What haircut style is characterized by tapered sides and back with a gradually increasing length from crown to hairline?

The haircut style characterized by tapered sides and back with a gradually increasing length from the crown to the hairline is best represented by the crew cut. In a crew cut, the hair on the top is cut to a certain length and blends smoothly into the shorter hair on the sides and back, creating a gradual transition. This style offers a clean, classic look that is easy to maintain.

In contrast, a buzz cut involves cutting all the hair very short to the same length, which lacks the tapering aspect. A fade haircut also features tapered sides and back, but it typically emphasizes a more dramatic transition with varying lengths, often blending into the skin rather than simply increasing in length. The pompadour is defined by longer hair on top styled upwards and back, and while it may have shorter sides, it doesn’t focus on a gradual increase from the crown to the hairline like the crew cut does.