FADES & TAPERS · NORTH BEACH, MIAMI BEACH
Fade haircutsin Miami Beach.
A good fade is a handful of small decisions: where it starts, how fast it fades out, how sharp the line is. Leo works them out with you before the clippers come out, then takes the time to blend it clean. One barber, one client at a time, $25.
Low, mid or high?
The name of a fade tells you where the short part ends. A low fade starts just above the ear and stays subtle — the easy choice for the office. A mid fade climbs to the temples. A high fade goes almost to the crown and gives the most contrast against the hair on top.
Take it down to the skin and it becomes a skin or bald fade. A drop fade curves down behind the ear instead of running straight around the head.
Taper or fade?
A taper only shortens the edges: the sideburns and the neckline. Everything else keeps its length, so it grows out softly and looks right for longer. A fade takes the sides and back down much shorter. If you want a clean cut that still looks good in three weeks, ask for a taper. If you want contrast, go for the fade.
What to tell your barber
Three things are enough: where the fade should start (low, mid or high), how short it gets at the bottom (skin, or a guard number), and how much length you want to keep on top. A photo says the rest. Leo will tell you straight away if a style suits your hair or your hairline — before he cuts, not after.
If you bring a photo, bring one of someone with hair like yours. A fade on thick, straight hair and the same fade on curly or fine hair end up looking different, and it is better to know that in the chair than in the mirror at home.
Which fade suits your face
There is no fixed rule, but a few things hold up. A high fade adds height on top, so it lengthens a round face. A low fade or a taper keeps some weight on the sides, which balances a long, narrow face. A drop fade follows the curve of the head behind the ear, which helps when the back of the head is flat.
Your hairline matters too. If the temples are receding, a softer fade with a bit more length on top usually looks better than a hard line that points straight at them.
How long a fade stays sharp
Hair grows about a centimeter a month, roughly half an inch. On a skin fade you start to see it within a week; on a low fade or a taper it takes two or three. That is why most people with a fade come back every two to four weeks, and a high skin fade sooner than that.
Between visits, leave the faded part alone. Trying to clean it up at home is the quickest way to end up with a line where the blend used to be.
From Leo’s collection
Fades Leocuts.
A few starting points. Bring a photo or an idea and make the cut yours.
01Classic fade$25 
02Mid fade + quiff$25 
03Pompadour + taper$25 
04Burst mullet$25
What are the three types of fades?+
Low, mid and high. They differ in where the short part ends: just above the ear, at the temples, or close to the crown.
What is a taper vs. a fade?+
A taper shortens only the sideburns and the neckline. A fade takes the whole side and back much shorter, often down to the skin.
What do I tell my barber for a fade?+
Where it starts (low, mid or high), how short it gets at the bottom (skin or a guard number) and how much you keep on top. A photo of someone with hair like yours helps.
Which fade lasts longer?+
A low fade or a taper. The higher and shorter the fade, the sooner it needs a touch-up — a skin fade looks its sharpest for about a week.
Are fades out of style in 2026?+
No. What has changed is the taste for softer versions: low fades, tapers and drop fades that look clean without looking severe.
How much is a fade in Miami Beach?+
With Leo, a fade is a haircut: $25. Around North Beach, fades listed on public price pages ran from $50 to $58 when we checked.
Your barber · EL BARDO BARBER
Leo.One chair, one client.
An Argentinian barber with 10 years behind the chair. You book with him, you talk the cut through with him, he cuts it and finishes it. No app, no deposit.
$25Haircut
$20Beard shaping
