taper · men
Blowout Taper: What It Is and How toStyle It
The blowout taper explained, including how the volume on top works, who suits it, how to blow-dry and style it at home, and what to ask your barber for.
Hairover Team
A blowout taper has a tall, voluminous top that’s blow-dried up and back, over a low or mid taper on the sides. The taper keeps the sides clean while the top gets all the attention. It takes a blow-dryer and a few minutes each morning. It suits straight and wavy hair, and it’s a good way to add height to a rounder face.
What it looks like
- Top: three to five inches, blown upward and swept back or to the side.
- Sides: a low or mid taper, clean but not skin-tight.
- Finish: natural-looking volume, with a bit of movement.
- Neckline: tidy, usually natural.
Compare it with other tall styles in pompadour vs. quiff and fade vs. taper.
Who it suits
Face shapes. Round and square faces benefit from the added height. Oval faces wear it easily. Long faces should keep the top lower, and heart-shaped faces can soften the look with a little side volume. To find yours, try our free face shape detector.
Hair types. Thick, straight, or wavy hair is ideal. Fine hair can work with a volumizing spray, but it won’t stay up as long. If you are thinning at the front or crown, it can be challenging, since the lift shows more scalp.
How to style it
- Start with damp hair. Apply a sea salt spray or light volumizer.
- Blow-dry upward. Use your fingers or a brush to lift the roots from front to back.
- Set the direction. Sweep it back or to the side while it’s still warm.
- Cool shot. A blast of cold air helps set the shape.
- Finish. Add a pea-sized amount of matte paste, working from the back of the head to the front. Mist with a light hairspray if you need it to last.
It gets faster with practice, usually around three to five minutes. Our guide on how to blow-dry your hair has more tips, and pomade vs. clay vs. wax can help you choose a finish.
How to ask
“A low taper on the sides, not going to skin. Leave four inches on top, with some texture and layers so that I can blow it up and back.”
Ask them to style it the way you’d do it at home, then watch how they do it. Bring a side photo as well. For more phrases, see what to tell your barber.
Upkeep
The sides look clean for about three to four weeks, and the top can go six to eight weeks if the shape holds. A heat protectant helps if you blow-dry daily. See our heat protectant guide.
Common problems
It falls flat by lunch. You might be using too much product. Try less, and rely more on the blow-dry.
The top looks too wide. Direct the hair up and back rather than outward, and ask your barber to reduce the bulk.
It looks too stiff. Use less hold, and run your fingers through it.
See how much height you want
Height changes the proportions of your whole face. Upload a clear photo to Hairover, get a hair analysis, and try hairstyles on your own face in Style Studio.
FAQ
How long does hair need to be for a blowout taper?
Usually around three to five inches on top, shorter on the sides. It should be long enough to lift and flow, but short enough to hold its shape without a lot of product.
Do you need a blow-dryer?
Yes, for the classic look, since the volume comes from drying it upward. Without one, you can get a more relaxed, flatter version with some texturizing spray.
Does a blowout taper work with curly hair?
It works best on straight and wavy hair, but curly hair can wear a similar shape with some volume. Blow-drying tight curls straight would require more heat, so consider a taper with natural texture instead.
