Is a fade haircut haram?

What the Prophet ﷺ forbade: qaza'

Abdullah ibn Umar reported that the Prophet ﷺ forbade qaza' (Sahih al-Bukhari 5920, Sahih Muslim 2120). Qaza' means shaving some patches of the head and leaving others, like the old style of a shaved head with a tuft left on top. When the Prophet ﷺ saw a boy with part of his head shaved and part left, he said: "Shave all of it or leave all of it" (Sunan Abi Dawud 4195).

So the rule is about uneven shaving, not about short hair, clippers or barbers. Islam actually encourages a neat, clean look:

Why most fades are fine

In a typical fade, the barber cuts the hair shorter and shorter towards the neck and ears, so there's no clear line between a bald patch and long hair. Many contemporary scholars say this counts as cutting all the hair, just at different lengths, which is allowed. A taper, a crew cut or a short back and sides falls in the same category.

Where scholars get more cautious

• Skin fade with a long top: some scholars feel a sharp contrast between bare skin on the sides and long hair on top resembles qaza', and advise leaving a little length on the sides. Others allow it because the hair still blends. If you're unsure, ask for a "low" or "mid" fade with a number 1 or 2 instead of bare skin.
• Shaved lines and patterns: designs shaved into the side of the head are closer to the forbidden style, and many scholars discourage them.
• Copying a sinful group: a haircut done to show belonging to a gang or a group known for wrongdoing is a different issue, regardless of the style.

Hair, beard and the bigger picture

Your haircut is a small detail compared with prayer and good character, so don't stress over it as a new Muslim. Keep it clean, combed and not uneven. If you're wondering about longer styles, see Can Muslim men have long hair? Colouring is covered in Can I dye my hair?

Many converts also ask about the beard at the barber's chair. That is a separate question, and you can take it step by step. See Do I have to grow a beard right away?