25 Fresh Curly Hairstyles with Fade That Will Upgrade Your Style Game

Looking to enhance your natural curls with a clean, modern edge?

Combining textured curls with a sharp fade creates the perfect balance of structure and natural movement for a truly head-turning look.

From tight coils to loose waves, curly hair offers incredible versatility when paired with various fade techniques.

Explore these 25 stylish curly fade combinations that will elevate your hair game and showcase your texture in the best possible way.

1: Classic Curly Top with Mid Fade

The quintessential curly fade features medium-length curls on top with a clean mid fade on the sides.

This versatile cut offers the perfect balance of texture and structure for an everyday look that works in most settings.

You’ll appreciate how this adaptable style keeps your sides neat while showcasing your curls on top.

Ask your barber for a fade that starts midway up the sides for that ideal balance of curly and clean.

2: High Top Fade with Tight Curls

Channel ’90s vibes with this statement-making style featuring a flat top shape with tight curls on top and a high skin fade on the sides.

The dramatic contrast creates a bold, retro-inspired silhouette with modern precision.

You’ll need some length on top to achieve this architectural look.

Maintain the shape with regular trims and use a pick or wide-tooth comb to lift your curls for maximum height and impact.

3: Drop Fade with Loose Curls

This sophisticated variation features a fade that “drops” lower behind the ears while maintaining looser, longer curls on top.

The curved fade line creates a custom-looking transition that flatters your head shape.

You’ll achieve a more nuanced silhouette with this specialized fade.

The dropping technique creates visual interest while providing a cleaner neckline and a perfect canvas for showcasing those loose, flowing curls.

4: Curly Fringe with Taper Fade

Embrace forward-styling with this trendy cut featuring longer curls in the front that create a natural fringe, complemented by a gradual taper fade on the sides.

The face-framing effect adds personality to the clean fade.

You’ll love how this style highlights your facial features.

Leave those front curls longer to sweep across your forehead, while the taper fade keeps everything else neat for the perfect balance of texture and precision.

5: 360 Waves with Skin Fade

For those with tighter curl patterns, this sleek style creates defined wave patterns through regular brushing, combined with a clean skin fade that transitions to your waves.

The contrast creates impressive definition.

You’ll need dedication to maintain the wave pattern with daily brushing.

Pair with a skin fade that starts very low for maximum impact, and don’t forget your wave cap and pomade to keep those 360 waves looking sharp.

6: Curly Mohawk Fade

Create dramatic contrast with this bold style featuring a strip of defined curls down the center of your head with faded sides.

The mohawk-inspired shape offers edgy appeal with the softness of natural curls.

You can customize the width of your curly mohawk to suit your style.

This head-turning look works particularly well for those with tight, springy curls that create natural height down the center of the style.

7: Temple Fade with Curly Top

Focus the fade specifically on the temple areas for this subtle approach that maintains more hair on the sides while still creating clean lines.

The concentrated fading creates precision without extreme contrast.

You’ll enjoy this more wearable everyday option.

The temple fade cleans up the most visible areas around your face while allowing slightly more curly texture on the sides for a less dramatic interpretation.

8: Burst Fade with Curly Texture

This dynamic variation incorporates a rounded “burst” fade around the ears that radiates outward while maintaining curly length on top.

The curved fade creates a natural-looking transition to your curls.

You’ll stand out with this distinctive fade pattern.

The burst technique frames your ears and temples while allowing your curls to take center stage on top, creating a perfectly balanced look.

9: Asymmetrical Curly Fade

Add unexpected edge with this contemporary take featuring an asymmetrical fade—perhaps lower on one side or with a distinctive part.

The uneven approach adds artistic flair to your curly top.

You’ll showcase your unique style with this customized technique.

The asymmetrical elements add intentional design to your haircut, elevating it from a standard fade to something truly personalized.

10: Curly Pompadour with Fade

Channel rockabilly vibes with this voluminous style featuring curls brushed back into a pompadour shape, complemented by a clean fade on the sides.

The height on top creates a dramatic yet refined silhouette.

You’ll need medium to long curls on top to achieve this architectural look.

Apply styling cream to damp hair and use a blow dryer with a diffuser attachment to direct your curls back for that classic pompadour shape.

11: Curly Flat Top with Skin Fade

Create architectural interest with this structured style featuring a flat, squared shape on top with curly texture, paired with a sharp skin fade on the sides.

The geometric silhouette offers bold, retro appeal.

You’ll need regular maintenance to keep the flat top precisely leveled.

Work with a barber who specializes in textured hair to ensure the top maintains its squared shape while your natural curl pattern adds texture.

12: Layered Curls with Low Fade

Add dimension to your curls with this layered approach featuring varied lengths on top that create movement and volume, paired with a subtle low fade that starts just above the ears.

You’ll achieve maximum texture with this technique.

The layering prevents your curls from forming a triangular shape while the low fade adds just enough cleanness to create contrast without overshadowing your curly texture.

13: Curly Faux Hawk Fade

Create mohawk-inspired style without committing to the shaved sides with this versatile cut.

The faded sides gradually transition into a strip of curls down the center that’s slightly longer than a traditional mohawk.

You can adjust the fade height and curl length to suit your comfort level.

This adaptable style offers edgy appeal for weekends while remaining appropriate for most workplace environments during the week.

14: Disconnected Curly Undercut

This architectural style features a dramatic disconnection between the curly top and the faded sides rather than a gradual transition.

The deliberate separation creates bold lines and angles with maximum impact.

You’ll make a statement with this high-contrast approach.

The sharp disconnect showcases the difference between your curly texture and the clean fade, creating a style that looks intentional and fashion-forward.

15: Curly Comb Over with Fade

Add sophisticated flair with this refined style featuring longer curls on top styled with a side part and slight comb-over direction, complemented by a clean fade on the sides. The directional styling creates structure.

You’ll achieve polished professionalism with this versatile technique.

Apply styling cream to damp hair and use a wide-tooth comb to direct your curls toward one side for that classic comb-over effect with curly texture.

16: Defined Curls with Burst Fade

Enhance your natural curl pattern with this style focusing on well-defined, separated curls on top paired with a rounded burst fade.

The emphasis on curl definition creates texture with intentional-looking finish.

You’ll need curl-enhancing products for maximum definition.

Apply defining cream to soaking wet hair and either air dry or use a diffuser, avoiding touching your curls until completely dry for perfect definition.

17: Low Fade with Curly Fringe

Opt for subtlety with this understated approach featuring a low fade that starts just above the ears with longer curly fringe that swoops forward.

The face-framing effect adds personality while the low fade maintains cleanness.

You’ll appreciate this wearable option for professional settings.

The low fade position offers just enough barbering precision to create cleanliness without creating extreme contrast against your curly fringe.

18: V-Shaped Neckline with Curls

Create architectural interest with this precisely cut neckline featuring a V-shaped point at the center, paired with natural curls on top.

This deliberate detail adds another element of intentional design to your style.

You can customize the depth and sharpness of the V to suit your style.

This distinctive back detail adds unexpected precision to your overall look, showcasing attention to detail in your grooming routine.

19: Tightly Coiled Top with Skin Fade

Embrace your tight curl pattern with this style that maintains shorter but defined coils on top with a clean skin fade on the sides.

The high-contrast combination creates bold definition with minimal length.

You’ll achieve maximum impact with minimal maintenance.

The shorter length on top still showcases your natural texture while the skin fade creates crisp cleanliness that lasts longer between barber visits.

20: Curly Top with Line Up

Add geometric precision with this style combining natural curls on top with a sharp line up (also called an edge up) around the hairline and temples.

The straight lines create striking contrast against your natural texture.

You’ll need regular maintenance to keep the line up crisp.

This detail-oriented style works particularly well for those with curly texture who still want elements of architectural precision in their overall look.

21: Afro Fade

Maintain the fullness of a traditional afro on top while incorporating a clean fade on the sides for this perfect blend of natural texture and modern precision.

The combination creates a shaped, intentional appearance.

You’ll showcase your natural texture while still incorporating contemporary barbering.

Pick your hair out to maintain maximum volume on top while the faded sides create structure and definition to the overall shape.

22: Curly Quaff with Drop Fade

Channel rockabilly vibes with modern edge by combining a voluminous curly quiff in front with a drop fade on the sides.

The height in front creates dramatic silhouette with built-in texture from your natural curls.

You’ll need longer length in the front to achieve the characteristic quiff height.

Style by applying product to damp hair and using a blow dryer to direct those front curls upward and slightly back for that classic quaff shape.

23: Skin Fade with Curly Design

Take your curly fade to artistic levels with this creative approach featuring a skin fade with a design or pattern shaved into the faded section, while maintaining natural curls on top.

The customized detail adds unique character.

You can choose anything from simple lines to complex patterns.

This personalized approach turns your haircut into a true expression of individual style, with your natural curls providing the perfect contrasting texture.

24: Slicked Back Curls with Fade

Create refined sophistication with this polished style featuring curls that have been partially slicked back with product while maintaining their texture, complemented by a clean fade on the sides.

The direction creates structure.

You’ll achieve the perfect balance of texture and control with this technique.

Apply styling cream or light gel to damp hair and use your fingers to direct your curls back while still allowing their natural pattern to shine.

25: Curly FRO hawk Fade

Combine elements of both the afro and mohawk for this distinctive style featuring a strip of picked-out, voluminous curls down the center with faded sides.

The natural height creates dramatic impact with authentic texture.

You’ll showcase your natural curl pattern with architectural precision.

Maintain volume through the center with a pick while the faded sides create the framework that defines the FRO hawk shape for maximum impact.

Conclusion

From subtle low fades to dramatic high-contrast combinations, these curly fade styles offer endless options for showcasing your natural texture.

These modern cuts to highlight your curls while enjoying the clean, structured edge that only a well-executed fade provides.