Here is a secret from the other side of the chair: most guys who end up unhappy with a fade did not get a bad cut. They got a different cut than the one in their head, because the words never quite made it out. Asking for the right fade is simple once you know the few things a barber actually needs to hear.
At UpperKutz we have been dialing in fades for over seven years, and the conversation before the clippers come on is half the job. Here is how to have it.
The only fade vocabulary you need
A fade just means your hair goes from short at the bottom to longer up top, blended so there is no hard line. Every fade decision comes down to two questions: how high the short part climbs, and how short it gets at the bottom.
1. Pick a height: low, mid, or high
- Low fade. Starts just above the ear. Subtle, classic, easy to grow out.
- Mid fade. Starts around the temples. The most popular pick and a safe bet.
- High fade. Climbs up near the crown for a bold, high-contrast look.
2. Pick a bottom: skin or taper
A skin fade takes the bottom down to bare skin for maximum contrast. A taper keeps a little length, so it is softer and grows out more gracefully.
What to actually say in the chair
You do not need barber jargon. Combine the two answers above with what you want on top, like this:
That sentence tells the barber the height, the bottom, the top and the finish. Not sure on the top? Just say "I am open, what would you do?" A good barber would rather hear that than guess.
Keep it sharp
- Touch up every two to three weeks to keep the contrast crisp.
- Ask for a quick neck and edge line-up between full cuts.
- A little product up top, and let the clean sides do the rest.
Come get one done right
If you are in Boise or Garden City and want a fade that matches the picture in your head, that is the whole job at UpperKutz. Walk in, tell Travis the height and the bottom, and let seven years of practice do the rest.