Quick answer: A tape up haircut, short for taper up, is a barbershop clean-up of the edges: the barber lines up the front hairline and temples and tapers the hair short at the sideburns, around the ears and at the nape. The rest of the sides and the top keep their length. It lasts about one to two weeks.
Tape Up 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.
Tape up haircut is barbershop shorthand for a taper up, a cut that touches only the perimeter of the head. The barber sharpens the hairline, tapers the sideburns and nape over about an inch, and leaves the curls, twists or length above untouched. Below are 39 versions grouped by finish, texture, top style, audience and beard, plus how the term overlaps with a taper.
What Is a Tape Up Haircut?
A tape up is a short form of taper up, a term heard most in New York and East Coast barbershops and spread widely by social media. It means the barber cleans the outline of your hair without cutting the bulk. In most shops that is three things: a line-up of the front hairline and temples with a trimmer, a short taper at the sideburns, and a short taper around the ears and across the nape. The taper usually runs from skin or a #0.5 at the hairline to a #1 or #2 about an inch higher.
Everything above that band stays as it was. That is the point of the cut: men growing curls, twists, locs or an afro can keep every inch of length while the edges look freshly cut. It is also a common between-cuts service, since it takes less time than a full haircut, and many men book it every week or two while seeing the barber for the top only every month or two.
Is a Tape Up the Same as a Taper?
They overlap, and some barbers use the words for the same thing, so be precise in the chair. A taper fade is a full haircut: the sides and back are shortened, then blended down so the shortest hair sits at the sideburns and nape. A tape up keeps the taper only at the edges, usually within an inch of the hairline, and does not shorten the sides or top above it. A low taper fade sits between them: it is low like a tape up but often takes more length off the sides.
The line-up is the other difference. A tape up almost always includes a lined front hairline, while a taper may leave the front natural. Regional use adds confusion: in some shops taper up simply means a low taper on the whole cut. If you only want the edges, say tape up, edges only, and nothing on the sides or top. The table below lays out the four terms side by side.
The tape up suits anyone growing hair out who still wants the cut to look fresh. That includes curly and coily hair growing toward an afro, twists or locs, and straight or wavy hair growing into a flow or middle part. Because the taper is low and short, the head shape barely changes, so it works for every face shape. Round faces gain a little from sharp temples; long faces keep their width because the sides stay full.
It is also a good fit for anyone whose workplace or school prefers a neat outline but who does not want short sides. If you have a receding or uneven hairline, ask for a natural edge instead of a hard line; pushing the line-up back to look sharp raises the hairline over time, as the line-up too high guide explains.
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Showing all 39 styles
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Tape Up Types by Finish
These eight versions differ in how short the bottom goes and which edges get tapered. Choose one first, then match it to your top. Compare with the full taper fade if you want more off the sides.
Trim:Every 2 weeks. The line-up and nape soften together.
Best For:All face shapes + curly, coily or wavy hair.
About This Style
The standard version covers all three edges: a lined front and temples, sideburns tapered from a #0.5 into a #1, and the same short blend around the ears and across the nape. The taper stays within about an inch of the hairline. Above it, the hair is left alone. This is what most New York barbers mean when you say tape up without adding anything.
How to Style at Home
Brush the front edge forward lightly with an edge brush.
Shape the top with your usual curl cream or styler.
Rub scalp oil on the tapered band after washing.
Ask Your Barber
"Regular tape up: line up the front at my natural hairline, taper the sideburns, around the ears and the nape from a #0.5. Do not touch the top."
Trim:Every week. Bare skin at the edges regrows within days.
Best For:Oval, round faces + coily, curly or thick hair.
About This Style
At the very bottom of this version, the hair is taken to skin with a foil shaver or razor, then blended into a #1 within the first inch. The contrast against long curls or twists is the sharpest a tape up gets. Skin regrowth shows inside a week, so it suits men who visit weekly. Sensitive skin may react to the razor at the nape.
How to Style at Home
Rub scalp oil along the bare band after each wash.
Brush the front hairline with a little light gel.
Keep collars and hats off the fresh nape for a day.
Ask Your Barber
"Skin tape up: take the sideburns and nape to skin, blend to a #1 within an inch, and line up the front. Leave the top and sides."
Trim:Every 2–3 weeks. A guard at the bottom hides regrowth.
Best For:Office workers + straight, wavy or fine hair.
About This Style
No skin is used: the shortest point is a #0.5 or #1, so a faint shadow stays at the edges. It is the lowest-upkeep tape up and the gentlest on skin that bumps after a razor. Straight and fine hair suit it, because skin at the edges can look harsh next to light hair. The line-up is usually soft rather than squared.
How to Style at Home
Comb the front of the hair as you normally style it.
Smooth the tapered edges flat with a damp comb.
Apply a small amount of styling cream to the top only.
Ask Your Barber
"Shadow tape up with a #1 at the bottom, no skin, soft line-up at the front, and leave everything above the edges alone."
Trim:Every 2 weeks. Only the temples show regrowth.
Best For:Oval, long faces + curly or coily hair.
About This Style
Only the front corners are tapered here: the temples and sideburns, with the line-up across the forehead. The nape and the hair around the ears are left at their length. It overlaps with a temple fade, but the taper is shorter and lower. Men growing a mullet or long back often choose it, since the nape keeps its length.
How to Style at Home
Shape the front of the curls with curl cream.
Brush the tapered temples with an edge brush.
Leave the back and nape hair to grow naturally.
Ask Your Barber
"Tape up at the temples and sideburns only, line up the front, and leave the nape and around the ears long."
Trim:Every 2–3 weeks. Only the nape needs a clean-up.
Best For:All face shapes + long, straight or wavy hair.
About This Style
The reverse of a temple version, this tapers only the nape and around the back of the ears, with the front and temples left natural. It keeps a long, layered or flow cut neat at the collar without changing the face frame. Ask for a rounded or tapered nape rather than a block, since a block line grows out visibly. See the nape shape guide.
How to Style at Home
Tuck the back hair behind the ears if it is long.
Check the nape with a hand mirror after showering.
Apply leave-in to the lengths to keep them soft.
Ask Your Barber
"I'd like a tape up the nape and behind the ears only, tapered not blocked, from a #1. Leave the front and temples natural."
Trim:Every 2 weeks. The arc around the ear loses its curve.
Best For:Oval, heart faces + curly or coily hair.
About This Style
Around each ear, the taper curves in a half circle, from the temple down behind the ear, and stops before the nape. The rounded arc frames curls or a frohawk from the side while the back stays long. It is a smaller version of a burst fade, kept within the bottom inch. Popular with curly tops and mullets in Latino and Black barbershops.
How to Style at Home
Define the curls with curl cream while wet.
Pat the hair dry with a cotton T-shirt.
Brush the arc edges flat with an edge brush.
Ask Your Barber
"Burst tape up around the ears from a #0.5, keep the nape long, line up the front and leave the top."
Trim:Every 2–3 weeks. The blown-out top and edges both need shaping.
Best For:Oval, round faces + coily or tightly curled hair.
About This Style
Combining the edge clean-up of a tape up with a blown-out top, this cut has stretched, picked coils of two to three inches shaped into a rounded outline. The taper hugs the sideburns and nape from a #0.5 into a #1, and the hairline gets a line-up. A blow-dryer with a pick attachment stretches the hair before the barber shapes it.
How to Style at Home
Blow-dry damp hair with a pick nozzle on medium heat.
Pick the top outward and pat it round.
Brush the edges with an edge brush.
Ask Your Barber
"Blow out my top and shape it round at two to three inches, taper the sideburns and nape from a half guard, and line up the front."
Trim:Every 2 weeks. The fade line rises as it grows out.
Best For:Oval, square faces + curly, coily or wavy hair.
About This Style
Starting as a regular tape up at the sideburns and nape, the barber continues the blend around the back just above the ears so it becomes a narrow low fade. More of the sides are cleaned than in a classic tape up, but the fade stays below the temple. It suits men who want a tidier back without the full height of a mid fade.
How to Style at Home
Shape the top with a light curl cream.
Brush the faded band smooth after washing.
Rub scalp oil on the short area to prevent dryness.
Ask Your Barber
"Start like a normal tape up, then take it around the back as a low fade from a half guard, staying just above the ears. Line up the front."
Recommended Products
Curl Cream
Scalp Oil
Tape Up with Curls, Twists, Locs and Waves
Textured hair is where the tape up is most common, because it keeps length on top while the edges stay crisp. These eight cards cover curls, an afro, locs, twists, waves, braids and cornrows.
Trim:Every 2 weeks. Curls hide the taper as they lengthen.
Best For:Oval, round faces + 3A to 3C curly hair.
About This Style
Loose or medium curls of three to five inches sit on top and over the sides, with the taper only visible at the sideburns, ears and nape. The clean band underneath makes the curls look intentional while they grow. Ask the barber to cut the taper with the curls dry so they do not shrink above it. The curly hairstyles guide has more top shapes.
How to Style at Home
Rake curl cream through soaking wet hair with your fingers.
Scrunch upward and let the curls air dry or diffuse.
Avoid touching the curls until they are fully dry.
Ask Your Barber
"Can you do a tape up with my curls left long, taper the edges from a #0.5, line up the front, and cut the taper with my hair dry."
Trim:Every 2 weeks. The afro outline rounds over the taper.
Best For:Round, oval faces + coily or 4C hair.
About This Style
A picked-out afro of three inches or more sits over a tight band at the edges. The contrast between the soft round outline and the sharp hairline is the look. Some barbers also shape the afro lightly, but a true tape up leaves it alone. Moisture keeps the coils from breaking at the edges. See the afro guide for shaping options.
How to Style at Home
Spray leave-in and pick the afro out from the roots.
Pat the outline into a round shape with your palms.
Brush the tapered edges with an edge brush.
Ask Your Barber
"Give me a tape up with my afro untouched, taper the sideburns and nape from skin, and line up the front at my natural hairline."
Trim:Every 2–3 weeks. Edges need clean-up between retwists.
Best For:All face shapes + locs of any length.
About This Style
Locs hang or are tied up while the barber tapers the band beneath them, which keeps the edges neat between retwist appointments. The taper must stay below the loc roots, so the barber works with the locs pinned up. Short starter locs and long mature locs both suit it. Scalp oil on the tapered band reduces dryness under heavy locs.
How to Style at Home
Tie or pin the locs up before your appointment.
Apply loc gel to the roots along the hairline.
Oil the tapered band and scalp once or twice a week.
Ask Your Barber
"Tape up under my locs, stay below the roots, taper from a #0.5 at the edges and line up the front."
Trim:Every 2 weeks. Twists and edges are refreshed together.
Best For:Teens, young men + coily or kinky hair.
About This Style
Two strand twists of two to four inches cover the top and sides, with the taper cut close at the edges. The defined twists and lined hairline make a neat, low-effort style that lasts between retwists. A tape up also stops the twists at the hairline from looking frizzy. Retwist every one to two weeks, timed with the tape up if possible.
How to Style at Home
Spray leave-in onto the twists to keep them moist.
Retwist any loose roots with a little loc gel.
Sleep in a durag or satin bonnet to protect them.
Ask Your Barber
"Let's go with a tape up with my two strand twists left long, taper the sideburns and nape from skin, and line up the front."
Trim:Every 2–3 weeks. Short twists grow slowly into shape.
Best For:Oval, round faces + short coily hair.
About This Style
Short coily hair, about one to two inches, is rubbed with a curl sponge to form small coils, and the tape up cleans the band below. It is quicker to style than two strand twists and suits school and work. The coils hold their shape for several days. Keep the hair moisturized so the sponge does not pull dry ends.
How to Style at Home
Moisturize the top with a light spray of leave-in.
Rub a curl sponge in small circles over the top.
Pat any loose coils back into place with your palm.
Ask Your Barber
"Tape up with about two inches on top for sponge twists, taper the edges from a #0.5, and line up the front."
Trim:Every 1–2 weeks. Wave patterns need short, even edges.
Best For:Oval, square faces + coily hair trained for waves.
About This Style
Waves sit at about half an inch on top and sides, so the tape up is the only short area, giving a clean frame without cutting into the pattern. Many wavers avoid full cuts during wolfing and rely on a tape up to look neat. Brush daily and wear a durag at night. Ask the barber not to cut against the wave direction.
How to Style at Home
Apply wave pomade and brush from the crown outward.
Brush the edges down toward the tape up.
Wear a durag overnight to compress the pattern.
Ask Your Barber
"Could I get a tape up only, I am wolfing for waves, so do not cut the top or sides. Taper the edges from a #1 and line me up."
Trim:Every 2–3 weeks. The tape up is refreshed between braid sessions.
Best For:Oval, long faces + coily hair of four inches or more.
About This Style
Box braids cover the top and sides, while the barber tapers the hair below the braids at the nape and sideburns. The taper keeps the edges clean between braid appointments, which often last four to six weeks. Barbers work carefully around the braid roots so they do not cut into a braid. A soft line-up at the front finishes the look.
How to Style at Home
Oil the scalp between the braids twice a week.
Brush the edges down with an edge brush.
Wear a durag or bonnet at night to protect the braids.
Ask Your Barber
"I'd like a tape up under my box braids at the nape and sideburns, keep clear of the braid roots, and soft line-up at the front."
Trim:Every 2 weeks. The taper grows out before the cornrows need redoing.
Best For:Oval, square faces + coily hair three inches or longer.
About This Style
Straight-back cornrows run from the forehead to the nape, and the tape up cleans the area around the ears and neck where the rows end. The line-up at the front gives the rows a sharp starting point. Cornrows usually last two to three weeks, about the same time the taper needs refreshing, so book both together.
How to Style at Home
Spray a light leave-in along the rows every few days.
Oil the scalp between rows with a dropper.
Sleep in a durag to keep the rows flat.
Ask Your Barber
"Clean up the nape and around the ears with a tape up from a half guard, line up the front, and keep clear of the cornrow ends."
Recommended Products
Leave-In
Scalp Oil
Tape Up with Longer Hair and Other Top Styles
The tape up is not just for textured hair. These eight cuts pair the same edge clean-up with fluffy hair, a middle part, a frohawk, long hair, a buzz cut, a mullet, a fringe and a slick back.
Trim:Every 2–3 weeks. Fluffy volume covers the band as it grows.
Best For:Oval, long faces + wavy or loose curly hair.
About This Style
Soft, airy volume of three to four inches, usually wavy or loosely curled, falls forward and over the ears, with a low taper visible only at the sideburns and nape. It is a common request among teens and young men. A blow-dry with a diffuser adds the fluff. Keep the line-up soft, since a sharp line looks out of place under loose hair.
How to Style at Home
Spray sea salt spray into damp hair from roots to ends.
Diffuse on low heat while scrunching the hair upward.
Finish with a pinch of texture powder at the roots.
Ask Your Barber
"Soft tape up with my fluffy top left long, taper the sideburns and nape from a #1, and keep the front line natural."
Trim:Every 2–3 weeks. Curtains need the edges kept tidy.
Best For:Oval, heart faces + straight or wavy hair.
About This Style
Hair of four to five inches parts in the center and falls in curtains on each side, with the taper hidden under the sides and visible only where the curtains end at the ear and collar. It keeps the curtains clean as they grow. Straight hair needs a blow-dry to lift the part, while wavy hair falls into it on its own. See curtains haircut for styling.
How to Style at Home
Part the hair in the center while damp.
Blow-dry each side away from the part with a round brush.
Finish with a small amount of light pomade.
Ask Your Barber
"Tape up at the sideburns and nape from a #1, leave the sides and top long for a middle part, no line-up at the front."
Trim:Every 2 weeks. The strip loses definition as the sides grow.
Best For:Oval, round faces + coily or curly hair.
About This Style
Curls or coils are shaped into a strip down the center, with a burst or temple taper at the edges and the sides left a little shorter than the top. The tape up keeps the outline clean while the strip grows. It is a casual cut favored by teens and athletes. See mohawk styles for taller versions.
How to Style at Home
Apply curl cream and pick the center strip upward.
Push the sides toward the center with your palms.
Brush the tapered edges with an edge brush.
Ask Your Barber
"Frohawk with a burst tape up around the ears, keep the center strip about three inches, and line up the front."
Trim:Every 3–4 weeks. Long hair hides most regrowth.
Best For:Oval, long faces + straight or wavy long hair.
About This Style
Shoulder-length hair hides most of the sides, so only the sideburns and nape show the taper when the hair is tied up. This is useful for men growing out hair who want a neat neck when wearing a bun or ponytail. The taper is kept very small, so it disappears when the hair is down. See long hairstyles for ideas.
How to Style at Home
Brush a leave-in through the lengths after washing.
Tie the hair up and check the nape with a mirror.
Use argan oil on the ends to stop splits.
Ask Your Barber
"Small tape up at the nape and sideburns only, from a #1, so it hides when my hair is down. Do not cut the length."
Trim:Every 2 weeks. Edges blur faster than the buzz.
Best For:Round, square faces + coily or thick hair.
About This Style
A uniform buzz of a #2 or #3 gets a tape up at the edges, so the hairline is lined and the sideburns and nape drop to skin. It turns a plain buzz into a clean, finished cut with little extra time. Coily hair shows the line-up clearly. See buzz cut styles for guard lengths.
How to Style at Home
Rub a few drops of scalp oil over the whole head.
Brush the buzz with a soft brush after showering.
Use an edge brush on the hairline in the morning.
Ask Your Barber
"Buzz the top and sides with a #2, then tape up the sideburns and nape to skin and line up the front."
Trim:Every 3 weeks. Sideburns and the front need regular trims.
Best For:Oval, heart faces + curly or wavy hair.
About This Style
In this version the taper is applied only at the sideburns and around the ears, while the back is left long past the collar. The top keeps two to three inches of curl or wave, and the front gets a soft line-up. It is popular with curly hair, where the long back forms natural ringlets. The nape is cleaned only at the very sides.
How to Style at Home
Apply curl cream to the top and back while wet.
Scrunch the back curls upward so they form ringlets.
Brush the tapered sideburns flat with an edge brush.
Ask Your Barber
"Taper the sideburns and around the ears only, leave the back long past my collar for a mullet, and a soft line-up at the front."
Trim:Every 3 weeks. The fringe grows into the eyes.
Best For:Oblong, heart faces + straight or wavy hair.
About This Style
Two to three inches of hair on top are brushed forward into a short fringe that sits above the eyebrows. Because the fringe covers the front, the line-up is only done at the temples and sideburns. The taper hugs the sideburns and nape. This shape suits straight and wavy hair, which lies flat enough to form a fringe without much product.
How to Style at Home
Towel-dry and brush the top forward.
Rub a little matte paste through the fringe.
Separate the fringe ends with your fingertips.
Ask Your Barber
"Two to three inches on top pushed forward into a fringe above my eyebrows, taper the sideburns and nape, and clean the temples."
Trim:Every 3 weeks. The taper softens before the top needs a cut.
Best For:Oval, square faces + straight or wavy hair.
About This Style
Four to five inches on top are combed straight back with a shiny or wet finish, and the sides are left fuller than in a fade. Only the sideburns and nape are tapered. The contrast between the long, combed-back top and the short, clean edges gives a neat look for work or formal events without the high upkeep of a fade.
How to Style at Home
Apply pomade to damp hair from roots to ends.
Comb the hair straight back with a fine-tooth comb.
Smooth the sides down with a brush.
Ask Your Barber
"Four to five inches on top for a slick back, leave the sides full, and only taper the sideburns and the nape."
Recommended Products
Pomade
Tape Up by Hair Type and Audience
These eight cards cover straight, Latino, Asian and Black hair, boys, teens, a natural edge and a receding hairline. Each adjusts the line-up or taper to suit.
Trim:Every 2–3 weeks. Straight hair shows a soft edge longer.
Best For:Oval, square faces + straight or fine hair.
About This Style
On straight hair, the taper is kept to a #1 or #0.5, not skin, and the front is shaped softly with scissors rather than lined sharp. The result tidies the edges of a flow, a textured crop or a side part without creating a harsh outline. Light-colored hair especially benefits, since skin next to it shows strongly. The sides above the band stay as they are.
How to Style at Home
Comb or brush the top into your usual style.
Smooth the sideburns flat with a damp comb.
Use matte clay on the top for light texture.
Ask Your Barber
"Soft tape up for straight hair, #1 at the sideburns and nape, no skin, and shape the front with scissors instead of a line-up."
Trim:Every 2 weeks. Wavy and curly hair blurs the line fast.
Best For:Oval, round faces + wavy or curly hair.
About This Style
Wavy or curly tops of two to four inches pair with a skin tape up and a sharp line-up in many Latino barbershops. It often comes with a burst around the ear and a textured fringe or curly top. High school and college-age clients ask for it often, and it grows out evenly over two weeks. See Latino haircuts for related cuts.
How to Style at Home
Apply curl cream to damp hair and scrunch it upward.
Push the fringe forward with your fingers as it dries.
Brush the line-up flat with an edge brush.
Ask Your Barber
"Skin tape up with a little burst around the ears, line up the front, and leave my curly top at about three inches."
Trim:Every 2–3 weeks. Kids' edges grow in quickly.
Best For:Ages 6–14 + curly, coily or wavy hair.
About This Style
For kids growing curls or twists, a gentle tape up with a #0.5 or #1, no razor, keeps them looking neat for school. The line-up should follow the natural hairline, since children's hairlines are soft. Many parents alternate tape ups with full cuts every month or so. Check the school dress code if it has rules on lines.
How to Style at Home
Spray a leave-in on the curls each morning.
Wash the hair with kids shampoo two or three times a week.
Brush the edges gently with a soft brush.
Ask Your Barber
"Gentle tape up for my son, #1 at the edges, no razor, follow his natural hairline and leave his curls."
Trim:Every 2–3 weeks. A natural front grows out without a line.
Best For:Receding hairlines + curly, coily or thinning hair.
About This Style
The front hairline is left natural, only cleaned of stray hairs, while the sideburns and nape get the usual taper. That avoids cutting a sharp line into a receding or uneven front, which grows out badly and can push the line back. It suits men with thinning temples and those who want a softer look. The uneven hairline guide has more help.
How to Style at Home
Brush the front forward to soften the natural hairline.
Apply a light styling cream to the top only.
Rub scalp oil on the tapered edges after washing.
Ask Your Barber
"I'd like a tape up the sideburns and nape from a #0.5, but leave my front hairline natural, just clean up strays, no line-up."
Trim:Every 2 weeks. The soft line-up needs regular attention.
Best For:All face shapes + receding or thinning hairline.
About This Style
A receding hairline does not suit a hard line-up pushed back to the scalp, so the barber follows the natural hairline and keeps the corners soft. The taper at the sideburns and nape stays short and neat, which draws attention away from the temples. Keep the top short, an inch or two, so the thin areas blend in.
How to Style at Home
Brush the front lightly so it does not lift.
Apply a thickening powder to the temples if needed.
Rub scalp oil into the tapered areas.
Ask Your Barber
"Soft tape up, follow my natural hairline without pushing it back, keep the corners soft and the top short at an inch or two."
Trim:Every 3 weeks. Straight Asian hair grows outward at the sides.
Best For:Round, oval faces + thick straight Asian hair.
About This Style
Thick, straight Asian hair tends to stick out at the sideburns and nape as it grows, so a tape up cleans just those edges while the top and sides keep their length. A textured fringe or two block top sits above. The taper is done with a #1 to #2 at the bottom, rarely skin, to avoid patchy-looking regrowth on dark hair.
How to Style at Home
Blow-dry the top down and forward.
Apply a little matte clay to the ends.
Smooth the sides flat with your palms.
Ask Your Barber
"Soft taper only at the sideburns and nape with a number one at the bottom, keep the top textured and leave the sides long."
Trim:Every 1–2 weeks. Coily hair shows edge regrowth within days.
Best For:All face shapes + coily 4A to 4C hair.
About This Style
In Black barbershops, a common version pairs a sharp line-up with a taper that starts at skin or a #0.5 at the sideburns and nape. It works under a short afro, sponge twists, waves or a Caesar. Coily hair grows back quickly at the edges, so weekly or biweekly visits keep it crisp. Razor bumps are a risk at the nape, so ask for a clipper finish if your skin reacts.
How to Style at Home
Apply scalp oil to the edges after washing.
Brush the hairline with an edge brush.
Avoid tight hats for a day after the cut.
Ask Your Barber
"Sharp line-up at the front, taper the sideburns and nape from a half guard, and clipper-finish the neck because I get razor bumps."
Trim:Every 2–3 weeks. Teens' edges grow fast and get messy.
Best For:Teens + curly, coily or wavy hair of any length.
About This Style
For teenagers growing curls, twists or a fluffy top, a tape up cleans the edges without making them cut off the length they want. The taper is kept soft, from a #1, and the line-up follows the natural hairline so it does not recede over time. This keeps school dress codes satisfied and grows out neatly between visits.
How to Style at Home
Show your teen how to apply curl cream to wet hair.
Have them brush the edges every morning.
Book the next tape up before school photos or events.
Ask Your Barber
"My son needs a soft tape up from a number one at the sideburns and nape, natural line-up, and leave all the length on top."
Recommended Products
Curl Cream
Edge Brush
Tape Up with Beard or Design
A tape up connects easily to a beard because the sideburns are already tapered. These seven cards cover a full beard, a goatee, stubble, a chin strap, a short boxed beard, a slash design and a hard part.
Trim:Every 2 weeks. The beard line and edges are cut together.
Best For:Round, oval faces + curly hair and full beards.
About This Style
The sideburn taper flows straight into a full beard, so there is no gap between hair and face. The barber lines the cheek and neck with the same trimmer used for the hairline, which makes the edges match. A full beard balances long curls or twists on top. Keep the beard moisturized so the lined edges stay crisp.
How to Style at Home
Rub beard oil into the beard after washing.
Brush the beard down with a beard brush to set it.
Shape the top with curl cream while it is damp.
Ask Your Barber
"Tape up connected into my full beard at the sideburns, line up the cheeks and neck, and leave the top long."
Trim:Every 2 weeks. The goatee holds; the taper softens.
Best For:Round, square faces + coily or wavy hair.
About This Style
With shaved cheeks, the sideburn taper ends at skin and does not connect to the beard, so the goatee stands alone on the chin. That keeps the face lean and draws the eye downward, which helps a round face. The lined hairline and shaped goatee give two sharp points. Shave the cheeks every day or two.
How to Style at Home
Shave the cheeks and neck around the goatee outline.
Trim the goatee with a guard and apply beard balm.
Brush the hairline with an edge brush each morning.
Ask Your Barber
"Skin tape up at the sideburns, line up the front, clean my cheeks and shape my goatee. Leave the top alone."
Trim:Every 2–3 weeks. Stubble blends the regrowth at the sideburns.
Best For:Oval, square faces + straight or wavy hair.
About This Style
Stubble at about 3 mm meets a shadow tape up at the sideburns, so the regrowth on both looks the same and the edges stay neat for longer. It is the easiest pairing to maintain at home. The neckline should be cleaned above the Adam's apple. This suits men who want a tidy look without a sharp beard line.
How to Style at Home
Trim the stubble with a 3 mm guard every few days.
Clean the neckline with a trimmer above the Adam's apple.
Style the top with a small amount of matte clay.
Ask Your Barber
"Shadow tape up from a #1 blended into my stubble at the sideburns, soft line-up, and clean up my neckline."
Best For:Teens, young men + coily or dark curly hair.
About This Style
One or two short slashes are cut into the tapered band near the temple or behind the ear, adding detail without cutting into the longer hair. The design sits low enough that curls can cover it if needed. Dark, dense hair shows it best. Expect weekly touch-ups, since thin lines fill in within days. See hair designs for other patterns.
How to Style at Home
Brush the hair away from the design each morning.
Moisturize the slash lines with a drop of scalp oil.
Avoid tight caps that press regrowth over the lines.
Ask Your Barber
"Skin tape up with two thin slashes at the left temple, line up the front, and leave my curls on top."
Trim:Every 2 weeks. The shaved part blurs within ten days.
Best For:Oval, square faces + coily, curly or straight hair.
About This Style
A shaved line on one side of the head, cut with a trimmer, gives a short top a clear part and connects visually with the sharp line-up at the front. The tape up handles the sideburns and nape, and the hard part sits where the natural part would be. It works on short curls or a low afro as well as on straight hair.
How to Style at Home
Brush the top away from the part line.
Apply a little light pomade or curl cream.
Keep the part clean with a trimmer every few days.
Ask Your Barber
"Shave a hard part on my left side, line up the front, and taper the sideburns and nape from a half guard."
Trim:Every 1–2 weeks. A thin chin strap needs sharp edges.
Best For:Round, oval faces + even jaw growth.
About This Style
From the tapered sideburns, a thin band of beard about a quarter inch wide runs along the jawline to the chin. The cheeks and neck are shaved clean. The tape up and chin strap form one continuous line around the face, so the sideburn taper must be blended smoothly into the strap. It suits round faces because the thin line defines the jaw.
How to Style at Home
Shave the cheeks and neck every two days.
Edge both sides of the strap with a trimmer.
Brush a little beard oil along the strap.
Ask Your Barber
"Taper my sideburns into a thin chin strap about a quarter inch wide along the jaw, shave the cheeks, and line up the front."
Trim:Every 2 weeks. Beard lines and the taper are cleaned together.
Best For:Oval, long faces + full beard growth.
About This Style
Blending from the sideburn taper, a short boxed beard is kept at a #3 to #4, with sharp cheek lines and a defined neckline. The squared jaw gives structure under curls, twists or a short top. Barbers often use a razor on the cheek line for crispness. Long faces benefit from the width the boxed shape adds at the jaw.
How to Style at Home
Comb beard balm through after washing.
Trim the cheek line every few days.
Brush the beard down and the sideburns flat.
Ask Your Barber
"Blend the sideburn taper into my beard, box the beard at a number three with sharp cheek lines and a neckline one finger above my Adam's apple."
Recommended Products
Beard Balm
Beard Brush
How Do You Ask Your Barber for a Tape Up?
Say tape up, then confirm the three parts so the barber does not take length off by mistake. For example: tape up, skin at the edges, blend to a #1 about an inch up, line up the front at my natural hairline, and do not touch the top or the sides above the taper. If you want the nape squared or rounded, say so, since that changes how the back grows out.
If your barber uses taper up or low taper for something larger, point to the band you want with your finger. On curly hair, ask them to cut the taper with the curls dry or stretched, so the band does not shrink higher than planned. A photo of the side and back removes any guessing, and the how to talk to your barber guide has more phrasing tips.
Clipper Guards Used in Tape Up 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.
Hair grows roughly half an inch a month, so a skin-level taper shows stubble in about five days and the line-up softens within a week. Most men book a tape up every one to two weeks, often alternating with a full cut or a shape-up of the top every four to eight weeks. A shadow version with a #0.5 or #1 at the bottom stretches to two or three weeks.
Between visits, an edge brush and a little product keep the hairline neat. Avoid lining up your own edges at home; it is the fastest way to push the hairline back, and a crooked line takes weeks to grow in. Moisturizing the tapered skin with scalp oil reduces itching as it grows, and a satin pillowcase or durag keeps the edges from rubbing rough overnight.
What Tape Up Mistakes Should You Avoid?
The most common mistake is not saying how high the taper should go, which can turn a tape up into a mid fade and remove length you were growing. Another is asking for a sharp line-up on a soft or receding hairline, which looks unnatural and grows out badly. Booking a skin tape up but visiting once a month also defeats the purpose, since it looks grown out for most of that time.
On curly hair, a common slip is cutting the taper with the curls wet can leave the band higher than expected once the hair shrinks. Razor bumps along the nape are the other problem, especially on coily hair that curls back into the skin; the razor bumps on the neckline guide covers prevention, including skipping the razor and using a #0.5 instead. A clean blade every visit also lowers the risk.
Which Tape Up 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.
Tape up is short for taper up. It means cleaning up the edges: lining up the front hairline and temples and tapering the hair short at the sideburns, around the ears and at the nape. The rest of the hair keeps its length. The term is most common in New York and East Coast shops.
Q2: What is the difference between a tape up and a taper fade?+
A taper fade is a full haircut where the sides and back are shortened and blended down to the hairline. A tape up only tapers the band within about an inch of the hairline and leaves the sides and top as they are. Some barbers use both terms loosely, so describe the height you want.
Q3: Is a tape up the same as a line-up?+
No. A line-up only sharpens the outline of the hairline with trimmers and takes no length. A tape up includes a line-up plus a short taper at the sideburns, around the ears and at the nape, so the edges blend from skin or a short guard into your longer hair.
Q4: How long does a tape up take?+
Usually less time than a full haircut, since only the edges are cut. Many shops offer it as a separate service between full cuts. Time depends on the barber and on extras such as a beard trim or design, so ask when booking.
Q5: Does a tape up work on straight hair?+
Yes. It is most common with curls, twists and locs, but straight and wavy hair growing into a flow or middle part also benefit. On straight hair, ask for a softer line-up or a natural front, since a hard line on fine straight hair can look harsh and grows out quickly.
Q6: How often should you get a tape up?+
Every one to two weeks for a skin tape up with a sharp line-up. A shadow tape up with a #0.5 or #1 at the bottom lasts two to three weeks. Many men alternate tape ups with a full cut or shape-up of the top every one to two months.
