Taper Fade Mullet: How to Ask for It, Style It and Keep It Clean
A taper fade mullet is a short, gradual taper on the sides and neckline with hair left longer on top and at the back. The taper keeps the cut clean around the ears and the neck, and the length at the back gives it the mullet shape.
The short answer: ask for a low or mid taper on the sides, scissor the top and back to the length you want, and book a touch up every three weeks. It suits straight, wavy and curly hair, and on 4C hair it works as a rounded, shaped cut with a soft back. Below are the guard numbers, how to style an undercut with a taper, the difference between a low taper and a taper fade, and what a skin taper looks like.
What is a taper fade mullet?
The taper is the part of the haircut where the hair gets shorter as it moves down the sides and back of the head. The fade is the blend. The mullet is the length at the back. Put together, you get short, clean sides, a trimmed neckline and a back that hangs past the collar.
It is a calmer cut than a burst fade mullet, and it sits comfortably in our fade cut service at the shop. The taper does not curve around the ear, it just steps down to the neckline, so the cut is easier to wear to work, church or school events, and it grows out without an obvious line. If you want to see how a fade that curves compares, look at the burst, mid and drop fade ideas for curly hair.
The guard numbers
| Area | Guard | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Sideburns and neckline | Number 0 to 1 | Where the taper starts |
| Sides | Number 2 to 3 | Fades up to the top |
| Top | Scissor cut, 2 to 4 inches | Texture and shape |
| Back | Left long, 3 to 5 inches | The mullet |
How do you style an undercut with a taper fade?
An undercut with a taper fade is a short, close back and sides with a longer top that sits above it. The taper keeps the line soft, so the top does not look like it is sitting on a shaved head.
Style it in three steps. First, dry the top on a low setting and lift it at the roots with a brush or your fingers. Second, add a light cream or pomade, then shape it forward or to the side. Third, tuck the sides and let the taper show.
On curly and coily hair, use a pick to lift the top and a curl cream to keep it defined. If you want a taller top, use a sponge to twist the curls first. Our guide to the low taper fade for curly hair shows blowout, sponge and natural finishes in more detail.
What is the difference between a low taper and a taper fade?
A low taper changes the length only at the edges, around the ears and the neckline. A taper fade carries the blend higher up the head, so more of the sides are shortened.
Think of it as where the cut starts. The low taper starts just above the ear and keeps most of the hair on the sides. The mid taper starts around the temple and the high taper starts higher. A fade can be skin or any guard, and it can be low, mid or high. If you are deciding where the blend should sit, our low fade versus high fade comparison shows how each one looks and grows out.
For the mullet, a low taper is the usual choice because it keeps the sides full enough to balance the back. A mid taper looks sharper and works better on rounder faces.
What does a low taper fade look like?
A low taper fade looks like a neat edge. The hair around the ears and the back of the neck is short, almost to the skin, and it grows gradually longer as you go up. From the front, the sideburns look trimmed and the temples look clean. From the side, you see a thin, soft curve above the ear.
It is the least dramatic fade and the easiest to keep. It suits men who go to an office, men with a high hairline and boys who need a school ready cut. On a mullet it frames the face without taking away from the length behind it.
Black men in Southeast Queens often ask for it with a natural top and a line up. A low taper on an afro keeps the volume on top and the sides tight, and the same idea carries over to a mullet with a longer back.
What is a skin taper haircut?
A skin taper is a taper that goes all the way down to the bare skin at the edges, so the hairline around the ears and the neck is closely shaved. It gives the sharpest contrast, and it shows off the shape of the cut.
It also needs the most upkeep. The skin shows regrowth within a week, and the edge starts to soften by two weeks. If you wear it with a mullet, the skin at the neckline frames the back and makes it look intentional.
Skin tapers are common on men with darker skin because the contrast is bold. If your skin is prone to razor bumps, tell your barber so they can use a trimmer or a foil shaver instead of a straight razor at the edges.
How do you ask for it and how often is a touch up?
Say taper, say mullet and say how much length you want to keep at the back. Then give the number for the sides.
- Ask for a low or mid taper with a number 1 or 2 guard at the top of the taper.
- Ask for the neckline tapered, not squared, so the back blends into the length.
- Tell the barber to leave the back at three to five inches.
- Ask for a line up if you want the front edge crisp.
Plan a visit every two to three weeks for the taper and a trim of the length every six to eight weeks. A haircut with a taper is $25, a fade is $30 and a line up is $16. If you want the full effect on the sides, our buzz cut guard guide shows what each number looks like on the head.
How do you care for a mullet between cuts?
Keep the back moisturized and the neckline clean. The back is the longest part, so it dries out and tangles first.
- Condition the back after every wash, and use a leave in on curly and coily hair.
- Do not sleep on it without protection. A satin bonnet or pillowcase prevents breakage.
- Brush the back down gently and trim split ends every six to eight weeks.
- Between visits, do not shave the neckline yourself. It is the first thing that makes the cut look uneven.
If you work a job where you wear a hard hat or a uniform cap, a mullet can flare at the back and make the cut look messy. Ask the barber to cut the back one length shorter than you want, and let it settle for a few days before deciding. Hair that sits under a collar or a bonnet all week also needs a lighter hand with product, because heavy products build up and flatten the taper.
For men who are new to long hair at the back, a good first step is a shorter mullet, about two inches, and a low taper. If you like it, grow the length slowly and book the shape up every visit. If you do not, it grows back in with the same taper in a few weeks and costs you nothing but patience.
Book your taper fade mullet at Lilacroix Barbers
Lilacroix Barbers is at 232-12 Merrick Blvd in Laurelton, NY 11413. We serve Laurelton, Rosedale, Springfield Gardens, St. Albans, Cambria Heights and Queens Village, and we are open seven days, Monday to Thursday 7:30 AM to 7 PM, Friday and Saturday 7 AM to 7 PM, Sunday 7 AM to 5 PM. Walk ins are welcome, and you can call (718) 749-5800 to check the wait.
See our fade cut service, read how the taper and the fade compare on kids, and get directions on the contact page for directions.
Questions readers ask
Is a taper fade mullet good for thick hair?
Yes, as long as the barber thins the back so it lies flat. Thick hair can make the mullet look too wide, and a little thinning keeps the shape neat.
How long does a taper fade mullet take to grow out?
The sides need a touch up in two to three weeks. The mullet itself grows about half an inch a month, so it takes six to eight weeks to see a real change in the back.
Can I get a taper fade mullet with short curly hair?
Yes. You need at least two to three inches at the back, and the top should be long enough to curl. If your hair is shorter, grow the back first and keep the sides tapered.
Does a skin taper cost more than a regular taper?
At Lilacroix a taper haircut is $25 and a fade is $30. Tell your barber you want it taken to skin and they will quote the right service.
Is a taper fade mullet office friendly?
A low taper with a neat, shorter back is. A longer back and a high contrast skin taper is a bolder look, so choose the length that fits your workplace.