// Hair · Cut & Style · Taper — L3 data const TAPER = { type: "The Taper", parent: { title: "Cut & Style", href: "/en/hair/cut-style/" }, grandparent: { title: "Hair", href: "/en/hair/" }, totalCount: 121, hero: "https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1599351431202-1e0f0137899a?w=1800&q=80&auto=format&fit=crop", heroAlt: "Editorial — tapered cut natural hair", h1: "How to get a taper that suits your texture and shape.", deck: "The taper is one of the most structurally precise cuts in hair. It's also one of the most misunderstood — confused with fades, undercuts, and close crops. Here's the distinction, and everything that follows from it.", intro: "A taper cut gradually decreases the length of the hair from the top downward to the natural hairline — following the natural shape of the head rather than cutting against it. That's what makes it different from a fade (which cuts to skin) and an undercut (which cuts to a defined contrast line). The taper is the most anatomically respectful of the short cut options: it works with the head's shape rather than imposing a new geometry on it. For natural hair — particularly Type 3 and Type 4 textures — the taper has become increasingly popular because it accommodates coil patterns at the nape and sides without requiring aggressive clipper work or chemical relaxing. Below: the full guide to variations, maintenance, and getting what you're imagining.", byline: "Edited by Nelly · Beauty & Style Director", meta: { count: 121, updated: "Updated 1 May 2026", reading: "Avg. 4 min per piece" }, }; const TAPER_QUICK_FACTS = { defn: { h: "Taper vs fade — the clear distinction", body: "A taper gradually reduces hair length toward the natural hairline, ending with the hair still visible (not skin). A fade continues past the hairline into the skin — the hair literally 'fades' to nothing. A taper is finishing at the hairline; a fade is going beyond it. Most taper cuts leave the sides and nape clean without exposing skin. The result is generally more polished and professional-leaning than a high fade, and it grows out more gracefully.", }, myths: [ { m: "Tapers are only for short hair.", t: "A taper just describes how the sides and nape are finished. It can be paired with a TWA, a wash-and-go, a twist-out, or longer natural styles on top. The length on top is independent of the taper at the sides." }, { m: "Tapers require clipper skills to maintain at home.", t: "Some taper maintenance is possible at home with the right guard length — but the hairline definition is generally better done in-salon, at least every 3–4 weeks." }, { m: "A taper looks the same on every texture.", t: "Not at all. The taper on Type 1 straight hair is crisp and linear. On Type 4 coily hair it has natural softness at the edges that creates a very different, often more flattering result." }, ], }; const TAPER_BEGINNER_PATH = { h: "Getting your first taper cut?", deck: "Three pieces that separate the options and the technique.", steps: [ { n: "01", t: "Taper vs fade — which should you ask for?", time: "4 min", note: "The definitive comparison, with examples for each texture type." }, { n: "02", t: "Taper variations for natural hair", time: "5 min", note: "Short taper, medium taper, tapered TWA — what each delivers." }, { n: "03", t: "Maintaining a taper between salon visits", time: "3 min", note: "Touch-up frequency, what you can do at home, what you can't." }, ], }; const TAPER_TRENDING = [ { rank: "01", t: "Tapered natural hair: the complete guide for Type 4", time: "5 min", auth: "Nelly", date: "Apr 27", img: "https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1599351431202-1e0f0137899a?w=1100&q=80&auto=format&fit=crop", reads: "16,002" }, { rank: "02", t: "Taper vs fade — which suits your face shape better", time: "4 min", auth: "Iris", date: "Apr 22", img: "https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1560869713-7d0a29430803?w=1100&q=80&auto=format&fit=crop", reads: "12,884" }, { rank: "03", t: "Tapered TWA: how to maintain it at home", time: "4 min", auth: "Nelly", date: "Apr 17", img: "https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1597586124394-fbd6ef244026?w=1100&q=80&auto=format&fit=crop", reads: "10,441" }, { rank: "04", t: "The taper for fine straight hair — why it works", time: "3 min", auth: "Iris", date: "Apr 12", img: "https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1492106087820-71f1a00d2b11?w=1100&q=80&auto=format&fit=crop", reads: "8,221" }, { rank: "05", t: "Low taper vs high taper — what changes in the result", time: "3 min", auth: "Nelly", date: "Apr 07", img: "https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1599351431202-1e0f0137899a?w=1100&q=80&auto=format&fit=crop", reads: "7,002" }, ]; const TAPER_FORMAT_GUIDE = { h: "Taper types", deck: "The height and tightness of the taper determines the overall silhouette.", formats: [ { name: "Low taper", when: "Conservative, professional contexts", avoid: "Wanting dramatic contrast", note: "Ends above the ear. Very clean, very subtle.", verdict: "Classic" }, { name: "Mid taper", when: "Versatile everyday wear", avoid: "Looking for a bold statement", note: "Ends at the level of the ear. The most common version.", verdict: "Default" }, { name: "High taper", when: "Wanting more visibility and definition", avoid: "Conservative professional dress codes", note: "Ends well above the ear. More graphic.", verdict: "Bold" }, { name: "Tapered TWA", when: "Natural coily hair post-big chop", avoid: "Wanting length on top", note: "Uniform short length with a clean taper. Very polished.", verdict: "Natural" }, { name: "Tapered locs", when: "Freeform or starter locs wanting shape", avoid: "Very long established locs", note: "Locs on top, taper at the sides. Length contrast.", verdict: "Distinctive" }, ], }; const TAPER_HOWTOS = [ { t: "Tapered natural hair: the complete guide for Type 4", time: 5, tech: "Texture", auth: "Nelly", date: "Apr 27", img: "https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1599351431202-1e0f0137899a?w=900&q=80&auto=format&fit=crop", kick: "Texture", pick: true }, { t: "Taper vs fade — which suits your face shape better", time: 4, tech: "Choosing", auth: "Iris", date: "Apr 22", img: "https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1560869713-7d0a29430803?w=900&q=80&auto=format&fit=crop", kick: "Decision", pick: true }, { t: "Tapered TWA: how to maintain it at home", time: 4, tech: "Maintenance", auth: "Nelly", date: "Apr 17", img: "https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1597586124394-fbd6ef244026?w=900&q=80&auto=format&fit=crop", kick: "Upkeep", pick: true }, { t: "Low taper vs high taper — what changes", time: 3, tech: "Choosing", auth: "Iris", date: "Apr 07", img: "https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1599351431202-1e0f0137899a?w=900&q=80&auto=format&fit=crop", kick: "Decision", pick: false }, { t: "Taper for fine straight hair — the case for it", time: 3, tech: "Texture", auth: "Nelly", date: "Apr 01", img: "https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1492106087820-71f1a00d2b11?w=900&q=80&auto=format&fit=crop", kick: "Texture", pick: false }, ]; const TAPER_TECH_FILTERS = ["All", "Choosing", "Texture", "Maintenance"]; const TAPER_CROSSLINKS = [ { id: "undercut", title: "The Undercut", deck: "If you want contrast lines, not a gradual taper.", count: 109, href: "/en/hair/cut-style/undercut/" }, { id: "pixie", title: "The Pixie", deck: "The short cut that pairs well with a taper finish.", count: 143, href: "/en/hair/cut-style/pixie/" }, { id: "big-chop", title: "The Big Chop", deck: "Often leads to a tapered result.", count: 87, href: "/en/hair/cut-style/big-chop/" }, { id: "shag", title: "The Shag", deck: "If you want length on top and texture throughout.", count: 161, href: "/en/hair/cut-style/shag/" }, ]; Object.assign(window, { TAPER, TAPER_QUICK_FACTS, TAPER_BEGINNER_PATH, TAPER_TRENDING, TAPER_FORMAT_GUIDE, TAPER_HOWTOS, TAPER_TECH_FILTERS, TAPER_CROSSLINKS, });