A temple fade — widely known as a temp fade or Brooklyn fade — is the most restrained entry in the fade family. Rather than fading the entire perimeter of the head, it only blends down the temple area and the front sideburn on each side. Everything behind that — the back of the head, the nape, the lower sides, the top — stays at whatever length it was. The effect is a clean, defined frame around the face without any dramatic reduction in overall hair length. It is one of the most popular techniques for textured, Afro, and curly hair precisely because it adds refinement without taking away volume or natural shape.
At a glance
- Best for
- All face shapes; especially round, oval; all hair types
- Hair length needed
- Any — works on short and long hair alike
- Maintenance
- Low to medium — 2–4 weeks
- Barber visit
- Every 2–4 weeks
- Styling time
- Under 5 min — no different to the existing top style
- Difficulty to grow out
- Very easy — only a small area to grow back
Exactly what the temple fade does
Imagine your natural hairline at the temple — the point where the forehead hair ends and the sideburn begins. A temple fade takes that section, usually 2–4 cm wide, and graduates it from very short (bare skin or a #0.5 shadow) at the lowest point up to the existing hairline length. The blending zone extends a short distance above the natural temple line, giving the hairline a soft, graduated edge rather than an abrupt one.
The key is that it stops there. A barber doing a temple fade does not continue the fade around the back of the head. The shape of the hair behind the ears and at the nape remains completely natural. This is why the temp fade is sometimes called a "hairline fade" or "front fade" in some barbershops — it is all about the front frame.
Barber tip: Ask for a "temple fade with a natural finish" if you don't want a hard line-up at the front hairline. This tells the barber to blend the fade into your existing hairline rather than shaving a sharp defined edge — giving a cleaner but more relaxed look that suits a wider range of settings.
Temple fade vs. full fade: key differences
Understanding the difference matters because they require completely different maintenance schedules and produce very different visual results. See the full fade haircut guide to compare all fade types side by side.
| Feature | Temple Fade | Full Fade (low/mid/high) |
|---|---|---|
| Area faded | Temples and front sideburn only | Full perimeter — sides and back |
| Length kept | All of top, back, lower sides | Only the top section |
| Visual impact | Subtle — refines the frame | Bold — transforms the silhouette |
| Maintenance | Every 2–4 weeks | Every 1–3 weeks |
| Best when you want | Clean look, minimal change | High contrast, modern silhouette |
Why the temple fade is the default for Afro and textured hair
For people with type 3 curly, type 4 coily, or Afro-textured hair, a full fade often means removing a significant amount of hair volume that took weeks or months to grow. The temple fade is the answer to wanting clean edges without sacrificing that volume. It frames the face at the most visible point — the temples — without touching the crown, the sides, or the nape.
On an Afro in particular, the temp fade creates a clean border between the fade and the natural hair shape, making the overall silhouette look intentional and defined. The fade emphasises the roundness of a full Afro rather than working against it. The same principle applies to two-strand twists, locs, or any natural style where length and volume are priorities. See our guide to hair types for more on styling and caring for natural texture.
Styles that work with a temple fade
Because the temple fade changes so little of the overall length, it is incredibly versatile. It can be added to almost any existing hairstyle as a refinement:
- Afro — the go-to combination. The faded temples give the Afro a finished front edge without reducing its size.
- Textured crop or French crop — a short top with a temp fade gives an urbane, low-maintenance look. Read the French crop guide for product and length advice.
- Comb-over or side part — the temp fade under a side-parted style makes the front of the part look cleaner and more deliberate. See the comb-over guide.
- Longer natural styles — medium-length locs, coils, or curls all benefit from a clean temple line without needing a dramatic cut.
- Edgar cut — the blunt-edged top of an Edgar with a temple fade below the front hairline is a popular street-style combination. See the Edgar cut guide.
How to ask your barber for a temple fade
- Say "temple fade" or "temp fade" and point to the temple area on each side of your head to confirm scope — barbers sometimes interpret it differently.
- Specify the depth: "bare skin at the lowest point" for maximum contrast, or "shadow fade to a #0.5" for something softer.
- Tell them whether you want a hard line-up along the front hairline or a natural blended edge.
- Confirm that you do NOT want the back or lower sides touched — this ensures the barber doesn't extend the fade further than intended.
- If you need the whole head tidied up as well as the temples, say so separately and be clear about how much length to take off the top.
For the full vocabulary of how to communicate with your barber, our guide to asking your barber covers everything you need. Unsure what guard sizes mean? Check the clipper guard sizes chart.
Barber tip: The temple fade is one of the cleanest and fastest add-ons to any appointment. If you want to test whether fades suit you before committing to a full perimeter fade, ask for a temp fade first. It gives you a taste of the fade look with almost no risk — if you don't like it, the area grows back in 3–4 weeks and your main length is untouched.
Frequently asked questions
What is a temple fade?
How is a temple fade different from a full fade?
Is a temple fade good for Afro and curly hair?
How long does a temple fade take at the barber?
How often does a temple fade need touching up?
Can I do a temple fade at home?
Refresh your temple fade at home
A precision trimmer makes all the difference when touching up temples between barber visits.
Best trimmers guide