Finally nailed a fade on my third try this week

Been struggling with skin fades since I started cutting at my uncle's shop in Phoenix, and yesterday I got one so clean the client asked for my card. I stopped rushing the clipper-over-comb part and took my time with the level lines. Anybody else have a specific step that finally clicked after you slowed down?

2 comments

2 Comments

dylanward20d ago

A clean fade after three tries is cool and all, but is it really worth stopping the whole shop to pat yourself on the back? Plenty of barbers nail that on their first week and move on without acting like they cracked some secret code. Just keep practicing before the hype wears off and you mess up the next one.

the_jason20d ago

@dylanward I get what you're saying but man that seems kinda harsh. Nailing a clean fade after struggling is a legit win for anyone learning. Different people pick up different skills at different speeds. My question though is what clipper guard setup were you using? I've seen guys fight with fades because they skip a half guard or jump from a 1 to a 2 without blending that line first. That step of slowing down and actually checking your work between guards is what made it click for me too. It's not about acting like you cracked a secret code, it's about figuring out what works for your own hands. Keep at it.