How to Create a Fade Cut: Step-by-Step Grooming Guide

Put down the bowl & step away from the scissors! This isn't Mum's kitchen, & you are a grown man who cannot get away with a bowl haircut after the age of 6.

Home haircuts have come a long way from your childhood, so you can say goodbye to looking like one of the kids from Home Improvement. With the right toolset, you can achieve pretty much any look you want at home with absolute ease.

One of the most popular haircuts at the moment (& easily tackled in the bathroom barbershop) is the humble fade cut. "A fade?!" We hear you ask. "Sounds artistic…". Ahh but the fade cut is actually a hair hack that looks schmick at any affair that's a little bit fancy, & is easy to maintain at home in between barber visits – not that we think you will, you got this!

What's a Fade haircut

A fade cut is pretty much exactly what it sounds like: a transition from long to short & dark to light on the back & sides of your head, meaning that you don't have to condemn yourself to a straight-up buzz cut if you're working with your at-home clippers.

There are 4 main types of fade cuts: taper, low, mid, or high. These are each defined by how high the shortest part of your hair is on your head & where it starts to transition into another longer length.  

Where Did the Fade Haircut Originate?

No one person really "invented" the fade: it is originally a military cut, so you know it's all about efficiency & neatness. It was worn in the 40s & 50s in the US military & continued in black & Hispanic barber shops.

But it really started to gain popularity & traction when the Fade made it from West Philadelphia to Bel Air, on a certain icon's head. That's right, the Fresh Prince of Bel Air's Will Smith is one of the original champions of the fade cut. From there, the fade had another resurgence in recent years & is now one of the most popular haircuts among men & women.

What Does a Bad Fade Look Like?

Recognising a bad fade doesn't take too much technical knowledge, but we in the biz will explain it real slow. A bad fade doesn't …erm …well it doesn't fade. If the goal of a fade is to have a smooth transition between skin & hair then hard lines straight up don't belong.

What Fade Haircut Should I Get?

The different types of fade cuts can suit different people, so make sure you pick one that suits you before you set out on your quest for some fully sick fades.

Taper Fades: Taper fade cuts are very clean &a more classic look. What sets them apart is that they start at the nape of the neck & then blend into longer hair at the partial ridge (the widest area of your noggin).

The taper fade is perfect for anyone who works in a more profesh environment as it has a very smart look. It's also good for any commitaphobe out there since it's way more versatile than other fades.

The Low Fade: The low fade cut shows off a bit more skin than the taper fade, so it can make a bit more of an impact. It's still a very low fade cut, staring down on the head & then blending up. Low fades are a great option for those with oval, diamond, & triangle-shaped faces to balance out features, & it's also great for highlighting hairstyles that are heavy in texture on top.

The Mid Fade: The middle child of the fade family, the mid fade cut is just that little bit further up the head, starting just above the ears. It definitely has a more old-school vibe & throws back to those army roots. It's the most popular fade style

The High Fade: Also known as 'The One Will Smith Wore', this fade has the dramatic look. It's a high-contrast style, showing off the most skin (oo-la-la) & is perfect for square or round face shapes. But be warned, if you have what the professionals call a lumpy-weird-shape-head, this style will also show this off the most.

How to Create a Fade Haircut Step By Step

When it comes to where to get a fade cut, & a good fade cut at that, the answer is simple – your place! You'll need a clipper that you can use to slowly build up a fade. Remember: there are some things you can't undo …like uncutting hair!

For your fade clipper kit, we recommend the ConairMan XPERT Clip. It’st's perfect for achieving a classic short back & sides cut & faded & tapered cuts. It has an easy twist taper control which makes blending layers a breeze.  

Once you're all set in front of your workstation (bathroom mirror) with your selected tool, it's time to self fade. This is our step by step guide.

Step 1: Begin at the temple & create a line around the perimeter of the head moving the clipper against the direction of the hair growth to the opposite temple.

Step 2: Now that the line has been created, attach the comb guide of your choice based on length of hair desired.

Step 3: Following the temple to the temple line created, cut against the hair growth in an upwards direction slightly angled forward.

Step 4: Repeat step #3 using a shorter length comb guide until your fade is seamless.

You can see tips on how to achieve a fade cut below

Check out our full range of hair clippers here

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