What Is a middenscheiding taper fade?
Let’s break it down. “Middenscheiding” is Dutch for middle part. “Taper fade” refers to the gradual shortening of hair from temple to neckline. Together, a middenscheiding taper fade is a style where the hair flows back symmetrically from a defined center part, getting progressively shorter on the sides and back. The top stays long and neat; the taper keeps the rest clean and fresh.
Unlike a harsh skin fade, a taper fade is more subtle. It doesn’t take things down to the bone, keeping it stylish and workappropriate. Paired with a middle part, the cut balances polished tradition with contemporary cool.
Who Can Wear It?
This cut works best on straight to slightly wavy hair. If your hair is too curly, you’ll need heat or product to maintain that parted structure. Face shape plays a role too: oval, diamond, and heartshaped faces thrive with a center part because it creates vertical balance. If you’ve got a rounder face, adding volume to the top helps offset width.
Men with mediumlength hair on top get the most mileage from this look. The middle part divides and stylizes naturally. The taper fade underneath adds contrast, structure, and neatness without making the sides look patched or too sharp.
Styling Tips for a middenscheiding taper fade
This haircut isn’t highmaintenance—but it requires intention. Here’s how to keep yours on point:
Comb with precision: After towel drying, part your hair cleanly down the middle using a finetoothed comb. Blowdry with a vent brush outward from the part to train volume and symmetry. Use product—or don’t: Matte clay gives texture without shine. Lightweight pomade helps hold the part in place all day. But if your hair naturally separates, feel free to skip product. Trim regularly: The taper fade edge loses shape fast. Hit the barber every 23 weeks to keep the fade sharp and the middle part even.
Variations on the Classic Look
There’s more than one way to skin this fade. Once you’ve got the basic middenscheiding taper fade down, experiment.
Taper with long curtains: Keep the top even longer, letting it flow down the sides for a nod to 90s boy band style. Emphasis is on the part and movement. Low taper with tight top: For a leaner silhouette, keep the top just long enough to part. The low fade hugs the head, giving minimalist energy. Drop taper with an undercut feel: Keep the middle part crisp while letting the taper drop low and tight behind the ears. Adds edge to an otherwise classic cut.
Maintenance Hacks
This isn’t a “wake up and go” cut for everyone. But it’s easy to keep tight if you follow a system:
- Daily grooming: Comb and retrain the part after showering. A bit of heat goes a long way.
- Weekly tidyup: Taper fades lose their shape fast—clean it up with clippers around the neckline or hit your barber before it turns from crisp to fuzzy.
- Hydration counts: Use a lightweight conditioner so the strands stay pliable and healthy, especially if you blowdry daily.
Why the middenscheiding taper fade Works
This cut is successful because it adapts. It combines symmetry (the middle part) with contrast (the fade), and it flatters most head shapes when executed cleanly. It’s sharp without being severe, retro without being cosplay. Whether you’re heading into a boardroom or a rooftop bar, it gives you that “I’ve got this” energy without seeming too eager.
Also, not everyone is pulling this off. Middle parts are divisive. Taper fades take skill. When you do both at once? That’s commitment to the bit—and it shows.
Final Thoughts
The middenscheiding taper fade isn’t for the lazy or the indifferent. It’s a look that says, “I care about details, but not in a fussy way.” It’s subtle. It’s minimal. It gets better the closer you look.
Get a good barber, keep your edges tight, and own the part—literally and stylistically.
