Temple Fade: Placement, Styles & Barber Script

On this page

1. Where a Temple Fade Actually Sits
2. Temple Fade vs Low Taper vs Low Fade
3. Is a Temp Fade the Same as a Brooklyn Fade?
4. Which Hair Types Work With a Temp Fade?
5. Pairing the Style With a Beard
6. Combining It With a Low Taper
7. What to Tell Your Barber
8. Maintenance
9. Common Temp Fade Mistakes
10. Sources and Further Reading
11. Frequently Asked Questions

A temple fade—often shortened to temp fade—focuses the graduation at the temple area near the front hairline and sideburn instead of automatically fading the entire side and back. It is a placement choice, not one fixed fade height or guard number. Some barbers and grooming references also use Brooklyn fade, but shop vocabulary varies enough that a reference photo is still the safest way to order it.

Where a Temple Fade Actually Sits

The temple zone is the area where the front hairline meets the side of the head, extending back toward the upper ear. The fade uses a short-to-long gradient specifically there. Professional barber education from CADMEN describes it as more localized than a standard low or mid fade and notes that more side length can remain outside the faded zone.

Do not use a fake universal rule such as “exactly one inch above the hairline.” Head size, natural corners, density and the top style change where the transition should end.

Temple Fade vs Low Taper vs Low Fade

Cut	Main short zone	Rest of side	Useful when…
Temp fade	Temple/front sideburn	Can stay relatively full	You mainly want face-frame cleanup
Low taper	Temple/sideburn + nape	Mostly preserved	You want both front and neckline cleaned
Low fade	Broader lower side/back	More visibly graduated	You want a continuous low fade effect

These labels overlap in everyday speech. If your barber uses them differently, describe the exact zone rather than arguing over terminology.

Is a Temp Fade the Same as a Brooklyn Fade?

“Brooklyn fade” is used as an alternate name in some references and barbershop traditions, while “temp fade” is the more obvious shortening of temple fade. The exact origin story is not consistently documented enough to make a precise city-and-year claim here. The practical definition is more useful: the fade is concentrated at the temple/front-side area.

Which Hair Types Work With a Temp Fade?

• Coily and afro-textured hair: localized temple work can sharpen the face frame while preserving substantial side and crown volume.
• Curly hair: useful when you want curls to remain full through the sides instead of taking a full fade high around them.
• Waves: a localized blend can clean the edge while leaving more of the wave pattern intact.
• Straight/wavy longer tops: the temp fade can add a small amount of edge definition without turning a flow, crop or side part into a full fade haircut.

Pairing the Style With a Beard

The sideburn sits directly below the temple, so a temp fade can be a useful starting point for a beard transition. Decide whether you want the head hair to blend continuously into the beard or whether you want a small break between them. Our fade haircuts for men guide explains the broader fade-with-beard concept without relying on a broken beard-specific URL.

Combining It With a Low Taper

These are not mutually exclusive. A low taper can include temple work plus a nape taper. If you like the temple detail but also want a clean neckline, ask for both explicitly. Compare the complete low taper fade guide and our mid vs low taper comparison before choosing how much perimeter work you want.

What to Tell Your Barber

“I want a temple fade localized around the front temple and sideburn. Keep the rest of the side fuller instead of turning it into a full low fade. Finish the temple at [shadow / zero / skin]. At the neckline I want [leave natural / taper it separately].”

Then show the barber a front-side reference so they can see how wide the fade zone should be.

Maintenance

A small, precise localized fade can look softer quickly because it sits next to the face and hairline, but there is no universal two-week rule. Skin and zero finishes show regrowth sooner than a shadow finish. If the rest of the haircut is intentionally fuller, you may only need a small edge cleanup before the whole cut needs reshaping.

Common Temp Fade Mistakes

• The fade spreads across the whole side when you only wanted localized temple work.
• The barber pushes the natural corner backward to create an artificially straight line.
• The nape is changed even though you only requested the temples.
• You ask for “Brooklyn fade” or “temp fade” without a photo and assume every shop uses the same definition.

Sources and Further Reading

• CADMEN Academy — temple fade placement and comparison with a standard fade
• GQ — current fade terminology and barber advice
• CADMEN Academy — temp fade technique and the localized temple zone
• Chaps & Co — temple fade overview and Brooklyn fade alternate name

Frequently Asked Questions

Related visual guides

Blowout Taper: Styles, Hair Types & Barber Guide

Mid Taper Fade: Placement, Styles & Barber Guide

French Crop Fade: Fringe, Styles & Barber Script