Quick answer: A Southside fade is a high, tight skin fade that wraps evenly around the sides and back, usually finished with a sharp outline and a short top. Unlike a burst fade, which curves around the ear and keeps length at the nape, it clears the back as well. The name is regional and used loosely.
Southside Fade 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.
The Southside fade is a barbershop name for a high, clean skin fade that takes the sides and back down evenly, then frames a short top with a crisp line or part. Where the name started is disputed and its meaning shifts between shops. Below are 15 versions grouped by height, top style and finishing detail, with the guard numbers to quote.
What Is a Southside Fade?
Most barbers who use the name mean a skin fade that starts high on the head, at the temple or above, and wraps around the sides and back at the same height. The bottom is shaved to skin with a foil shaver or razor, the blend runs quickly through a #0.5 and #1, and the top is left short, typically one to two inches. A sharp line-up at the front and a clean, squared outline are common finishing touches, and some shops add a hard part.
The origin of the name is unclear. Some barbers link it to the South Side of Chicago, others to the south side of Houston, and none of the sources we checked settles it. Shops in different cities use the term for slightly different heights, and some treat it as a near-synonym of the Boosie fade. Describing the height and bottom length is always safer than relying on the name.
How Is a Southside Fade Different from a Burst Fade?
The difference is the path of the fade line. A burst fade curves in a semicircle around each ear, with its shortest point just behind the ear, and leaves the hair at the nape longer, so from behind it looks almost uncut. A Southside fade runs the line horizontally around the whole head, clearing the back to skin as well as the sides. That makes it look tighter and more even from every angle.
The two can be combined. A Southside burst keeps the high, tight feel at the sides but curves around the ear and saves some length at the nape. If you want the whole back clean, say so; if you want the nape left longer, ask for a burst. The table sets out the main differences, alongside a standard high fade for reference.
How Is a Southside Fade Different from a Burst Fade?
Feature
Southside fade
Burst fade
High fade
Line path
Straight around the head
Semicircle around each ear
Straight around the head
Back of head
Faded to skin
Nape left longer
Faded
Usual height
High, at or above the temple
Low to high around the ear
At the parietal ridge
Usual bottom
Skin
Skin or #0
Skin or a #0 to #1
Typical top
Short, often with a line-up or part
Any; often curls, mohawk or mullet
Any length
Who Suits a Southside Fade?
With so much of the sides and back taken to skin, the cut slims the head and draws attention to the face and top. Round and square faces gain the most because the narrow sides reduce width at the cheeks. Oval faces can wear it at any height. Long faces should keep the top short and flat or choose a lower Southside so the head does not look taller.
Coily, curly and dark hair give the cleanest contrast with skin, which is why the cut is especially common in Black and Latino barbershops. Straight hair works too, though the barber may need to blend more carefully because straight hair shows lines more easily. If you have razor bumps, a flat or bumpy back of the head, or visible scars, a #0 bottom or a burst version is gentler.
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Showing all 15 styles
Fade
Hair
Length
Southside Fade Styles by Height and Line
These five cuts show the Southside at different heights and with different line paths, including the burst and drop versions. The drop fade and temple fade guides explain the base cuts in more detail.
Trim:Every 1–2 weeks. Skin all around shows regrowth quickly.
Best For:Round, square faces + coily, curly or dark hair.
About This Style
Starting at the temple, the line runs straight around the back at the same height, and everything below it is foil shaved to skin. A short blend through a #0.5 and #1 meets a top of about one and a half inches. A sharp line-up at the forehead finishes the outline. From any angle the head looks evenly clean, which is the main thing that sets it apart from a burst.
How to Style at Home
Rub a light layer of scalp oil over the shaved sides and back each morning.
Brush the top forward and down with a soft brush.
Check the line at the back with two mirrors to make sure it stays level.
Ask Your Barber
"Southside fade: high skin fade from the temple, wrapped evenly around the back, foil shaved, blended through a #0.5 and #1. Inch and a half on top with a line-up."
Trim:Every 2 weeks. A lower line hides growth slightly longer.
Best For:Oval, long faces + wavy, curly or coily hair.
About This Style
A lower version that starts just above the ear and wraps the back at that height leaves more hair on the sides, so the grow-out is gentler. It suits long faces, which look taller under a high line, and workplaces that prefer a quieter cut. Many barbers will assume high when you say Southside, so ask for it low and show a photo.
How to Style at Home
Apply a leave-in to the top after washing to soften the hair.
Shape the top with your fingers or a soft brush.
Clean the neckline with a trimmer once a week.
Ask Your Barber
"Low skin fade starting just above the ear, wrapped evenly around the back at that height, blended to a #2. Leave two inches on top."
Trim:Every 1–2 weeks. The temple blend softens in the second week.
Best For:Oval, round faces + straight, wavy or curly hair.
About This Style
Placing the line halfway up the side, between the ear and the temple, gives a balanced version that many first-timers prefer. It keeps the even wrap around the back but shows less skin than the classic cut. The blend runs a little longer, through a #0.5, #1 and #2, which helps straight hair hide lines. A two inch textured top suits it well.
How to Style at Home
Towel-dry the top and work a small amount of matte clay through it.
Push the top slightly forward and up with your fingertips.
Moisturize the shaved section with a drop of scalp oil.
Ask Your Barber
"Mid skin fade halfway between ear and temple, wrapped evenly around the back, blended through a #0.5, #1 and #2. Two inches of texture on top."
Trim:Every 1–2 weeks. The curve around the ear blurs first.
Best For:Round, oval faces + coily or curly hair.
About This Style
Combining the two names, the sides are taken high and tight while the line curves in a semicircle around each ear, and a strip of short hair is left at the nape. From the front it looks like a Southside; from the back the nape keeps some length. It suits men who want the high sides but have a flat back or a scar at the nape they would rather cover.
How to Style at Home
Apply curl cream to the top and shape it with your fingers.
Check both burst curves in a mirror to make sure they match.
Brush the nape hair down to keep it tidy.
Ask Your Barber
"I'd like a Southside burst: high skin fade curving around each ear, keep a strip of short hair at the nape. Line up the front and leave two inches of curls on top."
Trim:Every 1–2 weeks. The dropped curve behind the ear softens fast.
Best For:Oval, square faces + coily, wavy or straight hair.
About This Style
In this variation the high line drops behind the ear and curves toward the nape before running across the back, so the outline follows the curve of the skull. The dip flatters heads with a prominent occipital bone. Everything below the line is skin, and the top stays short at about an inch. It takes a skilled barber to keep both sides symmetrical.
How to Style at Home
Brush the top in one direction to keep it flat and neat.
Apply a light layer of scalp oil to the shaved areas.
Use two mirrors weekly to check the drop curve on each side.
Ask Your Barber
"High skin fade that drops behind the ear toward the nape and wraps the back, foil shaved. Leave about an inch on top and line up the front."
Recommended Products
Scalp Oil
Wave Pomade
Southside Fade with Popular Tops
The short top over a Southside can be brushed into waves, sponged, twisted, cropped or combed. These five cover the common choices across hair types, from coily to straight; the textured crop guide covers that top in depth.
Trim:Every 1–2 weeks. Waves need the outline kept sharp.
Best For:Oval, round faces + coily or 4C hair.
About This Style
About three quarters of an inch of coily hair on top is brushed daily into a ripple pattern, and the even skin all around makes the waves look like a neat cap. The barber should cut with the grain so the pattern stays intact. Training waves takes weeks of brushing and nightly durag use, and the payoff is a very clean, low-profile look.
How to Style at Home
Brush outward from the crown with a medium brush for several minutes.
Apply a thin layer of wave pomade before brushing.
Wear a durag at night to lock the pattern in.
Ask Your Barber
"Can you do a Southside fade wrapped all the way around, foil shaved. Leave about three quarters of an inch on top, cut with the grain for waves, and line up the front."
Trim:Every 2 weeks. Curls hide top growth; the sides do not.
Best For:Round, square faces + loose curly or coily hair.
About This Style
Two inches of defined curls on top, cut dry, sit over high skin sides, and the height of the curls lengthens a round face. The clean wrap keeps the outline tidy even when the curls are loose and full. Moisture is the main job each morning. It is a common request among Latino and mixed-texture clients with loose to medium curls.
How to Style at Home
Apply curl cream to soaking wet hair and scrunch upward.
Air-dry or diffuse on low heat without touching the curls.
Refresh with a spray of leave-in on the second day.
Ask Your Barber
"High skin fade wrapped around the back. Cut my curls dry and leave about two inches on top, rounded at the front."
Trim:Every 2 weeks. Retwist the top every one to two weeks.
Best For:Oval, long faces + coily, kinky or 4C hair.
About This Style
Short comb or two-strand twists, two to three inches long, grouped on top of a high, clean fade make the twist pattern the focus. The even skin around the back keeps the overall shape compact. Twists last about one to two weeks before retwisting. Keep the top length even so the twists sit level rather than leaning forward.
How to Style at Home
Spritz the twists with a leave-in every few days.
Seal the ends with a little curl cream to prevent frizz.
Sleep in a satin cap to protect the twists.
Ask Your Barber
"High skin fade wrapped evenly around the back. Leave two and a half inches on top for twists, cut level, and line up the front."
Trim:Every 1–2 weeks. Straight hair shows the blend lines sooner.
Best For:Round, oval faces + straight or wavy thick hair.
About This Style
On straight and wavy hair, a point-cut crop of about an inch and a half, pushed forward into a short fringe, gives the top texture over high skin sides. The barber needs to blend slowly across three guard lengths, since straight hair shows any line. It is a popular way for men with straight hair to wear the cut, and the fringe softens a high forehead.
How to Style at Home
Spray sea salt into damp hair and rough-dry it forward.
Twist small pieces of the top with a pinch of matte clay.
Leave the fringe slightly uneven so the texture shows through.
Ask Your Barber
"High skin fade wrapped around the back, blended slowly through a #0.5, #1 and #2. Leave an inch and a half on top, point cut, pushed forward."
Trim:Every 1–2 weeks. The part and fade both need refreshing.
Best For:Oval, square faces + straight or wavy hair.
About This Style
Three inches on top, combed to one side from a natural part, sit over high, clean sides, mixing a classic office top with a sharp barbershop finish. The tight sides make the comb over look neater and lighter. Light pomade gives a soft shine. It works for men who want a cut that reads professional at work and sharp outside it.
How to Style at Home
Comb the top to one side from your natural part while damp.
Work light pomade through for hold and a soft shine.
Smooth the sides of the comb over flat with your palm.
Ask Your Barber
"High skin fade wrapped evenly around the back. Leave three inches on top for a comb over to the left, natural part, no hard line."
Recommended Products
Light Pomade
Southside Fade with Part, Line-Up, Design or Beard
Sharp details are part of the Southside's appeal. These five add a hard part, a squared line-up, a shaved design or a beard to the high fade; our line-up vs edge-up guide explains the edge options.
Trim:Every 1–2 weeks. The shaved part fills in after a week.
Best For:Oval, round faces + coily, wavy or straight hair.
About This Style
A shaved part line on one side of the short top is one of the details most often linked to the Southside name. The part usually starts above the outer corner of the eyebrow and runs back toward the crown, where it meets the fade. It defines the boundary between top and sides. Expect the part to fill in after about a week.
How to Style at Home
Brush or comb the top away from the part to keep it visible.
Moisturize the shaved line with a drop of scalp oil.
Book a quick part touch-up between full cuts to keep it sharp.
Ask Your Barber
"Give me a Southside fade, high skin wrapped around the back, with a shaved hard part on the right side from the eyebrow corner to the crown. Inch and a half on top."
Trim:Every 1–2 weeks. Squared corners soften within days.
Best For:Square, oval faces + coily, coarse or dark hair.
About This Style
Squared corners at the temples and a straight forehead line frame the short top like a box, while the even skin fade finishes the outline at the back. A good barber follows the natural hairline rather than pushing it back. Many wearers book a quick line-up every week. It is the crispest version in this gallery and needs the most visits to stay that way.
How to Style at Home
Brush the edges lightly in the direction of growth.
Dab scalp oil along the line if the skin feels irritated.
Avoid tight caps that press against the fresh edges.
Ask Your Barber
"Southside fade with a sharp squared line-up at the forehead and temples, following my natural hairline. Keep an inch on top."
Trim:Every 1–2 weeks. Designs blur as hair grows in.
Best For:Oval, round faces + coily, dense or dark hair.
About This Style
Shaved lines or a simple pattern sit where the skin fade meets the top, often along the side of the head or wrapping around the back. Because the fade wraps evenly, a design can follow the full line around the head, which is harder to do on a burst. Simple lines last about a week. Dense dark hair shows patterns most clearly. Our hair designs page has more ideas.
How to Style at Home
Keep the design dry and clean for a day after cutting.
Brush around the design rather than across it.
Book a design refresh when the lines start to fill.
Ask Your Barber
"Southside fade with a thin design line following the fade around the back of my head. Leave an inch on top and line up the front."
Trim:Every 1–2 weeks. Beard lines and fade both need care.
Best For:Round, oblong faces + coily hair and dense beard.
About This Style
Adding a full beard of half an inch to an inch weights the lower face against the high, bare sides. The barber fades the sideburn from skin into the beard so the two connect, then lines the cheeks and neck sharply. It suits oblong faces that look longer with hair only on top. Plan on trimming the beard weekly to keep its lines matching the fade.
How to Style at Home
Rub beard oil into the beard after washing.
Brush the beard downward to set its shape.
Trim cheek and neck lines with a trimmer twice a week.
Ask Your Barber
"Southside fade with the sideburns faded from skin into my full beard so they connect. Keep the beard at an inch and line it up sharp."
Trim:Every 1–2 weeks. Shave cheeks and neck every few days.
Best For:Round, oval faces + coily or curly hair.
About This Style
A thin chin strap beard runs from the sideburns along the jawline, connecting to the fade at the ear. The narrow line adds definition to a soft jaw without the bulk of a full beard. It is a detailed look: both the strap and the fade need sharp edges. Keep the strap a quarter to half an inch wide and the same width on both sides.
How to Style at Home
Shave the cheeks above the strap and the neck below it.
Trim the strap to an even width with a guarded trimmer.
Apply a little beard balm to keep the strap hairs flat.
Ask Your Barber
"Southside fade with my sideburns connecting into a thin chin strap along the jaw. Line up the strap and keep it about a quarter inch wide."
Recommended Products
Beard Balm
Edge Brush
How Do You Ask Your Barber for a Southside Fade?
Describe the cut, not just the name. A clear request sounds like this: a high skin fade starting at the temple, wrapped all the way around the back at the same height, foil shaved at the bottom, blended through a #0.5 and #1, with about an inch and a half on top and a sharp line-up. Add a hard part if you want one, and say which side.
If you want the back left a little longer, ask for a Southside burst instead and point to where the curve should sit behind the ear. Photos from the side and back help most, because the back is where the two styles differ and a front photo hides it. Our guide to asking for a fade without knowing terminology covers the basic vocabulary.
Clipper Guards Used in Southside Fade 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.
A skin fade wrapped around the whole head shows regrowth everywhere at once, so the cut looks fresh for about a week and starts to blur by the second. Most wearers book every one to two weeks, with a quick line-up in between if the edges matter to them. Keep the shaved skin moisturized with a light scalp oil, use sunscreen outdoors and avoid shaving the area at home, which tends to cause bumps.
Style the top for its texture: wave pomade and a brush for waves, curl cream and a sponge for coils, or a little matte clay for short straight hair. Wash the shaved areas gently and pat them dry rather than rubbing. If the blend shows lines or patches after a cut, read why a fade looks patchy and mention it at your next visit.
Which Southside Fade 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 looks like a high skin fade that runs evenly around the whole head, with the sides and back shaved to skin and a short, neat top. Many versions add a sharp line-up at the front and a hard part. From the back it looks fully faded, unlike a burst fade.
Q2: Is a Southside fade the same as a burst fade?+
No. A burst fade curves around each ear and leaves the nape longer, while a Southside fade wraps around the head and clears the back as well. You can combine them in a Southside burst, which keeps the high, tight sides but saves some length at the nape.
Q3: Where does the name Southside fade come from?+
Nobody agrees. Some barbers connect it to the South Side of Chicago and others to the south side of Houston, and we have not found a reliable source that settles it. The meaning also varies between shops, so describe the height and finish when you ask for it.
Q4: How often should you get a Southside fade?+
Every one to two weeks keeps it looking crisp. Skin shows stubble within about five days, and because the whole back is faded, regrowth is visible from every angle. A line-up between full cuts helps if you can only book every two to three weeks.
Q5: Can you get a low Southside fade?+
Some shops cut a lower version that starts just above the ear, which grows out more slowly and suits long faces or conservative workplaces. Most barbers think of the Southside as a high cut, though, so say clearly that you want it low and show a photo.
Q6: Is a Southside fade good for curly hair?+
Yes. Curly and coily hair contrasts strongly with skin, so the high, clean sides make the top stand clearly on its own. Keep the curls moisturized with curl cream or leave-in, and ask for the top to be cut dry so each curl sits where it falls.
