There are a lot of different fade haircuts for men out there and it can feel a little overwhelming if you’re trying to keep up. Do you know the difference between a zero fade and a skin fade? Ever wondered which fade is for you when it comes to burst fades vs drop fades? Our blog post gets into it!
Burst Fade vs Drop Fade: What’s The Difference?
We’ll take a closer look at both of these hairstyles in a moment, but if you’re wondering what the difference is between a burst fade and a drop fade, we’ll sum it up to start.
Burst and drop fades are sometimes confused with one another as they are fairly similar, therefore you do need to know the difference, so you know what to ask your barber for.
When it comes to burst fade versus drop fade, the main contrast is that in a burst fade the longer hair on top of the head falls down to your neckline. In a drop fade, however, the hair is trimmed shorter and doesn’t reach the nape of the neck.
Let’s look at these two types of fade haircuts for men in a little more detail.
What Is a Burst Fade?
A burst fade’s main characteristic is the fact that the hair is precisely tapered, or faded, around the ear and the back of the head, flawlessly blending in with the longer hair on top.
It gets its name from the fact that it could be compared to a sunburst as the cut is known for its semi-circular, curved or rounded tapering.
As we mentioned above, when it comes to burst fade vs drop fade, the hair in the burst fade is longer on the neck with the shorter faded section beginning an inch or two above the ear.
The great thing about burst fades is that they’re a really versatile haircut and they work well with all hair types, textures and lengths. You also get to choose how long, short, defined or subtle you want your burst to be.
For example, you could ask your barber to shave the tapered section around your ears right down to the skin, or you might prefer to leave a little more length. You may also decide that you want your burst fade to meet your temples or opt for a smaller faded section that is clipped closer to the ear.
To answer your question “What is a burst fade?” – it can be almost anything you want it to be! It will work with the Peaky Blinders style haircut just as well as it would with a mohawk, pompadour or quiff.
What Is a Drop Fade?
What is a drop fade? It’s an updated version of the short back and sides – with a twist. Drop fades are precisely faded but they lower, or dip, around the hairline at the front and back of the head. The difference being that a classic short back and sides is normally symmetrical all the way around.
The drop fade has a defined outline around the face and is marked by the distinctive gradient in lengths as it tapers into the hairline.
It also gives the illusion of greater thickness to the longer lengths of the hair on top of the head, making it a good hairstyle for men with thin or fine hair.
Like its cousin, the burst fade, the drop fade is also a versatile style that works well with all hair types, from afro through to poker straight.
And it too can also be combined with a number of different styles from crew or buzz cuts, to undercuts, to the trending men’s French crop hairstyle.
Drop Fade vs Burst Fade: Which is Right For You?
To help you decide, let’s sum up the difference between a drop fade and burst fade.
– What is a burst fade? It’s a hairstyle that leaves the length of the hair on top longer so that it reaches the neckline, with the sides dramatically faded in a curved fashion.
– What is a drop fade? It’s similar to a burst fade, but the longer lengths of the hair do not reach the neckline and the fading is less curved and more akin to a traditional fade.
So, burst fade versus drop fade – which should you go for? We highly recommend you give both styles a solid Google so you know which you prefer.
The good news is that if you go for a burst fade, it’s easy to morph this into a drop fade once your hair has grown out a little and the semi-circular tapering is less obvious.
If so, you’ll want to be able to tell your barber what you want to achieve if you’re thinking of going from burst to drop fade, so simply ask them to bring the fade line up from the neckline at the back.
Another thing that the burst fade has going for it is that it’s easy to grow out if you decide you want to switch your style up – either to a drop fade or to one of the other many different short hairstyles for men that are out there.
Having said that, both drop and burst fades are on trend cuts that give the classic fade a run for its money in the style stakes. And like we said earlier, both are customisable so you can call the shots on exactly what you want the finished result to look like.
Burst and Drop Fade Haircuts at Cutters Yard
At Cutters Yard, we pride ourselves on keeping up-to-date with the latest men’s hairstyles and trends. Our barbers offer a range of services and we also use Aveda Men’s haircare and styling products as we believe in offering you only the very best.
Still mulling over the burst fade vs drop fade conundrum? Book your appointment at either our London Bridge or Southwark barbers shops today and one of our professional men’s stylists will be happy to help you decide.
