a versatile cut that works well in both formal and casual settings, making it a popular choice for men of all ages. The mid taper helps to keep the style looking neat and tidy between haircuts.
The High Volume Side Part and Scissored Sides
For those who like to make a statement, the high volume side part with scissored sides offers a bold, stylish option. This cut features longer hair on top styled into a voluminous side part, creating height and movement. The sides are scissor-cut rather than clipped, providing a softer, more natural transition. This style is perfect for men with thicker hair who want to showcase their hair’s natural volume. It’s a versatile cut that can be styled neatly for formal occasions or more casually for everyday wear, making it a great all-around choice for the fashion-conscious man.
The Combed Back Style with Taper and Stubble
This style combines a classic combed back look on top with tapered sides and subtle stubble for a rugged yet refined appearance. The longer hair on top is smoothly combed back, while the taper on the sides keeps the look clean and sharp. The addition of well-maintained stubble adds a masculine edge to the overall style. This cut is ideal for men who want a sophisticated look with a touch of ruggedness. It’s versatile enough to suit both professional and casual settings, making it a great choice for those who want a style that can transition seamlessly from day to night.
The Fluffy Textured Fringe with Mid Taper
The fluffy textured fringe with a mid taper offers a youthful, trendy look that’s full of personality. This style features longer hair on top that’s cut to create a textured, “fluffy” appearance, with a fringe that can be styled forward or to the side. The mid taper on the sides provides a clean contrast without being too severe. This cut is perfect for men who want a playful, fashion-forward look that still maintains a degree of neatness. It works well with various hair types and can be easily styled for a casual, effortless vibe.
The Thick French Crop with Brushed Up Fringe and Mid Taper
This modern take on the classic French crop combines a thick, textured top with a brushed-up fringe and mid taper for a stylish, contemporary look. The hair on top is cut to create fullness and texture, with the fringe styled upwards for added height. The mid taper on the sides provides a clean contrast while maintaining some fullness. This cut is ideal for men with thicker hair who want a style that’s both fashionable and easy to maintain. It offers versatility in styling, allowing for a more polished look or a relaxed, tousled appearance depending on the occasion.
