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Fade haircut in Barcelona: types, Spanish terms and price
- by Equipo Fusion Beauty
Quick answer: at Fusion Beauty (Carrer de Floridablanca 73, Sant Antoni, Barcelona) a fade with a wash costs €20 and a classic men's cut €15. We do low, mid and high fades, skin fades and tapers. Tell Adolfo where the fade starts and which clipper number you want, in English or Spanish.
A fade is a popular men's cut, and one of the easiest to get wrong if the request is vague. "Short on the sides" can mean ten different things. This guide explains the main types of fade, gives you a four-line script to ask for one in Spanish or English, and lists our prices so you know what you will pay before you sit down.
Low, mid and high fade, and the taper
In Spanish a fade is a degradado. All fades go from very short hair at the bottom to longer hair higher up; what changes is where that transition starts and how short the shortest part is.
| Type | Spanish | Where it starts | The look |
|---|---|---|---|
| Low fade | degradado bajo | Just above the ears and the neckline | Subtle, keeps weight on the sides |
| Mid fade | degradado medio | Around the level of the temples | Balanced, the most versatile |
| High fade | degradado alto | High on the sides, close to the parting line | Strong contrast with the top |
| Skin fade | degradado a piel / a cero | Any height, but the shortest part goes down to the skin | The sharpest finish |
| Taper | taper | Only at the sideburns and the neckline | Clean edges, most length kept |
Fade or taper? A fade shortens the whole side and back of the head. A taper only cleans up the edges, around the sideburns and the neckline, and leaves the rest of the sides longer. If you want a tidy cut that still looks natural as it grows, a taper is the gentler option. If you want a defined, modern contrast, go for a fade.
Clipper guards are numbered in Spain just as elsewhere: "del 0" is no guard, and the higher the number, the more length is left. "A piel" means down to the skin.
How to ask for it: a four-line script
Our team speaks English, so you can simply explain what you want. But if you want to get a fade anywhere in Spain, or you prefer to be precise, these four lines cover almost everything a barber needs to know:
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| Quiero un degradado medio. | I'd like a mid fade. |
| En los lados, empieza a piel y sube hasta el 2. | On the sides, start at skin and blend up to a 2. |
| Arriba, solo quítame dos dedos con tijera. | On top, just take off two fingers' width with scissors. |
| La nuca, natural, y las patillas cortas. | Natural neckline, and short sideburns. |
Swap the words to match what you want: bajo, medio or alto for the height; a piel, del 0 or del 1 for the shortest part; recta instead of natural for a squared-off neckline. A photo of the back and sides of a cut you like is the best shortcut of all. For more salon vocabulary, from puntas to flequillo, read our English guide to getting your hair done in Barcelona.
Which fade suits your hair
There is no rule, but hair type and how you style it make some fades easier to wear than others:
- Thick, straight hair: a mid or high fade shows off the contrast and keeps the sides from puffing out.
- Curly or wavy hair: a low fade or a taper keeps the shape of your curls on top and around the head, and grows out softly.
- Fine hair on top: a low fade or a taper keeps the sides close in length to the top, so the overall look stays balanced.
- A rounder face: a higher fade with some volume on top adds height to the silhouette.
- A longer face: a low fade with a little more width at the sides balances the proportions.
- Office or formal settings: a taper or low fade looks neat without being dramatic.
If you are not sure, Adolfo looks at your hair, your growth pattern and how you style it, and suggests the height that will work for you before he starts.
Maintenance
Fades show regrowth faster than longer cuts, because the shortest areas are where new growth is most visible. How often to come back depends on how quickly your hair grows and how sharp you want it to look, so Adolfo suggests an interval for your hair at the end of the appointment. You can book your next visit before you leave.
Between cuts, keep it simple: wash regularly, use a small amount of product on top to style it, and resist trimming the neckline yourself, which is the quickest way to lose the shape.
Men's highlights and colour
A fade pairs well with colour on top, from a subtle change to lighter, sun-touched highlights. We offer colour or highlights for short men's hair at €80 and our urban highlights pack at €85. Adolfo handles both cuts and colour, so you can plan the cut and the colour together in one conversation. If you want to soften greys rather than cover them, our grey blending guide has a section for men. More details are on our barber page and our hair colour page.
Prices
These are our September 2026 prices, the same ones on our price list:
| Service | Price |
|---|---|
| Fade cut + wash (corte fade / degradado + lavado) | €20 |
| Classic men's cut | €15 |
| Wash, massage, cut and style | €20 |
| Men's colour / highlights (short hair) | €80 |
| Urban highlights pack | €85 |
| Kids' haircut | €15 |
The fade includes a wash. If you are bringing your son along, a kids' haircut is €15 and can be booked back to back with yours. For a comparison with our other cuts, see haircut prices at an English-speaking salon and our haircuts page.
We are at Carrer de Floridablanca 73, 08015 Barcelona, in Sant Antoni, about five minutes' walk from Rocafort and Urgell (L1) and Sant Antoni (L2) metro stations. We are open Monday to Friday 10:00–20:00 and Saturday 10:00–14:00, and have been here since 2009. We are rated 4.8 on Google (1,439 reviews) and 4.9 on Booksy. Book online on Booksy or message us on WhatsApp on +34 625 78 65 89.
FAQ
What is the difference between a fade and a taper?
A fade shortens the whole side and back of the head, from very short at the bottom to longer higher up. A taper only shortens the edges, at the sideburns and the neckline, and keeps more length on the sides.
Which fade suits me best?
It depends on your hair type, face shape and how you style it. A low fade or taper is subtle and suits curly or fine hair; a mid or high fade gives more contrast. Adolfo suggests one before he starts.
How do I ask for a low fade in Spanish?
Say "Quiero un degradado bajo" and add the shortest length, for example "empieza del 1 y sube hasta el 3". "A piel" means down to the skin.
How much is a fade in Barcelona?
At Fusion Beauty a fade with a wash costs €20. A classic men's cut is €15.
Does the haircut include a wash?
Yes, the fade includes a wash for €20. There is also a wash, massage, cut and style for €20.
Do you do highlights for men?
Yes. Colour or highlights on short men's hair cost €80, and the urban highlights pack €85.
Can I book in English?
Yes. Book on Booksy in English or send us a WhatsApp message in English on +34 625 78 65 89. Our team speaks English and Spanish.
