The closely shaven fade got its start in the military during the World Wars when everyone needed to have short hair for good hygiene. In the 1980s, hip-hop took the fade and added an urban feel to it with MCs like Big Daddy Kane, Kid from Kid ‘n Play, and Will Smith from The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air adding their own personal styles to it.
While the fade never really went away, it’s come back big time over the past few years with Kanye West’s mullet fade, Drake’s side part fade and many more.

Longer dreadlocks always look good in a knot on the top of the head. Here, the mid fade is tight and looks very 2020 with the angular cut of the fine beard.

The Simpsons have always got a lot of love in the black community with T-shirts and other clothing depicting Bart Simpson doing various misdeeds. Here, the model takes it even further by rocking Bart’s haircut with a soft fade and various lines running through it.

The classic high top fade always had the temples shaved to allow for the boxy look. With this cut, the shaved temples lead into small twists, perfect for the new decade.

This look, a relative of the finger waves of the 1980s, is smart and sophisticated. Perfect for job interviews or first dates, the low fade here is buzzed up just right.

The twists are going every which way, and that’s perfect for 2020. With a low fade on the temple and a pocky line-up, this cut is guaranteed to look great for getting heads to turn when entering a room.
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Straight from the mid-1980s, the classic high top fade looks still looks extra fresh for 2020. Whether it’s on a rapper or hipster, this haircut for black men never goes out of style.

There is nothing ordinary about this cut. The dreads tied around the head in headband form go very well with the hardline fade and the lightning bolt designs.

The braids leading back to an afro puff top knot is the star of the show here, but the medium fade holds it all together for 2020.

For 2020, black men are proud to have tight curls. This cut is a rounded out high top with a drop fade low on the temple area.

While they are hard to keep in place overnight, waves are crashing onto 2020! This look is retro-futuristic with the line-up and low fade to keep it tight.

The short crop on top almost looks like the black version of the Caesar cut. It’s forward-thinking while being brushed forward. The low fade goes all the way to the skin for extra added flyness.