From camouflaging receding hairlines to transforming youthful collegiate into professional business people, the crop top fade is one of the most versatile hairstyles. While other hairdos fall to the wayside, crop top fades continue to cultivate exciting new phases.
What is a Crop Top Fade?
The basic look contains a bustle of fringe that “sits” on the top of your head with the sides and back trimmed to a slick fade or taper. More elaborate versions include curly or jagged fringes instead of straight, highlights, and tram lines.
The earliest recognition of this style stems back to the most unlikely source: Julius Caesar. The Roman general’s undercut fringe became a prominent feature of his appearance. The style later inspired King Henry V of England to update his royal look. Henry kept the sharp undercut fringe but sheared the sides and back. Today, the traditional cropped top combines a variety of short and long fringes as well as texture for a modern flair.
How to Style a Crop Top Fade?
Crop top fades are one of the top low-maintenance hairstyles to try and need little to zero product for added texture. Apply a small amount of hair clay or wax onto your palms and loosely run it through your hair. Play with the different directions of the fringe to accentuate its length, create spikes, etc., until you’re satisfied.
The most upkeep you will need is a close shave for the tramlines or fade. When the hair around the sides and back grows out significantly, it’s time to trim the excess by yourself or schedule an appointment with your barber.
#1 Textured Quiff
A brush-up is as easy as it sounds. The aim is to guide the hair into a diagonal direction instead of vertical spikes. The simple technique adds volume whether your hair is short and thin or long and thick.
#2 Youthful Textured Crop Top Fade
Experiment with the fringe’s direction to create a rugged texture. Push the back of the fringe to the front, and then the front bangs to the side to show off your style’s versatility.
#3 Classic Wedge Top
The round wedge appears like a cone shape as it widens in the front and narrows in the back. A slight tousle at the top with blonde highlights adds a messy finish from a smooth combing along the side.
#4 Tousled Crop Top Taper Fade
Most crop top hairstyles include a blunt finish. Stepping outside of the box, these soft spikes and a hard line through the taper modernizes the classic chic look.
#5 Two-Tone Crop Fade
Dual-color tones prevent this style from playing it too safe. Platinum blond dye blended with black creates a dramatic crop top. Brush the longer strands forward, but leave a subtle amount of combed short hair to camouflage the high fade.
#6 Layered Straight Hair
Straight hair provides as many possibilities for styling as jagged or curly hair does. Here, the hairstyle skillfully layers the thick sections of hair on top of and next to each other. The meticulous nature of layering takes patience to achieve but will pay off.
#7 Afro Crop Top Bald Fade
Let your natural African roots grow into a soft tuft of hair for the crop top. Make the look disconnected by culminating it with a line-up into a bald fade. The combination of a clean-shaven look with modern elements amplifies your style to steal the show.
#8 Punk Crop with Hard Part
Bust out of the sleek elegance of a crop top by making it punk-inspired. Use its foundation for a smooth finish and a hard line. Then, top it off with a platinum dye to contrast your organic-colored beard.
#9 Long Fringes
If short fringes are too tidy and plain, give the crop top a boost with long fringes and a high fade. Longer bangs offer limitless options to experiment and draw out your handsome features.
#10 Crop Top Mid Fade
Texturize your hair by sweeping the strands to the side as an alternative method from a brush-up. A box cut fade opens up the face and adds extra dimension around the temple.
#11 Clean Crop Top Drop Fade
There’s zero maintenance for styling short hair when a simple combing does the trick. A crisp trim around the front compliments the box cut and drop fade at the temple.
#12 Mexican Crop Top Fade
At first glance, crop tops are easy to confuse with bowl cuts. With a disconnected version, a sharp line, and fade enhance a style many consider a hair-don’t into a hair-do.
#13 Crew Cut Haircut
A militant-inspired crew cut pairs perfectly with a crop top. The former already contains short hair, and when mixed with the latter, it becomes more prominent with a smooth bald or high fade.
#14 Disconnected Crop Top Mid Fade
High volume is easy to achieve when you take risks. Subtle copper dye with two shaved lines contrasts with the black roots in the foundation and low fade. The back dip builds to volume in the front to give a curved effect like a Spartan’s helmet.
#15 Temple Fade Crop Top
A low fade lingers under the radar as it blends close to the ears. This fade becomes significantly visible when mixed with a messy crop top and a mutton chop beard.
#16 Crew Cut with Textured Top
Texture cultivates a big difference with a traditional crew cut. Ask your barber for tiny layers instead of prominent ones. Top off the look by combining fine lines to create a criss-cross or scale-inspired pattern.
