Buzz
How to achieve and style this sought-after look
The blowout taper is exactly what it sounds like—a low fade on the sides that gradually extends into a fuller top. This trendy TikTok hairstyle is all over the internet, and we’re here to guide you through every aspect of the blowout taper, from what it is to how to get it and style it, and more.
The Blowout Taper Breakdown
A blowout taper features shorter sides and back with a longer, voluminous top. This style, popularized on TikTok, is often styled by ‘blowing out’ the top with a hairdryer to create height and texture in the longer sections.
Steps
What exactly is a blowout taper?
A blowout taper is a style featuring a low fade with a voluminous top. The sides and back are trimmed short below the temples, often tapering down to the nape. The top is left long and bulky, often styled with a flicked-out fringe. Using a hairdryer, the longer hair on top is blown out to add height and volume, which gives the style its signature look.
- This is a highly versatile haircut, suitable for various hair types.
How to Achieve a Blowout Taper Cut
Start by cutting a guideline and trimming the hair underneath. The guideline is a horizontal line that separates the layers of the fade. Place it around the middle of your ear and continue it all around the sides and back. After establishing the guideline, shave the hair below it to set the foundation for your taper.
Set a middle guideline and blend it with the first guideline. Use clippers with the lever adjusted to open and start from the first guideline, cutting up to the top of your ear and around your head to shape the taper. The open lever allows for a longer cut in this area, helping to define the taper more clearly.
Use a 2-guard to trim the hair above your ears. Adjust the lever to its closed position and cut the hair above your ear to about 1⁄4
inch (0.64 cm). Begin blending it into the bulk on top to form the taper.
- Utilize a comb to bring out any stray hairs, then trim them with your clippers for a smoother taper transition into the top bulk. This technique is known as clipper-over-comb.
- If you opt for thinning shears, hair stylist Bianca Cox recommends using them at the hair’s end, not at the roots, to avoid short hairs standing out awkwardly.
Use a blur guard to eliminate the middle guideline. Open your clippers, attach a blur guard, and gently erase the middle guideline with short strokes, gradually closing the clippers as you go. As you work on erasing, shorten your strokes slightly and push the lever to the closed position to help with blending the cut seamlessly.
Shape a curved C along your natural hairline. The natural hairline curves around the top of your ear. Cut the C-shape, also known as the “C-Cup,” to clearly define the taper and create a sharp contrast between your hair and skin.
- Don’t forget to trim behind the ear and around the back for an even more pronounced line!
- Ensure you shave any remaining stubble along the sides for a clean finish.
Flick the clippers from the base of your taper to finalize the cut. Use guardless, closed clippers to push up and away from your head, cutting into the stubble around where the taper blends into your skin. This technique helps to gradually transition into your longer hair. During this step, tidy up any stray hairs along the sides for a more polished look.
How to Request a Blowout Taper
Request a low taper that seamlessly blends into a voluminous top. This look is most effective when there is a lot of volume on top, making it easier for your barber to blend the cut. If your hair lacks volume, ask your barber to use products that will give it a fuller appearance. Bringing reference photos will help your barber understand exactly what you're aiming for.
How to Style a Blowout Taper
For straight hair, blow dry and apply volumizing powder. After washing your hair, blow dry it while directing the airflow upwards to create volume on top. Then, lightly dust the roots and sides with volumizing powder and use your hands to lift your hair upward.
- The volumizing powder will provide a fluffy, full effect, perfect for achieving that blowout taper!
- Think of volumizing powder like salt – a little goes a long way. Too much will make it difficult to style.
For curly hair, use moisturizing shampoo and curl-centric conditioner. These products will enhance your curls, giving them weight and texture, perfect for the blowout effect. To avoid weighing them down, blow dry your hair to lift the curls and add volume.
- Be cautious with the heat while blow-drying to prevent damage. Use low heat and limit exposure to avoid excessive drying of your curls.
For wavy hair, blow dry and use hair gel to boost volume. After showering, blow dry your hair upward to create a blowout effect. Then, apply a hair gel made for wavy hair to enhance the volume and add depth. Style your hair outward after applying to create a thick, bold look.
- Use only a small amount of gel to avoid weighing your hair down and making it sticky.
For short hair, use products that add thickness. A thick volume paste with a matte finish is an ideal choice. Apply the paste to your hands, then work it into your hair, creating a bit of messiness to boost volume at the roots. This will help short hair maintain structure and achieve the full, voluminous look typical of a blowout taper.
- Avoid using paste with a shiny finish, as this can make your hair appear thinner.
What’s the difference between a taper and a fade?
A taper is smooth and gradual, while a fade is bold and contrasts sharply. A taper is limited to the sides and neckline, blending gradually from shorter to longer as it moves up. A fade, however, covers the whole head, ending above your natural hairline around your ears, and creates a sharp contrast between the top and the sides with a much shorter cut. Tapers require less maintenance, as they involve less hair, and they tend to last longer than fades.
- To maintain a fade, brush your hair regularly. A fade grows out quicker than a taper, so you’ll need more frequent trims to keep it fresh.
- It’s also important to brush the taper to maintain its smooth transition.
- If you prefer your sides and back to blend dramatically into the top, a fade is ideal. However, if you want a more subtle rise from the sides to the top with a gentler blend, opt for a taper.
Similar Hairstyles
Taper Fade Mullet For a daring style with a wild top, try the mullet with a taper fade. This style features a long mullet with sharply cut sides and a short fade that tapers into the temples. The combination of the taper fade and chopped sides creates a subtle contrast between the sides and the long top.
- With a taper fade mullet, you have the freedom to grow the back as long as you want, resulting in a look that’s more dynamic and unconventional compared to the blowout taper.
Warrior Cut If you're looking for a “blown out” look with a higher fade, the warrior cut is the perfect choice. This style features slightly messy hair with a fade around the sides and back. For a bold, untamed look with shorter hair, the warrior cut is a great option.
- The high fade in a warrior cut creates a striking look with a strong contrast.
French Crop For a sleek, short fade that doesn’t extend into a large top, consider the French crop. This style boasts short cropped sides with a tapered back and a long, fringed top. While still offering the flexibility of a longer top, the French crop provides a more refined look compared to the blowout taper. Additionally, the contrast is sharper than a taper.
