What Is a Mid Taper Edgar?
The mid taper edgar is one of the most requested haircuts among teen boys right now — and it is easy to see why. It pairs the Edgar’s signature straight, blunt fringe with a mid taper on the sides: the hair gradually shortens from around temple height, staying clean and controlled without going skin-bare like a full fade.
Think of it as the balanced version of the viral Edgar cut. The heavy, straight-across fringe gives the bold front silhouette the cut is famous for, while the mid taper keeps the sides neat and wearable every day — for school, sport, and weekends alike. If you are browsing teenage styles, our burst fade guide for teenagers shows where this cut sits among the other trending options for teen boys.
Who Suits the Mid Taper Edgar?
The mid taper edgar suits straight, wavy, and curly hair — the fringe and texture adapt to all three. It flatters oval, square, and heart-shaped faces, and the strong horizontal fringe can visually balance a longer face. It works best on thick to medium-density hair, since the top needs enough weight to hold its blunt line.
It is a confident, statement cut for teen boys who want a sharper, trend-led look. If the mid taper feels too bold, a middle part taper keeps the same clean sides with a softer top.
How to Ask Your Barber for a Mid Taper Edgar
Bring a photo of the variation you want — barbers cut this look far better from a reference than from words. Then say this:
- The fringe: “Straight, blunt fringe across the forehead, sitting just above the eyebrows.”
- The top: “Textured on top, worn forward — about two to three inches, depending on the variation.”
- The sides: “Mid taper — start the blend around temple height, keep it tight to the head, no skin showing at the bottom.”
- The finish: “Sharp line-up at the forehead and temples to frame the fringe.”
Say “taper”, not “fade”: a taper is a gradual, natural-looking blend, while a fade goes shorter and bolder. Mixing them up is the most common reason boys walk out with a cut harsher than they wanted.
The 8 Styles
Below are eight mid taper edgar variations, each shown on a real photo — pick the one that matches your hair type and show it to your barber.
1. The Classic Mid Taper Edgar
This is the blueprint: a straight, heavy fringe cut blunt across the forehead, a textured top worn forward, and a mid taper blending the sides from temple height. Crisp line-up, strong silhouette — the version most teen boys mean by “the Edgar.”
Ask the barber for: a classic edgar — blunt straight fringe, textured forward top, mid taper from the temples, sharp line-up.
Styling: Blow-dry forward with fingers, then a pea-sized dab of matte clay through the fringe to lock the blunt line.
2. Textured Top Edgar
The textured version softens the classic with choppy, piecey layers through the top. The fringe keeps its straight Edgar line, but the texture adds movement and is more forgiving as it grows out. It suits straight and slightly wavy hair best.
Ask the barber for: an edgar with a heavily textured top — point-cut fringe ends, mid taper sides.
Styling: Texture powder at the roots, matte clay pinched through the ends. Skip heavy pomade — it kills texture.
3. Curly Top Edgar
Curls and the Edgar are a natural match: the curls stack into a full, rounded top while the straight fringe line keeps the cut’s trademark edge. The mid taper gives the curls a clean frame without the high contrast of a skin fade. For tight curls, keep a touch more length on top so the curl pattern stays defined rather than puffy.
Ask the barber for: a curly edgar — curls full on top, straight fringe line, mid taper at ears and neckline.
Styling: Curl cream on damp hair, scrunch, air-dry. Never brush curls dry — that causes frizz.
4. Wavy Edgar
Wavy hair gives the Edgar a softer feel while the blunt fringe and mid taper keep it structured. The waves add natural volume on top, so this version looks fuller with almost no product — and it grows out gracefully. It is also one of the options in our best haircuts for teen boys guide, if you are still comparing.
Ask the barber for: a wavy edgar — wave length on top, straight fringe, mid taper sides.
Styling: Sea salt spray on damp hair, scrunch, air-dry. A touch of light cream tames flyaways.
5. Short Fringe Edgar
The short-fringe version keeps the Edgar attitude in a tidier package: the fringe sits higher — mid-forehead rather than at the brows — with the same straight-across line and mid taper sides. The most school-friendly Edgar on this list, and a good first step if you want to try the cut without going all in.
Ask the barber for: an edgar, short fringe — blunt line at mid-forehead, short textured top, mid taper.
Styling: Almost none — towel-dry forward and go.
6. Edgar with a Sharp Line-Up
This version dials up the precision: the blunt fringe is framed by a razor-sharp line-up at the forehead and temples. The mid taper stays clean and tight underneath. Highest maintenance here — the line-up needs touching up every one to two weeks — but it photographs the sharpest of all eight.
Ask the barber for: an edgar with an extra-crisp line-up — sharp edges at forehead and temples, mid taper.
Styling: Same as the classic, plus a weekly edge check.
7. Messy Edgar
The messy Edgar keeps the straight fringe and mid taper but wears the top tousled and undone. Same silhouette from the front, far less stiff — great for teen boys who want the Edgar look without the “just left the barber” stiffness every morning.
Ask the barber for: a messy edgar — heavy texture on top, straight fringe worn tousled, mid taper sides.
Styling: Texture powder at the roots, matte clay scrunched through with fingers.
8. Edgar with a Taper Design Detail
The boldest option: a classic mid taper edgar with a subtle shaved detail — a single line etched into the taper above the ear. It reads as texture from a distance and a design up close. Keep it to one clean line so it stays sharp rather than busy.
Ask the barber for: a mid taper edgar with one shaved line detail in the taper — keep it simple.
Styling: Style like the classic; the design fades in about two weeks.
Keeping Your Mid Taper Edgar Fresh
The Edgar lives or dies by its edges. Book a tidy-up every two to three weeks — the fringe line and taper blend lose sharpness fast. Between visits, trim stray neckline hairs only; never touch the fringe line yourself, since one uneven snip ruins the straight-across edge the whole cut depends on.
Daily styling takes about five minutes: blow-dry the top forward, then matte clay or texture powder — never shiny pomades. Wash two to three times a week; daily washing strips the oils that help the fringe sit forward.
Mid Taper Edgar — FAQs
What is the difference between an Edgar and a mid taper Edgar?
The Edgar is the cut — straight blunt fringe, textured top, short sides. “Mid taper” describes the side blend: it starts around temple height and shortens gradually, giving a cleaner finish than a high fade without the boldness of a skin fade.
Is the mid taper edgar good for school?
Depends on your school’s rules. The short-fringe version (style 5) is the most school-friendly; the sharp line-up and design-detail versions are bolder. If your school is strict about shaved designs, skip style 8.
How long does the top need to be for an Edgar?
About two to three inches on top is the sweet spot — enough length for the fringe to sit forward with weight, short enough to stay controlled. Curly hair can go slightly longer to keep the curl pattern defined.
How often should I get a mid taper edgar trimmed?
Every two to three weeks keeps the fringe line and taper sharp. Line-up versions need the most frequent touch-ups — every one to two weeks — while the wavy and messy versions stretch a little longer.
What products do I need for an Edgar cut?
Matte clay is the core product — hold without shine. Texture powder adds lift for the messy and textured styles; curl cream is essential for curls. Skip high-shine pomades; they fight the cut’s matte look.
The Bottom Line
The mid taper edgar earns its viral status: the blunt fringe makes the statement, the mid taper keeps it wearable, and the eight variations above cover every hair type. Pick your version, bring the photo to your barber, and trim every few weeks to keep the edges sharp.
