Quick answer: A blowout taper is a haircut that keeps two to four inches on top and longer hair on the upper sides, blow-dried up and back for volume, with only the sideburns and nape tapered short. It is styled with a hair dryer and light product, and most men trim it every three to four weeks.
Blowout Taper Haircut Styles at a Glance
Every style on this page with its clipper guard, top length and trim interval. Tap a name to jump to that card.
Blowout taper haircuts pair a full, rounded top with a short, clean edge where the hair meets the face and neck. Below are 55 versions grouped by taper height, top shape, hair texture, line-ups, age and beard, each with the guard numbers, trim schedule and the words to use in the chair, plus how to dry it at home.
What Is a Blowout Taper?
A blowout taper combines two parts. The blowout is the top and upper sides, cut with scissors to two to four inches and dried upward and back with a hair dryer so the hair stands away from the scalp in a rounded shape. The taper is the edge: only the sideburns and the nape are clipped short, usually blending from a #2 or #3 down to a #1 or skin at the hairline. Everything between those two points stays long enough to blow out.
The cut was a staple in New York and New Jersey barbershops in the 1990s and 2000s, where it was often called a Brooklyn or Jersey blowout, and it came back with younger clients in the 2020s. Today it is one of the most requested cuts among teenagers, and it works on straight, wavy, curly and coily hair, with small changes to how the top is layered and dried for each texture.
How Is a Blowout Taper Different From a Taper Fade?
The two cuts share the same tapered edge but treat the rest of the head differently. A taper fade usually blends the sides up into a shorter top, so the outline is close to the head. A blowout taper leaves the upper sides long and dries them outward, so the silhouette is wider and rounder. A low taper fade is the closest relative and is often the base a barber starts from before leaving more length.
The table below compares the blowout taper with the cuts it is most often confused with.
How Is a Blowout Taper Different From a Taper Fade?
Oval and square faces can wear any version. Round faces do well with a taller blowout and a mid or high taper, since height on top and short edges make the face look longer. Long faces should keep the volume moderate, around two inches, or add a fringe, because a tall blowout stretches the face further. Heart-shaped faces suit a softer, lower blowout that does not add width at the temples.
Hair type matters more than face shape for this cut. Thick straight, wavy and curly hair hold a blowout for a full day. Fine hair can work with a shorter top and thickening products. The real requirement is time: if you will not use a hair dryer most mornings, choose a shorter top or a messy version that air-dries with some lift.
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Blowout Taper Styles by Taper Height
The taper is the only short part of a blowout, so its height and finish decide how sharp the cut looks. These seven move from a soft low taper to bald and faded edges, plus the New York original.
Trim:Every 3–4 weeks. The temple taper softens before the top loses shape.
Best For:Oval, square faces + thick straight or wavy hair.
About This Style
The standard version keeps two to four inches on top and about an inch and a half on the upper sides, all dried upward and back into a rounded outline. Only the sideburns and nape are tapered, usually from a #2 down to a #1 at the very edge, with a squared temple corner. Grow-out is gentle because the sides were never short, so it suits men who visit once a month.
How to Style at Home
Blow-dry damp hair upward and back on medium heat, lifting the roots with your fingers.
Mist sea salt spray at the roots first if your hair falls flat by midday.
Finish with a small amount of texture powder at the crown for hold without shine.
Ask Your Barber
"Classic blowout taper, sideburns and nape tapered from a #2 to a #1, upper sides left at scissor length and about three inches on top, shaped round for blow-drying."
Trim:Every 4–5 weeks. A low taper hides regrowth near the ear.
Best For:Oval, long faces + medium to thick straight hair.
About This Style
Here the taper sits at the bottom of the sideburn and the edge of the neckline, so from the front almost no short hair shows. It is the most office-friendly height, with a #3 at the sideburn blending to a #1 at the hairline. A two- to three-inch top keeps the volume moderate, which helps longer faces that would look taller under a big blowout.
How to Style at Home
Rough-dry the top with your hands, then use a round brush only at the front.
Work a fingertip of matte clay through the ends to separate the pieces.
Leave the sides alone so the low taper stays soft and natural.
Ask Your Barber
"Low blowout taper kept right at the bottom of the sideburns and neckline, #3 down to #1. Leave two to three inches on top and the upper sides at scissor length."
Trim:Every 3 weeks. The shorter sideburn shows growth within two weeks.
Best For:Round, oval faces + thick or wavy hair.
About This Style
Raising the taper to the middle of the sideburn, level with the top of the ear, gives the blowout a clearer frame from the side. The barber clips the sideburn from a #2 into a #0.5 at the bottom and takes the nape down the same way. Because more of the edge is short, the top looks fuller by contrast, which helps round faces gain some length.
How to Style at Home
Point the dryer nozzle from the front hairline toward the crown as the top dries.
Shape the upper sides outward with your fingers while they are still warm.
Lock the shape with a light mist of thickening spray at the roots.
Ask Your Barber
"Mid blowout taper, sideburns tapered from a #2 to a #0.5 at about the middle of the ear, nape to match. Three inches on top and upper sides long enough to blow out."
Trim:Every 2–3 weeks. A high temple taper loses its shape quickly.
Best For:Round, square faces + coarse, thick or curly hair.
About This Style
Taking the taper up the sideburn to the temple produces the sharpest contrast this cut allows while the hair above the ear stays long. The sideburn is clipped close to skin and the short area climbs to the corner of the forehead, so the blown-out sides sit clearly above it. Expect to rebook every two to three weeks, since the high edge is the first thing that looks grown in.
How to Style at Home
Blow-dry the upper sides up and slightly out so they arc above the tapered temple.
Pinch the ends of the top with texture powder to keep the outline rounded.
Brush the tapered edge lightly with an edge brush after washing.
Ask Your Barber
"High blowout taper, sideburns taken up to the temples close to skin, nape tapered the same. Keep about four inches on top and the upper sides long for volume."
Trim:Every 2 weeks. Bare edges show stubble after a few days.
Best For:Oval, square faces + coarse, coily or thick hair.
About This Style
Finishing the sideburns and nape with a foil shaver or razor leaves bare skin under the blown-out hair, which gives the cleanest edge of any version. A #0.5 and #1 blend the bare area into the longer sides within about an inch. Skin prone to razor bumps may react, so ask for a clipper-only skin finish if that has been a problem before.
How to Style at Home
Massage a few drops of scalp oil into the bare taper after each shower.
Blow the top out with a comb attachment if your hair is coarse or coily.
Shape the outline with your palms and a pea-size amount of matte cream.
Ask Your Barber
"Bald blowout taper, sideburns and nape shaved to skin, blended through a #0.5 and #1 in about an inch. Leave the upper sides and three inches on top for a round blowout."
Trim:Every 3 weeks. The faded band blurs by the third week.
Best For:Round, oval faces + thick straight or wavy hair.
About This Style
Swapping the taper for a low fade means the short section wraps all the way around the back instead of stopping at the sideburns and nape. The fade runs from a #1 at the bottom to a #3 just above the ear, then the blown-out length begins. It reads cleaner from behind and suits men who find a plain taper looks unfinished at the back of the head.
How to Style at Home
Dry the top in sections, starting at the crown and finishing at the front.
Use your fingers to blend the blown-out sides into the top of the fade.
Add a small amount of matte clay to the ends for separation.
Ask Your Barber
"Blowout with a low fade instead of a taper, #1 at the bottom to a #3 above the ear all the way around. Keep three inches on top and scissor-length upper sides."
Trim:Every 2–3 weeks. The sharp line-up is part of the look.
Best For:Oval, square faces + thick, wavy or coarse hair.
About This Style
Associated with New York barbershops in the 1990s, this version pairs a temple taper with a crisp line-up and a tall, brushed-up top. The front is pushed slightly back and the sides puffed outward, so the outline looks almost square. Barbers usually leave three to five inches on top. Holding the height takes a blow-dryer and a round brush every morning.
How to Style at Home
Wrap the front over a round brush and dry it up and back on medium heat.
Brush the upper sides out and up so they meet the top in one shape.
Rub a small amount of light pomade between your palms and smooth the surface.
Ask Your Barber
"Brooklyn blowout, temple and nape taper down to a #0.5, sharp line-up at the front, about four inches on top and fuller sides I can brush up and out."
Recommended Products
Round Brush
Light Pomade
Blowout Taper by Top Length and Shape
Length and direction on top change a blowout more than anything else. These eight run from a short, easy version to a long one, with fringe, middle part, mullet and swept-back finishes.
Trim:Every 4 weeks. A short top keeps its shape as it grows.
Best For:Oval, heart faces + fine to medium straight hair.
About This Style
With just one and a half to two inches on top, this cut gives a hint of lift rather than a full blowout. It is a sensible trial run if you have never worn volume before, since it styles in two minutes with a towel and your fingers. The taper stays low and soft at a #2, so the grow-out never looks messy.
How to Style at Home
Towel-dry hard, then push the top up and back with your fingertips.
Use a hair dryer for one minute only if the front falls forward.
Finish with a small pinch of texture powder at the roots.
Ask Your Barber
"Short blowout taper, low taper at the sideburns and nape with a #2, about two inches on top cut so it lifts up and back without much drying."
Trim:Every 4–6 weeks. Long ends need dusting to keep the outline.
Best For:Oval, square faces + thick straight or wavy hair.
About This Style
At five to six inches on top and about three over the ears, the long version moves as you walk and settles into a loose arc by evening. The short edge stays at the sideburns and neckline, which stops the cut looking like plain grown-out hair. Daily blow-drying is the cost; skip it and the top drops flat and parts on its own.
How to Style at Home
Rough-dry to about 80 percent, then finish the front over a round brush.
Flip your head forward for a few seconds of drying to lift the roots.
Smooth the surface with a little styling cream so the ends do not frizz.
Ask Your Barber
"Long blowout taper, taper only at the sideburns and nape with a #2, five inches on top and three over the ears. Please dust the ends and keep the outline round."
Trim:Every 3–4 weeks. Uneven ends are part of the finish.
Best For:Oval, round faces + wavy or thick hair.
About This Style
Point cutting the top leaves choppy ends that separate when dried, so the shape looks lived-in instead of brushed smooth. Most barbers leave three inches and texturize the crown to stop it puffing too round. You dry it roughly with your hands, then twist a few pieces with clay. The undone finish forgives a missed styling morning better than the brushed versions.
How to Style at Home
Dry with your fingers only, moving them in small circles at the roots.
Twist a few random pieces with a small amount of matte clay.
Leave the ends uneven; do not comb the top after styling.
Ask Your Barber
"Messy blowout taper, low taper from a #3 to a #1, three inches on top point cut for choppy texture, and thin out the crown so it does not puff up."
Trim:Every 3 weeks. Volume drops once the top gets heavy.
Best For:Oval, diamond faces + fine to medium straight hair.
About This Style
Soft, airy volume is the goal here, a look many teenagers request after seeing it online, and one that suits East Asian straight hair well. The barber layers the top so it lifts without heavy product, and the front falls forward a little instead of going straight back. Thickening spray before drying adds body to fine strands. The taper usually stays low, from a #2 to a #1.
How to Style at Home
Spray thickening spray at the roots while the hair is still damp.
Dry the top forward first, then flip it back to create air underneath.
Shake the hair loose with your fingers instead of adding more product.
Ask Your Barber
"Fluffy blowout taper, low taper from a #2 to a #1, layered top around three inches so it lifts on its own, with the front falling slightly forward."
Trim:Every 3 weeks. The fringe reaches the eyes fast.
Best For:Long, oval faces + straight or wavy hair.
About This Style
Leaving the front two inches longer and drying it forward produces a fringe that sits across the forehead while the rest of the top lifts up and back. It shortens a long face and hides a high hairline. The barber blends the fringe into the temple taper so no hard corner shows. Ask for it to stop at the brow so it clears glasses.
How to Style at Home
Dry the fringe forward and down first, then lift the crown up and back.
Separate the fringe into a few pieces with a small amount of matte paste.
Trim stray fringe hairs with scissors between visits only if they touch your eyes.
Ask Your Barber
"I'd like a blowout taper with a fringe, mid taper at the sideburns and nape, three inches on top with the front left longer to fall to my eyebrows."
Trim:Every 3–4 weeks. A heavy front makes the part collapse.
Best For:Oval, heart faces + straight or wavy hair.
About This Style
Splitting the top down the center and drying each half up and away gives two curtains with lift at the roots. Four inches at the front is the minimum for the halves to arc rather than lie flat. The temple taper keeps the sides tidy under the curtains. Heart-shaped faces benefit because the part draws the eye down and away from a wide forehead.
How to Style at Home
Comb a center part while the hair is wet so it sets in place.
Dry each side up and outward over a round brush.
Finish with light pomade on the ends for a soft hold.
Ask Your Barber
"Can you do a blowout taper with a middle part, low taper at the sideburns and nape, four inches at the front tapering to three at the crown so the curtains lift."
Trim:Every 4 weeks. Keep the back longer than the sides.
Best For:Oval, square faces + wavy or curly hair.
About This Style
Blown-out volume on top meets a longer back that reaches the collar, with the taper limited to the sideburns and a short curve behind the ear. Unlike every other version here, the nape stays long. Loose waves help the longer back hang with some movement. Barbers often curve the taper into a small burst around the ear so the change from short to long looks deliberate.
How to Style at Home
Blow-dry the top up and back, then let the back air-dry.
Scrunch curl cream through the back to define the waves.
Pull a few pieces at the front forward for texture.
Ask Your Barber
"Give me a blowout taper mullet, taper only at the sideburns curving behind the ear, keep the back long to my collar and three inches on top for a blowout."
Trim:Every 3–4 weeks. Longer ends begin falling forward.
Best For:Square, oval faces + thick straight hair.
About This Style
Every strand on top is dried straight back from the hairline, which gives a flatter, more grown-up outline than the round versions. The top needs three to four inches and works best with matte cream for light hold and low shine. Since the hair is directed back, the temple taper shows clearly from the front and frames the face well for an office setting.
How to Style at Home
Dry the top straight back using a vent brush or your fingers.
Smooth a pea-size amount of matte cream from front to back.
Keep the upper sides close to the head instead of pushing them out.
Ask Your Barber
"Swept back blowout taper, low to mid taper at the sideburns and nape with a #2 to a #1, four inches on top cut to fall back cleanly."
Recommended Products
Matte Cream
Blowout Taper for Straight, Wavy, Curly and Coily Hair
Each texture blows out differently, so the cut underneath has to change too. These eight cover straight, wavy, curly, coily, afro-shaped, Latino, thick and fine hair; for natural volume without heat, see the afro guide.
Trim:Every 3 weeks. Straight hair flattens as it gets heavier.
Best For:Oval, round faces + medium to thick straight hair.
About This Style
Straight hair resists lift, so the barber cuts shorter layers at the crown and keeps weight at the front for the dryer to push up. Two to three inches works better than four, which tends to fold over. Sea salt spray before drying gives grip. A slightly raised taper, ending halfway up the sideburn, adds contrast against the smooth top.
How to Style at Home
Spray sea salt spray at the roots of damp hair.
Dry against the direction the hair falls, then flip it back the right way.
Set with the cool shot for ten seconds before adding texture powder.
Ask Your Barber
"Blowout taper for straight hair, mid taper from a #2 to a #1, shorter layers at the crown and about three inches at the front so it lifts."
Trim:Every 4 weeks. Waves hide uneven growth for weeks.
Best For:Oval, square faces + loose wavy hair.
About This Style
Loose waves already have the movement a blowout needs, so drying is mostly about direction. Three to four inches on top lets each wave turn up and back without frizz. Scrunch in a little leave-in, dry on low heat with your fingers, and the shape lasts a day. A low taper at a #2 keeps the soft feel all the way to the edges.
How to Style at Home
Scrunch leave-in through damp hair from the ends upward.
Dry on low heat with your fingers lifting at the roots.
Avoid brushing once dry so the waves keep their shape.
Ask Your Barber
"Wavy blowout taper, low taper at a #2 at the sideburns and nape, three to four inches on top cut dry so the waves sit evenly."
Trim:Every 3–4 weeks. Curls tighten and lose height between cuts.
Best For:Oval, round faces + 2C to 3B curly hair.
About This Style
Stretching the curls with a dryer on low heat turns tight spirals into a fuller, fluffier shape that looks much longer. Curl cream applied first limits frizz. The barber shapes the curls dry so they are cut where they actually sit. A mid taper keeps the sides neat under the extra width, which matters because curly blowouts spread sideways.
How to Style at Home
Rake curl cream through soaking wet hair with your fingers.
Dry on low heat, pulling sections gently upward as they dry.
Pick out the roots with an afro pick for more height.
Ask Your Barber
"Curly blowout taper, mid taper from a #2 to a #0.5, curls cut dry to about three inches stretched, shaped round so it does not go wide."
Trim:Every 2–3 weeks. Edges and line-up need regular cleanup.
Best For:Oval, square faces + 4A to 4C coily hair.
About This Style
On coily hair, the blowout means stretching the hair with a blow-dryer and comb attachment so it sits out in a soft, round shape before the barber sculpts it with shears. The temple and nape taper are lined crisply. Two to three inches of stretched length is common. Detangling spray and a wide pick keep breakage down while you maintain it at home.
How to Style at Home
Mist detangling spray and section the hair before any heat.
Blow out each section with a comb attachment on medium heat.
Pick the shape round and pat the surface flat with your palms.
Ask Your Barber
"Let's go with a blowout taper on my coily hair, temple and nape taper down to a #0.5 with a line-up, blow it out and shape the top round at about three inches."
Trim:Every 3 weeks. Thick tops widen quickly as they grow.
Best For:Round, square faces + very thick or coarse hair.
About This Style
Dense hair can puff into a mushroom shape, so the barber removes bulk from underneath with point cutting or thinning shears while keeping the outer layer intact. That lets the blowout rise without spreading. A slightly higher taper takes weight off the sides as well. Matte clay rather than spray gives enough control, and drying in sections stops the crown from frizzing.
How to Style at Home
Clip the top into three sections and dry each one separately.
Push the upper sides back and up rather than out.
Work matte clay through the full length to hold the dense shape.
Ask Your Barber
"I'm after a blowout taper for thick hair, mid to high taper at the sideburns and nape, remove bulk from underneath and keep three inches on top so it rises without widening."
Trim:Every 3–4 weeks. Short layers keep fine hair from going limp.
Best For:Oval, round faces + fine or thinning hair.
About This Style
Fine hair looks fuller blown out, as long as the top stays at two inches or less so it does not collapse. Thickening spray at the roots and a round brush add lift without weight. Keep the taper low and soft, since high contrast shows scalp through thin sides. If the crown is thinning, ask the barber to leave it slightly longer to cover the area.
How to Style at Home
Apply thickening spray at the roots only, not the ends.
Dry the front over a small round brush to lift it off the forehead.
Dust thickening powder over any visible scalp at the crown.
Ask Your Barber
"Could I get a blowout taper for fine hair, low soft taper from a #3, two inches on top with the crown left a little longer to cover thinning."
Trim:Every 3 weeks. Taper edges and round shape both need care.
Best For:Oval, long faces + 4A to 4C coily hair.
About This Style
Coily hair is stretched with a blow dryer, then picked out and shaped round by the barber, so the top forms a soft afro of three to four inches. The taper stays at the sideburns and nape only. Compared with a standard blowout, the outline is rounder and fuller rather than swept back. Low heat and a heat protectant help avoid dryness and breakage.
How to Style at Home
Apply leave-in and a heat protectant to damp hair.
Blow-dry on low with a comb attachment, then pick it out.
Pat the outline round with your palms after picking it out.
Ask Your Barber
"Stretch my hair out and shape it into a round afro about three and a half inches, with a low taper at the sideburns and nape only."
Best For:Oval, square faces + thick, straight or wavy hair.
About This Style
Thick, dark hair common among Latino men gives a blowout plenty of body, so the top is often thinned before drying. Two to three inches are blown up and back with a low taper and a sharp line-up at the front. It is a popular request in many Latino barbershops alongside the burst fade. Thinning keeps the dense top from puffing into a helmet shape.
How to Style at Home
Blow-dry the top up and back with a vent brush.
Work a small amount of matte clay through the ends.
Ask for the top to be thinned at every visit.
Ask Your Barber
"I want a low blowout taper with a line-up, about three inches on top, and please thin out the top so it does not puff up."
Recommended Products
Matte Clay
Texture Clay
Blowout Taper with Line-Ups, Parts and Designs
Edge work turns a soft blowout into a sharper cut. These eight add a temple taper, a rounded neckline, a soft hairline, a line-up, a shaved part, a carved design or a curved burst or drop taper behind the ear.
Trim:Every 2 weeks. Lined edges blur within ten days.
Best For:Oval, square faces + coarse, coily or wavy hair.
About This Style
A trimmer outlines the forehead, temple corners and sideburns in straight lines, which frames the soft volume above with a hard edge. The line should follow your natural hairline; pushing it back for a sharper look creates a receding outline later. Between full cuts, a quick edge cleanup at the shop costs less. Use an edge brush daily to keep baby hairs flat.
How to Style at Home
Brush the edges flat with an edge brush after styling the top.
Keep products away from the lined hairline so it stays crisp.
Book an edge-only cleanup at ten to twelve days.
Ask Your Barber
"Blowout taper with a line-up, follow my natural hairline, taper the sideburns and nape from a #1 to a #0.5, and leave three inches on top."
Trim:Every 2 weeks. Designs fade as the hair around them grows.
Best For:Oval, round faces + coarse or thick dark hair.
About This Style
One or two carved lines, a zigzag or a small star are cut into the tapered area behind the ear, where the hair is short enough to show the pattern. The pattern shows most clearly on dark, coarse hair. The top stays a standard three-inch blowout so the design is the only extra detail. Lines last about a week before they need re-cutting.
How to Style at Home
Avoid scratching or rubbing the design area with a towel.
Style the top as usual, keeping the sides behind the ear clear.
Return for a line refresh after about seven days.
Ask Your Barber
"Blowout taper with two curved lines behind the left ear in the tapered area, taper from a #1 to skin, three inches on top for the blowout."
Trim:Every 2–3 weeks. A shaved part closes within two weeks.
Best For:Oval, square faces + straight or wavy hair.
About This Style
Shaving a thin line on one side of the top, usually above the outer corner of the eyebrow, lets the hair on each side be dried away from the line. The part makes the blowout look more structured. Keep the line short, about two to three inches, since one that runs to the crown looks dated. Light pomade adds a little shine along the part.
How to Style at Home
Dry the larger side up and over, away from the part.
Push the smaller side down and back toward the taper.
Run a small amount of light pomade along both edges of the part.
Ask Your Barber
"Blowout taper with a short hard part on my left side, about two inches long, mid taper from a #2 to a #0.5 and three inches on top."
Trim:Every 3 weeks. The curve around the ear grows out softly.
Best For:Oval, heart faces + curly or wavy hair.
About This Style
The taper curves in a half-circle around the ear and drops toward the nape, leaving more length behind it than a straight taper does. Paired with a blowout top, it gives a rounded, mohawk-like shape from the back. Curly and wavy textures suit the curve. Ask for the burst to start at a #1 just above the ear so the arc is visible.
How to Style at Home
Dry the top up and toward the center to follow the burst shape.
Define curls or waves at the back with a little curl cream.
Leave the hair behind the burst longer and unstyled.
Ask Your Barber
"Burst taper blowout, curve the taper around each ear from a #1, keep length at the back, and three inches on top dried up toward the middle."
Trim:Every 3 weeks. The dropped curve behind the ear needs reshaping.
Best For:Oval, round faces + thick straight or wavy hair.
About This Style
Behind the ear, the taper line dips down toward the nape instead of running straight back, following the shape of the skull. That arc keeps more hair at the occipital bone, so a flat back of the head looks fuller. The top stays blown out at three inches. In how much hair it removes, it sits between a classic taper and a full drop fade.
How to Style at Home
Dry the crown first so the back has volume over the dropped taper.
Lift the front hairline with a round brush on medium heat.
Finish with a small amount of matte paste across the top.
Ask Your Barber
"Drop taper blowout, taper the sideburns and dip the line down behind the ear toward the nape, #2 to #0.5, three inches on top."
Trim:Every 3–4 weeks. Only the temples and nape grow back.
Best For:Oval, round faces + straight, wavy or curly hair.
About This Style
Rather than tapering the whole sideburn, the barber clears only the temple corners and the nape, leaving the sides fuller. The blown-out top flows into heavier sides, which gives a rounder, softer silhouette. It grows out slowly because so little is taken short. Men who find a sharp taper too harsh at the ear often prefer it.
How to Style at Home
Blow-dry the top up and back on medium heat.
Smooth the sides down with a little styling cream.
Clean the temple corners with a trimmer between visits.
Ask Your Barber
"Could I get a temple taper with my blowout? Just the temple corners and the nape, keep the sides fuller, about three inches on top."
Trim:Every 3–4 weeks. Rounded nape grows out without a hard line.
Best For:Long, oval faces + straight or wavy hair.
About This Style
At the back, the nape is shaped into a soft curve instead of a straight block line or a full taper to skin. The rounded outline matches the round volume of the blowout on top. It grows out more gently than a squared neckline. Barbers often recommend it for men with a thicker neck or a low natural hairline at the back.
How to Style at Home
Avoid trimming the nape line yourself between visits.
Blow-dry the top up and back for volume.
Use a hand mirror to check the neckline curve.
Ask Your Barber
"Give me a blowout taper and round off my neckline at the back instead of a block line, with a soft taper at the sideburns."
Trim:Every 3–4 weeks. No crisp front line to keep up.
Best For:Sensitive skin + receding, curly or wavy hair.
About This Style
Here the front hairline and temples are left natural, cleaned up only with scissors, rather than edged into sharp corners with a trimmer. That keeps a gentle frame around the blown-out front and avoids pushing a receding hairline further back. It also avoids the irritation some men get from frequent edge-ups. The taper at the nape and sideburn still keeps it neat.
How to Style at Home
Leave the front hairline alone between visits; skip the trimmer.
Blow-dry the front up and slightly forward to soften the temples.
Use a light thickening spray before drying for lift.
Ask Your Barber
"Please leave my front hairline natural with no line-up, taper the sideburns and nape, and keep three inches on top for a blowout."
Recommended Products
Thickening Spray
Round Brush
Blowout Taper by Age, Hairline and Grow-Out
Age and stage change what a blowout should look like. These eight adjust the cut for toddlers, children, teenagers, older men, a receding hairline, a thinning crown and longer hair being grown out; see teenage guys haircuts for more teen options.
Trim:Every 4–6 weeks. A soft taper grows out without looking messy.
Best For:Ages 6–12 + straight, wavy or thick hair.
About This Style
For children, barbers keep the taper at a #3 or scissor length and leave about two inches on top, so there is some volume without daily blow-drying. A quick towel dry and a finger push give the shape. Razor edges are best avoided on young skin. Parents can ask for the front to stay clear of the eyes, which keeps school mornings simple.
How to Style at Home
Towel-dry your child's hair and push the top up with your fingers.
Use a dryer on low heat for one minute only on special days.
Wash with kids shampoo and skip styling products on school days.
Ask Your Barber
"My son would like a blowout taper. Please keep the taper soft at a #3 with no razor, two inches on top and the front short enough to stay out of his eyes."
Trim:Every 3 weeks. Teen hair grows fast and thickens at the crown.
Best For:Oval, round faces + thick straight or wavy hair.
About This Style
Teenagers often ask for a fuller version with three to four inches on top and the upper sides covering the tops of the ears. A mid taper usually fits school dress codes. Thick teenage hair gets heavy quickly, so ask for the crown to be thinned out at each visit. A dryer and sea salt spray are the only tools needed most days.
How to Style at Home
Spray sea salt spray into damp hair before drying.
Dry up and back, then fluff the upper sides out with your fingers.
Skip heavy products; a little texture powder is enough.
Ask Your Barber
"Teen blowout taper, mid taper from a #2 to a #1, three to four inches on top, sides over the ears long enough to blow out, and thin out the crown."
Trim:Every 3–4 weeks. Short sides keep the temples looking even.
Best For:Oval, long faces + straight hair with receding temples.
About This Style
Drying the front up and slightly forward fills in the corners of an M-shaped hairline instead of exposing them. The barber leaves the front longest and keeps the taper low so the temples are not highlighted. Two to three inches on top is enough; longer hair separates and shows more scalp. Matte products help, since shine draws attention to thin areas.
How to Style at Home
Dry the front up and slightly forward rather than straight back.
Press matte clay into the front corners to hold them over the temples.
Avoid a hard line-up, which outlines the receded corners.
Ask Your Barber
"Give me a blowout taper for a receding hairline, low soft taper with a #3, front left longest at three inches, no line-up, and a matte finish."
Trim:Every 6–8 weeks. Only the taper needs tidying between cuts.
Best For:Oval, square faces + thick wavy or straight hair.
About This Style
Letting the top reach five inches and the upper sides cover half the ear produces a longer, lower-effort blowout that relies on the cut rather than daily drying. Only the nape and sideburns keep a taper, which a barber can tidy in a five-minute neckline cleanup. It suits men growing their hair out who want some structure during the in-between stage.
How to Style at Home
Air-dry with a little leave-in, then lift the front for a minute with a dryer.
Tuck the side pieces behind the ears on longer days.
Book a neckline cleanup every three to four weeks.
Ask Your Barber
"Grown out blowout taper, taper only the sideburns and nape with a #3, leave about five inches on top and the sides over half the ear. Just shape the ends."
Trim:Every 4–6 weeks. Soft scissor tapers grow out gently.
Best For:Ages 2–4 + straight, wavy or curly hair.
About This Style
For toddlers, the taper is done with scissors or a #4 guard at the sideburns and neck, and the top is left at two inches for natural fluff. There is no blow-drying beyond a quick towel dry, and no razor. A short visit keeps it calm for a young child. The rounded shape looks tidy as it grows.
How to Style at Home
Towel-dry gently and let the top air dry.
Brush the top up softly with your fingers.
Wash with a mild kids shampoo two or three times a week.
Ask Your Barber
"My toddler would like a gentle blowout taper, scissor or #4 at the sideburns and neck, two inches on top, and no razor at all."
Best For:Ages 6–12 + curly, wavy or loose coily hair.
About This Style
Curly hair on boys is left two to three inches on top and stretched lightly with a dryer on low heat, then left to bounce. The taper sits at the sideburns and neck at a #2 to #3. Parents can skip the dryer on school days and simply scrunch in curl cream. Avoid razor edges on young, sensitive skin.
How to Style at Home
Scrunch curl cream into your child's damp hair.
Use a diffuser on low heat only on special days.
Detangle with a wide-tooth comb in the shower.
Ask Your Barber
"My son would like a curly blowout taper with a #2 to #3 taper at the sideburns and neck and three inches of curls on top."
Trim:Every 3–4 weeks. Gray hair grows coarser and needs shape.
Best For:Older men + gray, thinning or straight hair.
About This Style
For older men, the top is kept slightly shorter, about two inches, and blown back loosely instead of high, which looks more natural with gray or thinning hair. A low taper at a #2 at the sideburns keeps the edges clean. Coarse gray hair holds a blowout well with a little cream. A purple shampoo keeps silver tones bright.
How to Style at Home
Blow-dry the top back loosely with your fingers.
Use a light styling cream to control coarse strands.
Wash with a purple shampoo once a week.
Ask Your Barber
"A low taper at a #2 at the sideburns and nape, and two inches on top for a loose blowout back, not too high."
Trim:Every 3–4 weeks. Short sides and top keep the crown hidden.
Best For:Thinning crown + straight or wavy hair.
About This Style
When the crown thins first, the blowout is directed forward and slightly up instead of straight back, so the hair covers the thinner area. The top is kept at two to two and a half inches, as longer hair separates and shows the scalp. A low taper at the sideburns and nape keeps the sides neat. Thickening spray adds grip and fullness.
How to Style at Home
Spray thickening spray at the roots before drying.
Blow-dry the hair forward and up over the crown.
Finish with a little texture powder at the crown.
Ask Your Barber
"Keep two inches on top and direct the blowout forward to cover my crown, with a low taper at the sideburns and nape."
Recommended Products
Thickening Spray
Texture Powder
Blowout Taper with Beard
Because the taper sits at the sideburn, it doubles as the link to any facial hair. These eight pair a blowout with a full beard, stubble, a goatee, a mustache, a chin strap, a Van Dyke, a short boxed beard or a circle beard.
Trim:Every 3 weeks. Sideburn and beard need to stay blended.
Best For:Round, oval faces + thick hair and a full beard.
About This Style
A full beard of about an inch connects to the hair through the tapered sideburn, so the taper doubles as the beard blend. The barber runs a #2 down the sideburn into the beard length. The round top balances a heavy jaw. Trim the cheek line and neckline at home weekly, and oil the beard so its texture matches the soft top.
How to Style at Home
Rub beard oil into the beard after drying the top.
Brush the beard down with a beard brush to match the round shape above.
Trim the neckline one finger above the Adam's apple each week.
Ask Your Barber
"Blowout taper with my full beard, taper the sideburns with a #2 straight into the beard, nape to match, and three inches on top for the blowout."
Trim:Every 3–4 weeks. Stubble needs only a weekly trimmer pass.
Best For:Oval, square faces + straight or wavy hair.
About This Style
Three to five days of growth kept at about 3 mm gives the jaw definition without competing with the volume on top. The taper ends at a #1 at the sideburn, which matches the stubble length, so there is no visible gap between hair and beard. A trimmer on a fixed guard every few days keeps the stubble even.
How to Style at Home
Run a trimmer with a 3 mm guard over the stubble every three days.
Clean the neckline below the jaw with the trimmer blade.
Style the top with sea salt spray and a quick blow-dry.
Ask Your Barber
"Let's go with a blowout taper with stubble, taper the sideburns down to a #1 to match my stubble, low taper at the nape and three inches on top."
Trim:Every 3 weeks. The goatee outline needs a weekly edge.
Best For:Round, square faces + thick or coarse hair.
About This Style
Cheeks stay clean-shaven while the chin and the area around the mouth form a goatee, which lengthens a round face from below as the blowout lifts it from above. With bare cheeks, the taper can run down to skin at the sideburn without leaving a gap. Shape the goatee no wider than the corners of the mouth to keep the face looking long.
How to Style at Home
Shave the cheeks and outline the goatee with a trimmer every few days.
Soften the goatee with a little beard balm.
Dry the top tall and round to balance the chin.
Ask Your Barber
"I'm after a blowout taper with a goatee, taper the sideburns to skin since my cheeks are shaved, nape tapered to a #0.5, about three and a half inches on top."
Trim:Every 4 weeks. A mustache only needs trimming along the lip.
Best For:Oval, long faces + straight or wavy hair.
About This Style
Pairing a full chevron mustache with a shaved jaw gives a retro feel that matches the volume on top. Since the rest of the face is bare, the low taper stays soft at a #2. Trim the mustache along the lip line every few days. This pairing works for long faces because the mustache breaks up the vertical length between nose and chin.
How to Style at Home
Comb the mustache down and trim along the top lip with scissors.
Shave the jaw and cheeks every day or two.
Dry the top up and slightly back, keeping it moderate in height.
Ask Your Barber
"Could I get a blowout taper with a mustache, low taper at a #2 at the sideburns and nape, about two and a half inches on top so it is not too tall."
Trim:Every 2 weeks. Thin beard lines blur within days.
Best For:Round, oval faces + coarse or coily hair.
About This Style
A narrow band of beard follows the jawline from ear to ear and joins the tapered sideburns, outlining the face in one continuous line. It sharpens a soft jaw. The taper and the strap are cut with the same trimmer setting, usually a #1, so they meet cleanly. Thin lines like this blur quickly, so the pairing suits men who visit the barber often.
How to Style at Home
Outline the top and bottom of the strap with a trimmer every two days.
Brush the strap and the taper edges with an edge brush.
Pick and shape the top before smoothing the surface with your palms.
Ask Your Barber
"Blowout taper with a chin strap, taper the sideburns with a #1 into a half-inch strap along my jaw, line it up, and three inches on top."
Trim:Every 3 weeks. Van Dyke edges need shaving twice a week.
Best For:Round, oval faces + straight or wavy hair.
About This Style
A Van Dyke pairs a pointed chin beard with a separate mustache, and the cheeks stay clean. With a blowout taper, the taper stops at a short sideburn that does not meet the beard. The pointed chin draws the face down while the blowout adds height, which suits round faces. The cheek shave keeps the look sharp.
How to Style at Home
Shave the cheeks clean twice a week after a warm shower.
Trim the chin to a point with scissors.
Shape the mustache ends with a little beard balm.
Ask Your Barber
"Low blowout taper with short sideburns, then shape my Van Dyke with a pointed chin and separate mustache, cheeks shaved."
Trim:Every 3 weeks. Beard lines blur after two weeks.
Best For:Square, oval faces + straight, wavy or thick hair.
About This Style
The taper at the sideburn blends straight into a short boxed beard about half an inch long, with a straight cheek line and a squared jaw. The blown-out top and the boxed beard give the head a balanced shape with volume up top and structure below. It is a neat office look that is easy to maintain with a trimmer.
How to Style at Home
Trim the beard with a #4 guard every week.
Shave the cheek line straight after a warm shower.
Blow-dry the top up and back with a round brush.
Ask Your Barber
"Taper the sideburns down into my beard, then a short boxed beard at a #4 with a straight cheek line and three inches on top."
Trim:Every 3 weeks. The ring shape needs regular edging.
Best For:Round, square faces + straight or wavy hair.
About This Style
A circle beard joins a goatee and mustache into a rounded ring around the mouth, with the cheeks and sideburns clean. Under a blowout, it keeps the face neat while the top carries the volume. The taper ends at a short sideburn and does not connect to the beard. It suits square jaws by softening the chin with a round outline.
How to Style at Home
Shave the cheeks every two to three days.
Trim the ring with a #2 or #3 guard.
Round the corners of the ring with a detail trimmer.
Ask Your Barber
"Low blowout taper, short sideburns, and shape a circle beard around my mouth at a #3 with the cheeks shaved clean."
Recommended Products
Beard Oil
Light Pomade
Blowout Taper with Color and Perm
Color and a perm change how a blowout catches light and holds volume. These four cover bleached, highlighted and frosted tops plus a permed version. See bleached haircuts for more color ideas.
Trim:Every 3 weeks. Dark roots and taper both grow out.
Best For:Oval, square faces + straight, wavy or curly hair.
About This Style
Bleaching the top blonde and leaving the tapered sideburns and nape dark creates a strong contrast. Lightened hair is a little drier and holds volume well when blown out. Roots show within four to six weeks, so plan color touch-ups with the colorist alongside the taper trims. Use heat protectant and a low dryer setting, since bleached hair breaks more easily under heat.
How to Style at Home
Apply a heat protectant spray before every blow-dry.
Blow-dry on medium or low heat with a round brush.
Use a purple shampoo once a week to tone.
Ask Your Barber
"Please shape my blonde top for a blowout, about three inches, low taper at the sideburns and nape, and do not cut into the color."
Best For:Oval, long faces + straight or wavy hair.
About This Style
Thin streaks of lighter color are painted through the top rather than bleaching it all, so the blowout shows movement and depth. Highlights grow out more gently than full blonde, so color touch-ups can be spaced further apart. The taper stays natural. Brown and dark blonde hair take highlights with less damage than black hair.
How to Style at Home
Blow-dry the top up and back to show the highlights.
Use a pea-sized amount of light pomade for shine.
Wash with a color-safe shampoo to keep the highlights bright.
Ask Your Barber
"Low blowout taper with three inches on top, and keep the highlighted pieces on top long enough to show when I blow it back."
Trim:Every 3 weeks. Frosted ends are trimmed off over time.
Best For:Oval, round faces + straight or wavy hair.
About This Style
Only the ends of the blown-out top are lightened, a look borrowed from frosted tips. With a short blowout of two to two and a half inches, the light tips catch the light when the hair is pushed up. The taper stays dark. Because only the tips are bleached, the roots never show, and the color is trimmed away within a few months.
How to Style at Home
Push the top up with your fingers while drying.
Separate the tips with a little texture clay.
Deep condition the frosted ends once a week to limit dryness.
Ask Your Barber
"Short blowout taper with two and a half inches on top, and trim lightly so the frosted tips stay visible."
Trim:Every 4 weeks. Perm loosens over two to three months.
Best For:Oval, square faces + straight or fine hair.
About This Style
Straight or fine hair that will not hold volume can be given a loose body perm on top, which makes the blowout fuller and easier to style. The top is kept at three to four inches with a low taper at the sideburns and nape. Drying with a diffuser keeps the waves soft. A perm lasts two to three months before it relaxes.
How to Style at Home
Diffuse the top on low heat for soft waves.
Scrunch in a light curl cream while the hair is damp.
Avoid shampooing for two days after the perm.
Ask Your Barber
"My top has a loose perm, so keep three to four inches for a blowout and do a low taper at the sideburns and nape."
Recommended Products
Curl Cream
Leave-In
Blowout Taper Quiff, Faux Hawk and Side Part
A blowout can be pushed into other top shapes once the volume is in place. These four turn the dried top into a quiff, a faux hawk, a side part or spikes. See the quiff gallery for more front lifts.
Trim:Every 3 weeks. The front lift drops as hair grows heavy.
Best For:Round, oval faces + thick, straight or wavy hair.
About This Style
Instead of drying the whole top back, the front two to three inches are lifted up and forward into a quiff while the rest of the blowout stays rounded. A low taper keeps the edges neat. The front lift adds height that slims round faces. Texture clay gives a matte, messy finish, while pomade gives a shinier, neater version for evenings.
How to Style at Home
Blow-dry the front up and slightly forward with your fingers.
Twist small pieces of the front with texture clay.
Leave the back of the top softer and lower.
Ask Your Barber
"Could you do a low blowout taper and leave three inches at the front for a quiff, getting shorter toward the crown?"
Trim:Every 3 weeks. The center ridge needs regular shaping.
Best For:Round, oval faces + thick or straight hair.
About This Style
After drying, the hair at the sides of the top is pushed toward the center to form a soft ridge from front to crown. It looks like a mohawk without shaved sides, since the taper only touches the sideburns and nape. The center needs about three inches and the edges of the top a little less.
How to Style at Home
Blow-dry the whole top upward on medium heat.
Pinch the hair toward the center with matte clay.
Set the ridge with a little hair spray if needed.
Ask Your Barber
"I'd like a blowout taper with three inches through the center of the top and shorter at the edges for a faux hawk."
Trim:Every 3–4 weeks. Side part holds its shape for weeks.
Best For:Oval, long faces + straight or wavy hair.
About This Style
A side part divides the top, and the larger side is blown up and over with a round brush, giving a neater, more formal blowout. The taper at the sideburns and nape stays low. It suits offices and events. Straight and wavy hair hold the part line best. Some men add a shaved hard part, but a combed part grows out without a visible line.
How to Style at Home
Part the hair on one side with a fine-tooth comb.
Blow-dry the larger side up and across with a round brush.
Finish with a light pomade for a soft, natural shine.
Ask Your Barber
"Give me a low blowout taper with a side part on the left, and keep three inches on top for volume across the part."
Trim:Every 3 weeks. Spikes need even length to stand.
Best For:Oval, round faces + thick or straight hair.
About This Style
Two inches on top is blown straight up and then separated into short spikes with a strong clay, giving a playful, early-2000s look. Only the sideburns and nape are tapered, low and tidy. Thick hair holds the spikes best. Point cutting the top helps the spikes separate. It works best on shorter tops, since longer hair droops under its own weight.
How to Style at Home
Blow-dry the top straight up on medium heat.
Twist small sections between your fingers with texture clay.
Pinch the tips with your fingertips to define each spike.
Ask Your Barber
"Let's do a low blowout taper with about two inches on top, point cut so I can separate it into short spikes."
Recommended Products
Texture Clay
Matte Clay
How Do You Ask Your Barber for a Blowout Taper?
Name three things: where the taper goes, how short it ends and how much length stays. For example, ask for a low taper at the sideburns and nape from a #3 to a #1, three inches on top and the upper sides left long enough to blow out. Say if you want a lined edge or a natural one, and ask the barber to blow-dry it at the end so you can see the finished shape before you leave. Our clipper guard numbers chart lists what each guard leaves.
Save a front and a side view on your phone, because blowout volume varies a lot between barbers. If you have thick hair, ask for weight to be removed from underneath so the shape stays round rather than wide. If your hair is curly or coily, ask for it to be cut dry or stretched, since curls shrink and a wet cut can leave the top shorter than planned.
Clipper Guards Used in Blowout Taper Haircut Styles
A clipper guard is the plastic comb that clips onto the blade and sets how much hair is left: a #1 leaves 3 mm (1/8 inch), each step up adds about 3 mm. The right column lists the cards on this page that call for each guard. See the full clipper guard numbers guide for the complete chart.
Clipper guard sizes for blowout taper haircut styles
The whole routine takes five to ten minutes once you have practiced it. A round brush gives the most lift; fingers give a messier finish. The pomade vs clay vs wax guide explains which product holds which shape.
Prep damp hair
Towel-dry until the hair is damp, not wet. Spray sea salt spray or thickening spray at the roots for grip; curly and coily hair takes a leave-in or curl cream first.
Dry upward and back
Use medium heat with the nozzle pointing from the roots toward the ends. Lift the front with a round brush or your fingers, then dry the upper sides up and slightly out.
Set the shape
Switch to the cool setting for ten seconds to set the volume. Finish with a small amount of texture powder, matte clay or light pomade, depending on how much shine you want.
What Blowout Taper Mistakes Should You Avoid?
The most common mistake is cutting the top too short. Under two inches, there is little to blow out, and the cut turns into a plain taper fade. The second is skipping weight removal on thick hair, which produces a wide, mushroom shape instead of a round one. Taking the taper too high on a long face is another, since the extra height makes the face look longer.
At home, the main error is drying with high heat close to the scalp, which causes frizz and dries the hair out. Keep the dryer moving, use medium heat and finish cool. Heavy pomade on a blowout also pulls the volume down by midday. Book the next appointment before the taper grows past the top of the sideburn, usually three to four weeks.
Which Blowout Taper Haircut Is Right for You?
Pick your hair type and how much upkeep you will put in. The matches below come from the Best For and Maintenance notes on each card. Upkeep follows the Maintenance badge: low means a cut every 3 to 6 weeks and almost no daily styling, high means weekly line-ups or daily product.
It is a cut with two to four inches on top and longer upper sides that are blow-dried up and back for volume, combined with a taper at the sideburns and nape. The taper keeps the edges neat while the rest of the hair stays full and rounded.
Q2: How long does your hair need to be for a blowout taper?+
Two inches on top is the minimum for visible lift, and three to four inches gives the classic rounded shape. The upper sides need about an inch to an inch and a half. If you are growing out a short cut, ask for the taper now and let the top reach length over the next two months.
Q3: Do you need a hair dryer for a blowout taper?+
For the full shape, yes. The dryer lifts the roots and sets the direction, which product alone cannot do on straight hair. Wavy and curly hair can air-dry with some lift if you scrunch in sea salt spray or curl cream, but the result is softer and flatter than a dried blowout.
Q4: Is a blowout taper the same as a Brooklyn blowout?+
They are closely related. Brooklyn blowout usually describes the New York version with a temple taper, a sharp line-up and a tall, brushed-up top. Blowout taper is the broader name and covers lower, softer and messier versions as well as the classic one.
Q5: How often should you get a blowout taper cut?+
Every three to four weeks keeps the taper clean and the top in shape. High or bald tapers and versions with a line-up need a visit every two to three weeks. A low taper with a natural edge can stretch to five weeks, especially on wavy hair that hides uneven growth.
Q6: Does a blowout taper work on curly or coily hair?+
Yes. Curly hair is stretched with a dryer on low heat after curl cream, which gives a fuller, fluffier shape. Coily hair is blown out with a pick attachment and then shaped with shears. Both need moisture before heat to limit breakage and frizz.
