Term

Taper

A taper is a gradual shortening of hair toward the neckline and around the ears. It keeps the outline of a short cut clean and narrow, and it is commonly used on the lower block of a two-block cut. A taper is gentler than a fade because the length changes gradually without necessarily reaching skin. As the sides grow, the taper softens, which is why many people tidy the neck and sides between full cuts. See also: Fade, Clipper guard, Two-block cut, and the guide The Two-Block Cut Explained: Structure, Variations and Upkeep.