Blow Out Taper Fade — Real Talk from Behind the Chair

Alright, so I had this client last week—kid walked in, showed me a pic on his phone, kinda mumbled “can I get something like this?” He had that curly, dense kind of hair. A little wild. I squinted at the photo, and yeah. It was a blow out taper fade. Classic, but not in a boring way.

What Exactly Is It Though?

People toss around a lot of names—temp fade, Brooklyn fade, even Southside fade. But the blow out taper fade haircut is its own thing blow out taper fade haircut. It’s that lifted, natural top, kinda like the hair is levitating a bit. The sides taper down, not too aggressively, more like a smooth gradient around the ears and neckline. No harsh lines unless that’s what you're into.

The blow dryer plays a role. That’s where the “blow out” part hits. You’re lifting volume into the top. No slick-down or press. We’re letting the hair do its thing—just neater.

Who’s It For?

Mostly I see guys with tighter curls or waves pull this off best. Black, Latino, even some mixed-heritage hair types work well here. If your hair naturally wants to rise up and out, that’s already half the battle. It’s not that straight hair can’t do it, but it’s a different vibe—more of a style build-up, needs product, time, finesse.

Teenagers love this. Especially in the summer. I see a lot of high school kids asking for this look right after finals like it’s a tradition. But grown men pull it off too—you just gotta own it.

Blow Out vs Taper vs Fade?

Yeah, I get this all the time. The taper fade isn’t the whole style, it’s the technique we use around the edges. The blow out is what’s happening up top—volume, shape, texture. The fade or taper just finishes it off, brings the whole thing together.

You can rock a blow out without a fade, just keep the edges natural. Or go full bald fade on the sides with a blow out on top. But that’s not really a blow out taper fade anymore, that’s moving into high fade territory. We’re splitting hairs here, I know.

Maintenance? Not Too Bad.

Here’s the thing. Once the cut settles in, you won’t need to baby it. Just keep the edges clean. Hit the barbershop every 10–14 days if you’re serious about the look. That taper grows out faster than you think, and when it goes puffy around the neck and ears—it’s not cute.

At home? Pick or comb the top gently. Use a little leave-in conditioner or styling cream depending on your hair type. And yeah, a blow dryer helps. Medium heat, low speed. Lift from the roots. No need to go full salon mode.

Trends Come, Trends Go…

…but this one hangs around. It’s got roots. Grew up outta Brooklyn and Jersey, came up in the 2000s, and just stuck around. I saw it slow down a bit when skin fades and drop fades started dominating the scene. But it never vanished. Now with all this nostalgia for early-2000s streetwear and music? It’s coming back strong.

Not everyone can pull it off—and that’s kinda the point. You either make this cut work, or it wears you. No in between.

My Take as a Barber

I like doing these. They’re not robotic. Each one’s different. The head shape, the way the hair grows, even the vibe the client’s bringing in—all of it affects the outcome. Some fades feel like paint-by-numbers. Blow out tapers? These feel like sculpting.

It’s one of those haircuts where you talk to the client during. Adjust as you go. "You want more lift here?" "Too sharp on the temple?" That kinda thing.

Not for Everyone, But If It’s for You…

You’ll know. Either you look in the mirror and feel it, or you don’t. There’s no halfway. Some clients try it once and never go back to other fades. Others? One and done. That’s chill too.

But when it works, it really works. Something about the shape, the lift, the clean edge, the natural vibe—it just hits.

A Few Styles to Try

Mess with it. Try:

• Mid taper + tight blow out

• Low taper + high volume curls

• Temple fade with beard line-up

• Blow out with color tips or highlights

Real Ones Know

Honestly, if you’re already thinking about getting one—you probably should. If your hair’s got any texture, give it a go. Don’t overthink it. Worst case? Hair grows back. Best case? You just found your signature cut.

Let it grow, let it blow, line it up. That’s it.

FAQs (Real Barber Shop Questions)

• How do I ask my barber for this without sounding dumb?
  Just say “I’m looking for a blow out taper—keep the top natural, fade the sides down clean.” Show a picture. That helps a lot.

• Can I get this cut if I have straight hair?
  You can, but you’ll need styling help. Blow dryer, volumizer, maybe mousse. Otherwise, it won’t really “blow out.”

• Does it work with a beard?
  100%. Just taper the beard into the fade. Clean transitions matter here.

• How often should I get it cleaned up?
  Every 10 days or so. Two weeks tops. The taper grows quick.

• Do I need to blow dry it every day?
  Nah. But if you want that proper lift and shape—yeah, give it some heat love.