Taper vs Fade

Tapers

Tapered cuts are where the hair is longer at the top and then gradually gets shorter down the back and sides of the head. In a normal taper haircut, the top is left about 2-4 inches long while the rest of the hair is cut shorter. 

Fades

Fade haircuts can best be described as no hair at the sides and back of the head, but graduates into more hair as you move to the top of the head. A fade haircut is actually a form of tapering the hair, but the hair is cut drastically lower than a regular taper.