Skip to main content

We love these boys’ fade haircut ideas (and your kid will, too)

From toddlers to teens, a boys' fade hairdo could be the new style your child loves

A boy with a faded haircut wearing headphones
Oleksandr P / Pexels

We get so excited about all the options for haircuts for girls, that sometimes the boys’ styles get overlooked. A clean, neat haircut can raise confidence and show off his adorable face, which is slowly changing into the young man he is becoming. Don’t worry — no bowl cuts here, just popular and unique cuts that use the fade to bring out your child’s personality. Find a boys’ fade haircut to fit your child’s style or go for something new to see how it fits when you give these cuts a try.

Basic boys’ fade haircuts

A toddler with a frohawk haircit.
Kelly Sikkema / Unsplash

Classic short undercut

One of the most versatile and easiest fades is the undercut. It looks cool, is easy for parents and kids to maintain, and offers a bit of flexibility in styling. If the top is shorter, you could spike it up or style it to the side if the hair is left a bit longer.

Recommended Videos

Taper fade

If your child wants something a little more basic but can look put together in just a few seconds of styling, the taper fade leaves you with a few options. It’s a classic cut but with an effortless edge to it, where the fade starts at the bottom but seamlessly blends into the hair early on, leaving the rest of the head to be styled how you want.

French crop

This cut is for the child with a little more edge and personality. It’s still a low-key cut with little maintenance to style it, but its endless looks are modern and fresh. Start with the classic French crop cut, and then add a high fade to the sides and back. This will give more attention to the top, which you could leave longer, slick back, or cut shorter and spiked.

Faded buzz cut

Every boy in the ’90s and 2000s had a buzz cut. Now, there is a modern twist on that old military cut your child can try on. It still gives a clean look but adds a layer with the fade on the sides. If your child doesn’t like to get ready in the mornings, this cut will save everyone time while still leaving him looking sharp.

The pompadour

The pompadour is such an adorable cut that dresses up any look when styled with a bit of product. Throw in a fade on the sides and back, and you have the ultimate look. The classic sweep and slick back of the pompadour clean up any kiddo, but the added fade along the edges is a fresh take.

Faded comb over

Don’t worry — no one will look older than their years with this faded comb-over look. It’s a cute take on the original comb over, with the fade blending into the section that gets combed over. Add a shaved line at the part where you have the longer hair on top to the side to bring the homage home.

Faded side part

Close to the fade comb over, the faded side part works so well with kids who have a natural part on the side. It gives the natural lay of the hair a style that can be done in seconds, which is great for kids and parents, and plays off how the hair goes normally. Keep the top as short or long as you want and do a higher fade on the side of the part to allow for quick styling.

Faded mohawks

A boy getting his haircut.
RDNE Stock project / Pexels

Kids will always love a mohawk. If your child wants to embrace their inner rocker, a faded mohawk can be the ultimate way to express themselves and let their personality out. Plus, this style gives so many options for styling.

Style options

You could do a high fade on the sides and back to create a higher look on top. You could leave the top part longer for a true mohawk style or shorten the top up for an easier-to-control look but still fade the sides and back, but lower on the head.

To add an extra layer of fun and texture, shave a line where the fade ends for more contrast. Another option for this cut is to fade multiple lines or patterns into the bottom half. You could go quirky or really over the edge, depending on what you are okay with.

Final thoughts

Child getting hair cut
Moon Safari / Shutterstock

While you may not try one of these out for your baby’s first haircut, as they get older and more vocal about what they want, remember these styles. We can probably thank Thomas Shelby and the gang of Peaky Blinders for bringing this style back to life. Actor Cillian Murphy has to wear this iconic look for years for the role, and it sparked a love of the fade cut across the globe.

If you need more inspiration, each Shelby brother had a different variation of the fade, so you could find the one your child likes best. However your kiddo wants to incorporate a fade into their look, you’ll find it’s easy to maintain and a fun way to play with your child’s next haircut. And never worry if you or your child don’t like it, hair grows back, and you can try again with a different fade haircut in no time.

Dannielle Beardsley
Dannielle has written for various websites, online magazines, and blogs. She loves everything celebrity and her favorite…
7 fun, creative ways to leave signs the Easter Bunny came
Give kids a big surprise this Easter with these fun bunny ideas
Easter treats and decorations on a table

Easter is a holiday kids look forward to. Of course, it is an important religious holiday for Christians around the world, but for children it's the Easter Bunny that gets the hype. There are visits to the mall to sit on his lap for photos. Those fabulous baskets packed with chocolate, sweet treats, and other goodies. Who doesn't love dying the eggs and finally there are the egg hunts. Now, much like the big guy in red up at the North Pole, the Easter Bunny has been hopping his way across the globe delivering eggs and chocolate for centuries. Unlike his winter counterpart though he does it without the sleigh, reindeer, elves, and Mrs. Claus. So, let's face it. His details are kind of under the radar. 

According to TrackEasterBunny.com, the Easter Bunny lives on, you guessed it, Easter Island -- a remote island in the Pacific Ocean. The island was discovered by Dutch explorer Jacob Roggeveen on an Easter Sunday way back in the 1700s. Its faraway location is a favorite of the Easter Bunny, who is said to appreciate his privacy. All the questions and hiding from the paparazzi might make it difficult for kids, especially older ones, to believe in the Easter Bunny. Let's face it without a sleigh, he really does hop in and out. He's got a lot of ground to cover.

Read more
The ultimate guide to your child’s first sleepover
A guide for everyone to have the best time
Kids at a sleepover

In the blink of an eye, milestones will go from first steps to first words to bigger ones, like the first day of school and the first birthday party invite. Some will be harder for the kids than the parents, but one that could bring stress to both sides is the first sleepover.

It can be scary for the child to be away from home for the first time, and parents could spend the whole night awake worrying if the child is OK. To ensure an easier transition for this big step, here is the ultimate guide for your child's first sleepover, so you all have a worry-free time and enjoy the new experience.
Talk it out before the sleepover

Read more
10 creative Easter egg fillers that are perfect for toddlers
Fill your child's Easter eggs with these alternatives to sweets
A boy and girl having fun during an Easter egg hunt

Once the seasons start to change and spring is in the air, it's time for those who celebrate to get ready for the Easter Bunny to arrive. One of the best parts of this holiday is getting those Easter baskets and plastic eggs ready for egg hunt time. Whether the egg hunt is in the backyard, park, or at school, little kids love participating in the fun activity. Parents, however, could do without the sugar rush that comes with all those chocolaty treats.

The good news is that Easter egg fillers for toddlers don’t always have to be chocolate and candy. There are a lot of fun alternatives to those sweet treats that make great surprises for your kids. Here are 10 treats for your toddler's Easter eggs that aren’t candy.
What to put in Easter eggs for toddlers

Read more