Men's cut
Buzz length

Shaved head / bald fade

Model M1 before the cut, with their own hair. AI reference on a synthetic model — not a real person.

BeforeShaved head / bald fade

AI reference on a synthetic model — not a real person

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A buzz-length, edgy men's cut with 0–0.1 in (0 cm) on top, finished with a tapered neckline.

Also asked for as: bald fade, shaved head, clean shaven head, skin head, bald fade with beard

Updated September 30, 2026

On top: 0–0.1 in0 cm
Best on: Any texture hair
Recut: Every 2–3 weeks
Styling: 2–5 min a day

Traditionally suggested for

Hairline stages 5–7 and diffuse thinning; pairs well with a beard.

Stylist rule of thumb

The shaved head / bald fade on 3 synthetic models

3 skin tones and 3 hair types, each shown only on hair the cut can hold. AI reference on a synthetic model — not a real person.

Shaved head / bald fade · Model M1light skin · straight hair · 20s
Shaved head / bald fade · Model M5light brown skin · curly hair · 20s
Shaved head / bald fade · Model M6dark brown skin · coily hair with some gray · 50s

AI reference on a synthetic model — not a real person. Each picture starts from one AI-made portrait per model; only the hair is changed, and we publish it only if our check finds the face unchanged. Your own preview uses your photo.

Who it fits

Hair comes first: these decide whether the shape can hold.

Works on every texture, from straight to coily.How hair behaves
Any amount of hair, thin to thick.How hair behaves
Works with any hairline, including advanced hair loss.Barbers agree
Scores higher if you have a receding hairline.Backed by research
Scores higher if you have low-density hair.How hair behaves
Scores higher if you have a crown whorl.Barbers agree

Who should skip it

Any one of these moves it down your list, or off it.

You want to keep your length: from typical medium hair this is a big chop.Your call
Scores lower if you have prominent ears.Barbers agree

Barbers also flag: Shows an irregular skull shape or scars. Trade-off from a US study (Mannes 2013): a shaved head reads as more dominant and about 4 years older, and scored lower on looks than a full head of hair.

Shaved head / bald fade vs buzz cut

The shaved head / bald fade and the buzz cut share buzz length length, the same best textures (1A–4C), any density and a recut every 2–3 weeks, which is why they get mixed up. Below are only the specs where they differ.

The shaved head / bald fade and the buzz cut compared on the catalog fields where they differ
Spec	Shaved head / bald fade	Buzz cut
What the barber cuts	Shaved head / bald fade: Foil shaver or razor; blend into the beard	Buzz cut: Clipper all over; edge up the hairline
Length on top	Shaved head / bald fade: 0–0.1 in (0 cm)	Buzz cut: 0.3–0.4 in (0.5–1 cm)
Daily styling	Shaved head / bald fade: 2–5 min a day	Buzz cut: No daily styling
Top 3 on proportions	Shaved head / bald fade: No shape in the top 3	Buzz cut: Diamond
Traditionally suggested for	Shaved head / bald fade: Hairline stages 5–7 and diffuse thinning; pairs well with a beard.	Buzz cut: Even head shape, a strong brow or jaw, hairline stages 3–5, and 4A–4C hair.

Every row is a catalog field or our engine’s geometry ranking; “traditionally suggested for” is stylist convention. Which of the two suits you comes down to your own texture, density and hairline: check your hair for free, or read the full buzz cut spec.

What to tell your barber

The catalog spec, in barber terms. Your own card adjusts it: the part side from your crown, notes for your hair type, and a QR code your barber can open.

Read this to your barber

“Bald fade from 0 on sides; top foil or #0.5; blend into beard.”

Clipper guards in this spec (Wahl sizes)

Skin0 mm
#0.51.5 mm

Sides: Bald (foil or razor) at the sides, blended into the beard at the sideburn
Top: 0–0.1 in (0 cm)
Neckline: Tapered (fades out naturally)
Technique: Foil shaver or razor; blend into the beard
Product: Daily SPF 30+ on the scalp; light moisturiser
Recut: Every 2–3 weeks

Get the look

Products and tools for the shaved head / bald fade

Product types, not brands, picked from the barber spec above. Your own results match them to your hair.

We may earn a commission if you buy through these links; it doesn't change what we recommend.

Upkeep and yearly cost

Priced at $30 a cut. Your results use your own local price.

Trim every: 2–3 weeks
Per year: 17–26 cuts a year, about $510–$780 at $30 a cut
Daily styling: 2–5 min a day
Product: Light product
Heat tools: Not needed

Proportions, by face shape

Where the shaved head / bald fade places in our engine’s top 10 for a textbook face of each shape, on proportions alone. Proportions are the smallest part of a real score; your hair counts for more.

Where the shaved head / bald fade places in the geometry-only top 10 for each face shape
Face shape	On proportions	Position in the top 10
Oval	#9 of the top 10
Round	Not in the top 10
Square	Not in the top 10
Oblong	#8 of the top 10
Heart	Not in the top 10
Diamond	#6 of the top 10
Triangle	Not in the top 10

Shaved head / bald fade: questions

What do I ask my barber for with a shaved head / bald fade?

Read this out: “Bald fade from 0 on sides; top foil or #0.5; blend into beard.” That's 0–0.1 in (0 cm) on top with a tapered neckline, recut every 2–3 weeks. Your own barber card adjusts it for your part side and texture.

Shaved head / bald fade vs buzz cut: what's the difference?

The shaved head / bald fade and the buzz cut share buzz length length, the same best textures (1A–4C), any density and a recut every 2–3 weeks, which is why they get mixed up. The shaved head / bald fade is cut as “Foil shaver or razor; blend into the beard”; the buzz cut as “Clipper all over; edge up the hairline”. Our engine scores both against your own texture, density and hairline, so the free check tells you which of the two ranks higher for you. Full spec: buzz cut.

Is the shaved head / bald fade a men's cut?

Yes: our catalog lists the shaved head / bald fade as a men's cut, so it comes up when your check is set to men's cuts, and not in the women's list. That is where gender stops counting: the shape is decided by your hair and your proportions. The spec wants 1A–4C hair at any density. The free check measures your texture, density and hairline, then ranks the shaved head / bald fade against every other men's cut.

Does the shaved head / bald fade work on curly or coily hair?

It's best on 1A–4C hair. It works on every texture from straight 1A to coily 4C.

Does the shaved head / bald fade work on thin or fine hair?

Yes: the catalog allows any density, so low-density hair isn't ruled out. Nothing else in its spec marks it down for fine strands or low density. Density is measured in the free check, and our thinning hair guide lists the cuts our engine favours for thin hair.

How much upkeep does a shaved head / bald fade need?

A trim every 2–3 weeks: 17–26 cuts a year, about $510–$780 at $30 a cut, plus 2–5 minutes of styling a day.

Who should skip the shaved head / bald fade?

You want to keep your length: from typical medium hair this is a big chop. Scores lower if you have prominent ears. Barbers also flag: Shows an irregular skull shape or scars. Trade-off from a US study (Mannes 2013): a shaved head reads as more dominant and about 4 years older, and scored lower on looks than a full head of hair.

Is a clean shaven head the same as a shaved head / bald fade?

“Clean shaven head” is one of the names people use for it. Ask for it by the spec above rather than the name, since names vary between barbers.

All haircuts

Will the shaved head / bald fade fit you? Find out before you sit down.

We check it against your face and hair. Your best cut is free, shown on your own face. Members see every cut that fits, with the numbers for your barber.