A blowout taper is a haircut that pairs volume on top (the blowout) with a gradual fade down the sides and back (the taper). The top is styled upward and outward for height and texture, while the sides and back shrink progressively toward the hairline instead of being shaved to the skin.
TL;DR
- Blowout taper = volume on top + taper fade on sides/back. The two halves are cut and styled differently on purpose.
- The taper can sit low, mid, or high. Placement changes how bold the fade looks more than the clipper guard does.
- Straight hair can do it. You'll need a blow dryer, a round brush, and a texturizing product to hold the lift.
- Ask with a photo plus three specifics: taper height, guard sizes, and "volume on top."
- Plan on a barber visit every 2–4 weeks to keep the fade edges clean.
What Is a Blowout Taper?
A blowout taper combines two separate techniques in one cut. The "blowout" refers to the top section, which is left longer and styled with heat and product so it stands up and outward. The "taper" refers to the sides and back, which are cut in a gradual gradient from longer near the top to shorter near the neckline and temples.
It is not the same as a regular taper. A standard taper only shortens the hairline edges — sideburns, nape, and around the ears — while the rest of the sides stay at one length. A blowout taper fades the entire side and back panel, so the transition is visible from the crown down.
It is also not the same as a plain blowout. A blowout on its own is a styling method: you dry the hair upward for volume, and the cut underneath can be almost anything. The blowout taper makes that volume the point of the haircut by keeping the sides tight enough to contrast with it.
The style grew out of barbershop and salon crossover work — the fade structure comes from barbering, the volume styling from blow-dry finishing. It has stayed popular because it works on a wide range of hair types without requiring a dramatic length change. If you want the broader family tree first, the blowout fade haircut guide covers how the blowout fade sits alongside related cuts.
Blowout Taper Fade: How It Works
The fade is a gradient, not a line. Your barber picks a starting point on the head, then blends upward using progressively longer guards or scissor-over-comb work. The shorter the starting guard, the sharper the contrast between the faded sides and the volume on top.
The blowout does the opposite job. Instead of removing length, it uses the existing length plus heat and product to build height. Hair that lies flat gets directed up and back with a dryer and brush, then set with something that adds grip rather than weight.
Where the fade starts determines the overall read:
- Low taper: the fade begins near the ear and nape. Most of the side panel stays at one length. Subtle, office-safe, grows out slowly.
- Mid taper: the fade begins around the temple or mid-side. Balanced contrast, the most versatile option.
- High taper: the fade begins well above the temple. Maximum contrast, most visible regrowth.
Low Taper Blowout vs Mid Blowout Taper
A low taper blowout keeps the fade close to the natural hairline. The visible gradient is short — often under an inch of vertical space — so the cut reads as a neat, conservative shape with volume on top. It suits oval and oblong faces because it doesn't add width at the temples, and it's the easier option to maintain if you go 4 weeks between cuts.
A mid blowout taper starts the fade higher, usually around the temple point. That gives you a longer visible gradient and a stronger silhouette, which flatters round and square faces by adding vertical lines on the sides. It's the more common choice for people who want the fade to actually be noticeable.
For visual reference, think of it this way: with a low taper, a stranger standing three feet away sees mostly hair on the sides. With a mid taper, they see a clear light-to-dark transition from temple to jaw.
Hair type matters here too. Dense, thick hair handles a mid taper without looking patchy. Finer or thinning hair often looks better with a low taper, because a high fade exposes more scalp and can make density look lower than it is. If you're working around thinning, the buzz cut for thinning hair guide explains how shorter side lengths interact with visible scalp.
Blowout Taper for Straight Hair
Straight hair is the hardest type to get volume from, because the strand has no natural bend to hold shape. Left alone, it falls flat within minutes of styling. That doesn't rule out a blowout taper — it just means the styling step does more work than the cut.
Three techniques make the difference:
- Dry upward, not downward. Point the dryer at the roots from underneath and lift with a round brush. Drying downward flattens the cuticle and kills the lift before you finish.
- Use a pre-styler on damp hair. A light mousse or sea salt spray applied before drying gives the strand something to hold onto. Applying product after drying on straight hair mostly just makes it greasy.
- Finish with a texturizing powder or clay at the roots. These add friction and bulk without the weight of a pomade or gel.
For the cut itself, ask your barber for point cutting or light texturizing on the top section. Removing small amounts of weight at the ends lets the hair bend and stand more easily, and it stops the top from collapsing into a single flat sheet. Blunt-cut straight hair is the enemy of a blowout.
Straight hair also holds a blowout taper longer between washes than curly hair does, since there's less natural shrinkage. If your hair is curly instead, the curly hair fade haircut guide covers how to adapt the same fade structure.
How to Get a Blowout Taper: Step-by-Step
At the barber:
- Bring two photos — one front-facing and one profile. Front view shows the top volume, profile shows the fade height.
- State the taper placement out loud: "low taper" or "mid taper." Don't assume the photo communicates it.
- Specify the shortest guard at the bottom. A #0 or #0.5 gives a tight base; a #1 leaves a soft edge.
- Say "leave the top long enough to style up" and point to roughly how much length you want to keep.
- Ask for point cutting on top if your hair is straight or fine.
At home:
- Wash and towel-dry to damp, not soaking.
- Apply pre-styler evenly at the roots.
- Blow-dry upward with a round brush, section by section, starting at the front.
- Let it cool for 30 seconds before touching it — the shape sets as it cools.
- Add a small amount of texturizing product at the roots only, not the ends.
Maintenance: book a barber visit every 2–4 weeks. Two weeks keeps a mid or high taper crisp; four weeks is realistic for a low taper. The top section can go 6–8 weeks between trims since it's not fading out.
Blowout Taper Variations to Try
- Curly blowout taper: the natural curl supplies the volume, so you can skip most of the heat styling. Ask for the fade to start below the curl pattern so the sides don't look shaved into the texture.
- Blowout taper with beard: connects the sideburn into facial hair, which visually lengthens the jaw. Works well if your fade is low or mid — a high fade with a full beard can look top-heavy.
- Blowout taper with hard part: a shaved line an inch or so back from the temple. It adds a sharp edge and makes the volume on top look more deliberate. It needs re-cutting every visit.
- Blowout taper with a bald fade base: takes the taper down to skin at the very bottom while keeping the gradient above it. Higher contrast, faster regrowth.
Each variation shifts the vibe: curly reads casual, beard reads mature, hard part reads formal, bald base reads sharp. Pick based on how much upkeep you'll actually do. The bald fade haircut guide covers what changes when the fade reaches skin level.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Fading too high. A high taper on fine or thinning hair exposes scalp and makes the top look thinner by comparison. If you're unsure, start at mid and go higher next visit — you can always remove more, never less.
Overloading on product. Heavy pomade or wax on the top section pulls straight hair flat within an hour. Use root-focused, lightweight products and apply less than you think you need.
Vague instructions. "Just a taper" gets you a standard taper, not a blowout taper. Name both halves of the cut.
Skipping the blow dryer. A blowout taper without heat styling is just a taper. The volume is a styling result, not something the scissors create on their own.
Ignoring your hairline. If you have recession at the temples, a mid or high taper draws attention to that area. A low taper blends it better. The buzz cut receding hairline guide covers the same principle at shorter lengths.
Blowout Taper vs Other Popular Haircuts
| Cut | Sides | Top | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blowout taper | Gradual fade, low to high | Left long, styled up | Adding height and contrast |
| Skin fade | Faded to bare skin | Any length | Maximum sharpness, frequent cuts |
| Burst fade | Fades around the ear only | Any length | Curly and textured hair |
| Regular taper | Shortened at edges only | Any length | Low-maintenance, conservative |
The distinguishing feature of the blowout taper is that both halves are doing active work. A skin fade is about the sides. A blowout is about the top. The blowout taper needs both to look right.
If you want a fade that wraps around the ear rather than running down the whole side panel, the burst fade guide explains the difference in fade path. If you want the tightest possible sides, a skin fade is the better match — but expect to be back in the chair every 10–14 days.
Choose the blowout taper if you want visible volume on top, a clean gradient on the sides, and a cut that works whether you style it or leave it. Skip it if you won't use a dryer, or if you want a cut that looks identical on day one and day thirty.
FAQ
What is a blowout taper?
A haircut with volume on top (the blowout) and a gradual fade on the sides and back (the taper). The top is left longer and styled upward; the sides and back are blended from longer near the crown to shorter at the hairline.
How do I ask for a blowout taper?
Show a photo, specify low, mid, or high taper, and say you want volume on top. Add the shortest guard you want at the base — a #0.5 or #1 is common — and mention if you want the top point cut for texture.
Can I get a blowout taper with straight hair?
Yes, but you'll need styling products and blow-drying to add volume. Straight hair has no natural bend to hold lift, so dry upward from the roots with a round brush and set it with a lightweight texturizing product.
What's the difference between a low taper blowout and a mid blowout taper?
A low taper starts lower on the head, near the ear and nape, so less fade is visible and it grows out slower. A mid taper starts higher, around the temple, giving a longer visible gradient and stronger contrast.
How often should I get a blowout taper?
Every 2–4 weeks to maintain the fade and shape. Mid and high tapers need the two-week end of that range; low tapers can stretch to four. The top section only needs trimming every 6–8 weeks.
Preview this style on your own photo with the free BaldFade tool in ~30 seconds.
