How to Get a Pompadour Fade (With Expert Styling Tips)

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Barber Jacob Joseph explains what the pompadour is & how to get the voluminous look

Co-authored by Jacob Joseph and Elaine Heredia, BA

Last Updated: January 19, 2026 Fact Checked

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• Pompadour Fades Explained
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• Types
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• What to Ask For
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• What to Consider
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• Expert Styling Tips
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• Video
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• Tips

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A pompadour fade is a haircut that combines opposites: medium-length, voluminous hair swept back from the forehead on top, with the sides and back shaved down to a seamless, ultra-modern fade. The easiest way to get this eye-catching style yourself is to ask a barber for it. We explain how to do that, and we also cover the types of pompadour fades you can ask for and styling tips from barbers and a hair stylist.

How to Get a Pompadour with Fade

Barber Jacob Joseph says the pompadour is long in the front and short toward the back. Ask your barber to leave the hair on top of your head 4 in (10 cm) long and shave the hair on the sides and back in a low, mid, high, skin, or burst fade. To style, work mousse into damp roots, then blow-dry it.

Steps

Section 1 of 5:

What is a pompadour fade haircut?

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1. 
   A pompadour fade is a haircut with longer, swept-back hair on top and shaved sides. The pompadour of the 1950s is back, but with a modern twist. The sides and back are shaved with increasingly smaller guards to create a seamless transition from hair to skin. This is called a fade, and it's incredibly popular in 2025. So pairing it with long top layers swept back in a voluminous pompadour is a no-brainer!

   • Joseph explains that the pompadour is very long in the front and shorter towards the back.

   Meet the wikiHow Experts

   Jacob Joseph is a barber and the owner of The Barber Lounge barbershop. He’s also a men's grooming content creator, where he educates men on how to maintain their look at home.

   Igor Sadurskii is a traditional barber and educator, as well as an expert in classic and modern men's haircuts and traditional barbering.

   Martin Nepton is a professional hair stylist with over 11 years of experience. He specializes in helping clients express their queer identity through hair.
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Section 2 of 5:

Types of Pompadour Fade Haircuts

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1. 
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   Low fade pompadour Traditional barber Igor Sadurskii says a low fade is when the skin shows just around the ears or higher. For barbers, he recommends following the client's head shape and not ending the fade higher than the occipital bone on the back of the head. Pomps that look great with a low fade are:

   • Slick-back pompadour
   • Curly pompadour
2. 
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   Mid-fade pompadour A mid-fade starts the transition from thicker to thinner hair in the middle of the scalp, between the temples and the ears. This is a popular fade style to pair with a pompadour. It offers a good balance between the harsh high fade and the subtler low fade. Pomps to rock with a mid fade include:

   • Side part pompadour
   • Textured pompadour
3. 
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   High fade pompadour A high fade is when the fade starts around the temples. The result is a more obvious and harsher fade, and your thick pompadour will look stark and dramatic on top of it. Try one of these pomps to go with your high fade:

   • Quiff pompadour
   • Disconnected pompadour
4. 
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   Skin fade pompadour A pompadour with a skin fade offers the most dramatic results of all the fade types. To give you a skin fade, your barber will need to shave the hair at the edge of the fade all the way off. Consider if you have any bumps or misshapen areas on the sides and back of your scalp before committing to this hairstyle. The skin fade will leave nothing to the imagination! Take your skin fade to the next level with these popular pomps:

   • Mohawk pompadour
   • Volumized pompadour
5. 
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   Burst fade pompadour A burst fade curves around the top and back of the ear and fades the hair away from it. This style is a bit more high-maintenance than some of the others because of the shape. But for some, the repeat visits to the barber are well worth it, especially since it adds another interesting element to already stylish pompadours, like this one:

   • Afro pompadour
6. 
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   Drop fade pompadour A drop fade is a lower fade style that drops around the ears on the sides and follows the downward curve of the head in the back. This haircut gives you slightly more length closer to the top of your head and your pompadour. Pompadours that go with a drop fade include:

   • Wavy pompadour
   • Messy pompadour
7. 
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   Taper fade pompadour If you like the look of a fade with your pompadour, but want something less dramatic and high-maintenance, ask your barber for a taper fade instead. A taper is similar to a fade, but it tends to be more gradual and leave the hair slightly longer.
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Section 3 of 5:

How to Ask Your Barber for a Pompadour Fade

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1. 1
   Ask for a pompadour on top and a fade on the back and sides. Ensure your hair is at least 4 in (10 cm) long on top, so your barber can properly cut and style your pompadour. As for the fade, decide how high or low you want your fade to be and if you want a special variation like a skin, drop, burst, or taper fade. Let your barber know, so they can cut the sides and back of your hair as short (or leave it as long) as you desire.

   • Joseph definitely suggests going to a good barber or hairstylist to get this cut. He says your barber or hairstylist will ensure they cut your hair to the correct length.
2. 2
   Be specific with your language. Know how high or low you want your fade to be and communicate that with your barber. Avoid just saying, "I want a fade." They may take it shorter or leave it longer than you would have preferred.
3. 3
   Bring a reference photo. Find a picture of the pompadour fade you want your barber to give you on Google, Pinterest, Instagram, or somewhere else on the internet. Download it to your phone gallery and show it to the barber when you're describing how you want your hair cut and styled.
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Section 4 of 5:

What to Consider When Choosing a Pompadour Fade

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1. 1
   Hair thickness Medium is the ideal thickness for a pompadour. If you have thick or thin hair, though, fear not: you can still have a great-looking pompadour! A barber can trim your thick hair toward the back of your head and leave the hair in front longer, so it can lie back and not be quite as tall. This will also make your pompadour a little less dramatic.

   • Thin hair has a harder time holding its shape, but you can still achieve a modest pompadour by using copious amounts of firm-hold pomade and a comb to shape it.
2. 2
   Hair type The pompadour can look good on any hair type, including straight, wavy, curly, and kinky. It all comes down to styling. Men with curly hair should enhance their curls with curl cream or mousse. Men with straight or wavy hair should use pomade to give their pompadour shape and lift. Finally, men with kinky, natural hair can use a hair pick to push and tease their hair into their desired pompadour style.
3. 3
   Face shape The pompadour fade is super versatile and customizable depending on your face shape. This means it can look good on anyone! Here are some guidelines to think about when choosing a pompadour fade that suits your face shape:

   • Round: Ask for a high fade and a higher pompadour in the front to create the illusion of a longer, slimmer face.
   • Square: Ask for a high fade and a soft, rounded pompadour to reduce the harsh planes of your cheeks and jaw.
   • Diamond: Ask for a low fade and a long pompadour to create balance.
   • Heart: Ask for a mid fade and a pompadour with some length on the sides to prevent the chin from looking too narrow.
   • Oval: Ask for any pompadour fade haircut you want!
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Section 5 of 5:

How to Style a Pompadour Fade

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1. 1
   Wet your hair and let it partially air dry so it’s still damp. Style your pompadour after you take a shower, or simply wet your hair, says Joseph. He just suggests letting your hair dry slightly until it’s about 60% to 70% dry. At this point, it should still feel slightly damp.
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   Apply a nickel-sized amount of mousse to the roots of damp hair. It can be any type of mousse, but professional hair stylist Martin Nepton suggests volumizing mousse. Dispense a small amount onto your fingers, then work it into your roots after you get out of the shower.
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   Blow-dry your hair in the opposite direction you want it to fall. For example, says Nepton, if you want more volume when you push your hair back (as in a pompadour), "you're gonna blow-dry it forward toward your face." If you want to minimize volume and build a shorter pompadour, blow-dry it in the same direction it falls.

   • Alternatively, Joseph suggests blow-drying your hair all the way to the left side to start. Once the left side is dry, blow-dry your hair all the way to the right side. Then, aim the blow dryer backwards to “try and get as much volume in the front.”
   • Feel free to start from the right side, if you prefer. Joseph just says, “Once you go from one direction, then you do the opposite direction.”
   • Overdirecting the hair is how it gets volume, says Joseph. And adding volume to the front is how you get the pompadour look.
4. 
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   Brush your hair while blow-drying to build your desired shape. “You really want to use a blow dryer and…either a comb or a round brush to really get that volume,” says Joseph. If you want your pompadour to look more rounded, Nepton recommends brushing your hair with a round brush. If you want it to look flatter, use a square brush.

   • Nepton also suggests asking your barber to show you which brush to use and how to use it for your particular hairstyle.
5. 5
   Apply pomade and comb your hair to slick it back. “Usually a pompadour is styled with…a pomade,” notes Joseph. Get your pomade and “really work that into your hands [to] warm it up.” Then, “brush it through your hair,” says Joseph. For a sleek look, he suggests using a fine-tooth comb to help slick your hair back.
6. 
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   Spritz your hair with hairspray to lock the pompadour in place. Once your pompadour is dried and brushed into your desired shape, hit it with 2-3 spritzes of hairspray. This will cause the hair to stiffen and lock into place, so you don't get any flyaways.
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Tips

• Trim your pompadour fade every 2-3 weeks to keep it looking neat and sharp.
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• Create a custom pompadour fade by downloading photos of multiple pompadour and fade haircuts and pointing out which elements you want your barber to give you.
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