French Crop with High Bald Fade: What to Know Before You Cut
Learn what a French crop with a high bald fade looks like, who it fits best, and how to ask your barber for it.
Getting a bold new haircut can feel scary. You might worry that it will look bad on you. The French crop with a high bald fade is a very popular look right now, but is it the right choice for your head? Here is an easy guide to help you decide.
What Is a French Crop with a High Bald Fade?
This cut has two main parts. The top is a French crop. That means the hair on top is cut short, usually with a straight, blunt fringe in the front. You can wear the top smooth, or you can mess it up for some texture.
Then come the sides. A high bald fade means the barber cuts the hair all the way down to bare skin high up on your head. The skin shows near your temples and around the back. It creates a very clean, sharp contrast with the hair on top.
Who Looks Good in This Cut?
This haircut works best for certain face shapes and hair types:
Oval and round faces: The short sides make rounder faces look slimmer and longer. Square faces: The sharp lines match well with strong jawlines. * Thick or thinning hair: If your hair is thick, it takes away the bulk. If your hairline is starting to recede, the short fringe in front helps hide it naturally.
If you have a very long or skinny face, be careful. The high fade can make your face look even longer than it is.
How to Talk to Your Barber
Barbers love clear directions. When you sit in the chair, do not just say "give me a crop." Be clear about what you want:
Tell the barber you want a high skin fade on the back and sides. Then, talk about the top. Tell them how short you want the front fringe to be. You should also tell them if you want the top cut flat and blunt, or if you want them to use point-cutting to give it a messy, textured feel. Bringing a photo always helps your barber see what you mean.
Upkeep and Daily Care
This style is very easy to fix in the morning. You can wash your hair, dry it with a towel, and rub a tiny bit of matte paste or clay into the top. It takes less than two minutes.
However, keeping the sides neat takes work. Because the sides are shaved to the skin, stubble will grow back in just a few days. You will need to visit the barber every two to three weeks to keep the fade clean and bald.
If you are still nervous about buzzing your sides down to the skin, you do not have to guess. Use HairMatch AI to check your face shape for free, then preview this exact haircut on your own face with our paid photo packs starting at just $0.99.