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I’ve had more than a few clients pull up a photo of Jude Bellingham mid-match, sweat and all, and ask for “that.” And honestly, I get why. Between the England midfielder’s game and his hair, the man’s become as much a style reference as a football one. But here’s the thing — the Jude Bellingham haircut isn’t some mysterious, unreplicable thing. It’s a very specific, well-executed low taper fade paired with a high top, and once you know exactly what it’s made of, it’s actually one of the more straightforward requests to bring into a barbershop.
I’ve been cutting hair long enough to know that most “copy this footballer’s hair” requests fall apart at the barber’s chair because the client can’t describe what they actually want beyond a photo. So let’s fix that. I’m going to break down exactly what makes up Jude Bellingham’s hair, what to say when you book your appointment, and how to keep it looking sharp between visits — the same way I’d walk a client through it in my own chair.
He’s far from the only athlete or public figure worth stealing hair ideas from either — our roundup of celebrity hair inspiration is a good place to browse if you want more reference photos to bring into your next appointment.
What Is the Jude Bellingham Haircut, Exactly?
At its core, the Bellingham haircut is a low taper fade on the sides and back, paired with a fuller, textured top that’s left to grow out into a rounded, natural afro shape — often called a high top. The fade starts low, close to the ears and neckline, and blends gradually upward into the length on top, rather than dropping in dramatically like a high or mid fade would.
What makes this specific Jude Bellingham cut work is the contrast: tight, precise, almost skin-close at the bottom, opening up into volume and texture at the crown. It’s a look that reads as sharp and disciplined from the sides, but has personality and movement on top — which honestly mirrors his playing style pretty well.
How Jude Bellingham Hair Has Evolved
It’s worth knowing that Jude Bellingham’s hair hasn’t looked the same the entire time he’s been in the public eye. Earlier in his career, the top was kept noticeably shorter and tighter to the fade, giving a cleaner, more compact silhouette. As he’s settled into his career at Real Madrid, he’s let the top grow out fuller and rounder, leaning further into the high-top shape that’s become his signature. The fade itself has stayed fairly consistent — low, tight, and precise — which is really the anchor of the whole Bellingham hairstyle even as the top length shifts season to season.
That consistency is actually useful information if you’re trying to describe this to your own barber. The Jude Bellingham haircut isn’t really about copying one single photo — it’s about understanding which part of the cut is fixed (the low fade) and which part flexes depending on how much length and volume you personally want up top.
The Barber Behind the Look
A big part of why this cut looks as clean as it does comes down to who’s behind the clippers. Jude’s longtime barber is Sheldon Edwards, a South London stylist who’s also cut for several other England internationals over the years. Sheldon has described the technique in past interviews as a low taper with a high top, where the fade is done first, then the top is neatened up with scissors before a sponge is worked through in a circular motion to bring out defined, natural curl texture.
It’s worth flagging too — Bellingham reportedly takes his haircuts seriously enough that he and Real Madrid teammate Trent Alexander-Arnold have flown a trusted barber out to Madrid to keep their cuts consistent, rather than trusting just anyone with the clippers. That should tell you something about how much the precision of this cut actually matters to the final result.
What to Tell Your Barber for the Jude Bellingham Cut
This is the part that actually gets you the right result, so don’t skip it. Showing a photo helps, but describing the cut in barber language gets you a far more accurate outcome. Here’s exactly what I say when a client wants this look:
- Ask for a low taper fade — specify low, since a mid or high fade will completely change the proportions of this cut and give you a different look entirely.
- Request that the fade stays close and tight around the ears and neckline, blending gradually rather than sharply into the top length.
- Ask for the top to be left longer, then neatened with scissors rather than clippers, to preserve natural texture and volume.
- If you have curly or coily hair, mention you want the curl pattern brought out with a sponge or curl brush rather than flattened with a comb.
- Ask your barber to keep the hairline sharp and precise at the front — this detail is a huge part of what makes the finished cut look intentional rather than just “grown out.”
- If you’re not sure how low your fade should go, ask your barber to adjust the length based on your hair density and face shape rather than copying the reference photo exactly.
Low Taper Fade: The Technique Behind the Cut
Since the low taper fade is the backbone of this whole style, it’s worth understanding what actually separates it from other fades. A low taper starts its blend just above the ears and hairline, keeping length higher up the head for longer compared to a mid or high fade. It’s a subtler transition, which is exactly why it works so well under a fuller top — it doesn’t compete with the volume up top, it just quietly supports it.
If you want the full technical rundown on how barbers actually execute this fade step by step, our low taper fade guide walks through the whole process, including how it differs from a mid and high fade.
Does the Jude Bellingham Haircut Have an Official Name?
Not really, and that trips a lot of people up. There isn’t one universal industry term for it — you’ll hear it described as a low taper with a high top, a taper fade afro, or just “the Bellingham.” The most accurate way to describe it to a barber, though, is by its two components rather than a nickname: low taper fade on the sides, textured high top on the crown. That combination is what actually gets you the result, regardless of what you call it.
If you do want a quick way to reference it, “low taper fade with a high top, Bellingham-style” is usually enough for an experienced barber to know exactly what you mean — it’s specific enough to avoid confusion with a standard fade, but doesn’t rely on your barber having seen a particular match or photo.
Will This Haircut Suit You?
This cut was built around Bellingham’s own hair type — thick, coily texture that holds volume and curl definition well. If your hair is naturally straight or fine, you can still get a version of this cut, but talk to your barber honestly about how much natural volume your hair will actually hold on top without product, since that changes how the finished style will sit.
- Thick or coily hair: this is the ideal hair type for the classic version of the cut — the top will hold shape and curl definition with minimal styling effort.
- Wavy hair: still works well, though you may need a texturizing product to build the same amount of volume on top.
- Straight or fine hair: you can still get the low taper fade, but ask your barber about adding layers or a perm-style texture treatment if you want the same rounded, voluminous top.
- Oval and round face shapes tend to suit this cut particularly well, since the height on top elongates the face slightly, though a skilled barber can adjust the top’s height and shape to flatter most face shapes.
How to Style It at Home
Keeping this cut looking as sharp between barber visits as it does the day you leave the chair comes down to a fairly simple routine, so here’s what I actually recommend:
- Keep hair hydrated rather than over-washing it. Washing once a week or less helps preserve natural oils that keep curl texture defined.
- Use a sulfate-free shampoo, since sulfates strip moisture and can leave textured hair looking dry and undefined.
- Apply a lightweight curl cream or natural oil to damp hair, then use a sponge in a circular motion to bring out defined curls rather than combing them flat.
- At night, protect the style with a satin bonnet, head wrap, or silk pillowcase to stop moisture loss and prevent the top from flattening while you sleep.
- Book fade touch-ups every 2 to 3 weeks. The low taper is the part that grows out fastest and needs the most frequent attention to stay sharp — the top can go longer between full trims.
If you’re not sure which sulfate-free shampoo is actually worth buying, our best shampoo for hair health guide has picks that keep curl texture defined without drying out your scalp.
Jude Bellingham’s Hair Color
Bellingham has kept his natural dark brown color throughout most of his career, without straying into the bold dye jobs some other footballers have experimented with. If you’re set on matching his exact look, there’s genuinely nothing to change color-wise for most guys — the cut itself is doing all the work here, not a dye job.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Jude Bellingham haircut name?
There’s no single official name for it. It’s most accurately described as a low taper fade paired with a textured high top, though you’ll also hear it called a taper fade afro. Describing it by its two components gets you a better result from your barber than using a nickname.
What does the Jude Bellingham haircut look like from the back?
From the back, the fade sits low and tight around the neckline, blending smoothly upward into the fuller top. There’s no harsh line at the back — the whole point of a low taper is a gradual, seamless transition rather than a sharp drop in length.
How low should the taper be for the Jude Bellingham haircut?
The fade should start close to the ears and hairline at the back and sides, staying tight and low rather than climbing higher up the head. Ask your barber specifically for a low taper, since a mid or high taper will noticeably change the overall proportions of the cut.
What hair colour does Jude Bellingham have?
He wears his natural dark brown color, without any dye or bleaching. If you’re trying to match his look exactly, the cut and texture are doing the work here — there’s no color change needed for most people.
Where can I find photos of the Jude Bellingham haircut?
Match day photos and post-match interviews are usually your best reference, since you’ll see the cut freshly done and styled. Bringing a recent, well-lit photo on your phone to your appointment is one of the most useful things you can do before your barber picks up the clippers.
What does the Jude Bellingham haircut look like in 2026?
He’s stayed fairly consistent with the low taper and high top combination, occasionally wearing the top slightly shorter or longer depending on the season, but the core structure of the cut hasn’t changed much. If you want his current look, ask your barber for a low taper with a textured top left just long enough to hold shape and curl definition.
Ready to Book Your Jude Bellingham Haircut?
Whether you’re going for the exact low taper and high top combination or adapting it slightly for your own hair type, the biggest thing that will make or break the result is communication. Bring a clear reference photo, describe the fade height and top texture specifically, and trust your barber to adjust the proportions to actually suit your face and hair — that’s the difference between walking out with a cut that looks copied and one that looks like it was made for you.
Not sure how the finished look would actually sit on your face? Upload a selfie to our free AI Hairstyle Simulator and preview the low taper fade and high top before you book anything.
Book your consultation this week and bring this guide along. For more athlete and celebrity-inspired cuts like this one, head back over to CuteHairstyles.org — we’re constantly adding new guides to help you walk into your next appointment knowing exactly what to ask for.