Wavy hair gets called difficult for the Medium Edgar. Not really — wavy texture does half the job on its own, since the natural bend gives the fade shape without you fighting cowlicks every morning. The real question is which version fits your wave pattern, and that’s what the next twelve cuts sort out.
1. Medium Edgar Low Skin Fade
This is the version most guys start with. The fade sits low, about an inch above the ear, and the top stays around 3 to 4 inches so the waves still move. Reads clean, not like a buzzcut — good if your office still cares about that.
Will a low fade make my wavy top look flat?
Not if your barber texturizes the crown. Waves need weight removed unevenly, not just shortened evenly, or they sit like a helmet.
Book a fade refresh every 3 weeks — it grows out fast and looks patchy by day 18, even though the top still looks fine.
2. Medium Edgar Mid Taper Fade
Mid fade starts around temple height, the default setting many barbers use when you just say “Edgar” without specifics. Safest choice if you’re unsure, and it still leaves about 3.5 inches on top for the waves to show a real pattern instead of looking messy.
Is mid fade better than low for wavy hair?
Depends on your wave pattern. Tighter waves show up better against contrast, so mid fade helps. Looser waves barely need it, and low fade looks just as sharp.
Pick this one if it’s your first Medium Edgar and you don’t want to commit to anything dramatic yet.
3. Medium Edgar High Skin Fade
High fade is the loud option. Skin shows on most of the side and back, and the transition into your wavy top happens fast, within half an inch. Not right for every workplace, and not low-maintenance — you’ll want a touch-up every 2 weeks or the grow-out looks sloppy.
Does a high fade work with loose, beachy waves?
Better with defined waves, honestly. Loose waves can look like they’re floating above nothing when the sides are this bare.
The trade-off is upkeep cost — expect to spend more on barber visits over a year than any other version here.
4. Medium Edgar Curly Fringe
Instead of a straight-across fringe, this version leaves the front long enough for the wave to curl forward on its own, usually 4 to 4.5 inches. No flat iron needed — just dry it and push it into place with your fingers.
Does the fringe need daily styling?
About 3 minutes with a light cream, most mornings. Skip a day and it still holds, unlike a straight fringe that needs constant reshaping.
Works best on guys whose waves already show when hair is wet — if yours only shows texture once dry, the fringe won’t curl the way you’re picturing.
5. Medium Edgar Side Part
A side part on wavy hair looks less rigid than the same part on straight hair — the wave breaks up the line instead of making it look drawn with a ruler. Comb it while damp, let it air dry, and it holds without much product.
Will the part disappear by midday?
Skip product and yes, probably by 2 p.m. A dime-size amount of matte clay keeps it defined through a full workday.
Many barbers cut the part in with clippers now instead of just combing it over, so it stays visible even after a few washes.
6. Medium Edgar Hard Part
The hard part is a shaved line dividing the fade from the top — the most graphic version of the Edgar you can get. On wavy hair it contrasts hard against the movement up top, and some guys love that, others find it too sharp.
How often does the line need redoing?
Every 10 to 14 days, or it grows in and looks like stubble instead of a deliberate line. Highest-maintenance detail on this whole list.
Skip this one if you can’t get to a barber every 2 weeks — there’s no in-between look once the edge softens.
7. Medium Edgar Drop Fade
Drop fade curves downward behind the ear instead of staying level, following the shape of your skull and echoing the movement already happening on top. Harder cut to get right, so barber experience matters more here than with a standard fade.
Is drop fade worth asking for specifically?
If your barber’s done fewer than a handful, maybe not on your first visit. A botched drop fade takes weeks to grow out evenly.
Done well, it’s the version that photographs best from the side — worth it if you care about that.
8. Medium Edgar Burst Fade
Burst fade only fades around the ear in a half-circle instead of running the full sideburn to the neckline, leaving more length at the nape, around 1.5 inches. Suits guys who don’t love a fully shaved neck but still want contrast up top.
Does this hide grow-out better between cuts?
Yes, more than a full fade. Less area is actually faded, so regrowth is less noticeable — stretch to 4 weeks instead of 2 or 3.
Trade-off: it looks a little less crisp overall. If sharp is the whole point, pick a different version.
9. Medium Edgar Undercut
The undercut version disconnects the sides completely from the top instead of blending, so the fade and the wavy top read as two separate zones. Top length runs longer, closer to 4.5 or 5 inches, since the disconnect needs length to look intentional.
Does the disconnect look weird as it grows out?
For a week or two it can, since the sides catch up to the top’s density. After that it settles and gets easier to style, not harder.
The pick for guys who want their waves to be the main event, with the sides just staying out of the way.
10. Medium Edgar Curtain Fringe
Curtain fringe splits down the middle and falls on both sides of the forehead, and wavy hair makes this version easier than straight hair does — the part falls naturally instead of needing product to hold a hard line.
Do curtains work with a low fade underneath?
They do, and it’s the more common pairing now. High fade under curtains can look top-heavy against a soft, parted top.
Grow-out is forgiving too — even 6 weeks past a cut, curtains still look intentional instead of shaggy.
11. Medium Edgar Textured Crop
The crop keeps the fringe short, around 2 inches, and choppy rather than swept to either side. On wavy hair the texture does most of the work already, so you’re mostly just scrunching in a bit of product.
Is this the lowest-maintenance version here?
Close to it. Morning styling runs under 2 minutes, and it hides a bad hair day better than any parted style would.
The catch: crops need trims more often, about every 3 weeks, or the fringe flops into your eyes.
12. Medium Edgar Temple Fade With Line Up
This version adds a razor-sharp line up at the temples and hairline on top of a standard fade, giving the wavy top a defined frame instead of blending into the sides. Popular with guys who want a barbershop-fresh look to last longer.
How long does the line up actually stay sharp?
About 5 to 7 days before the edges soften and blur. After that it just reads as a normal fade — nothing wrong, just less crisp.
Maintain it yourself between visits with a trimmer, and you can stretch appointments to every 4 weeks instead of 2.
