A skin fade is one of the most requested cuts in the shop, and one of the most misunderstood. Done well it grows out neatly and still looks sharp a fortnight later. Done badly it looks like a patch job within a week. The difference is almost always in what you ask for, and a few clear sentences will get you the cut you actually wanted.
What a skin fade really is
The word skin is doing real work. A skin fade takes the hair at the sides and back down to the skin, usually with clippers and a blade, then blends that short hair up into a longer length on top. The blend is the whole point. A fade that has not been blended leaves a visible line, and that line is what makes a cut look harsh as it grows out.
A skin fade is a service in its own right at Parlour, priced from £28, or £34 with a senior barber. If you also want the beard tidied, book a Cut and beard instead, which gives the barber the time to do both properly rather than rushing the last ten minutes.
How to describe what you want
Start with the length on top, because that is the part you live with day to day. A number two on top and a number two on top with a long blend are very different cuts. Then say where you want the fade to start. A low fade keeps the skin work near the ear and neck. A mid fade sits around the temple. A high fade runs up towards the top of the head and leaves the shortest hair higher up.
Next, say how sharp you like the finish. Some people want a clean line at the neck and around the ears, squared off and tidy. Others prefer a softer, more natural edge. Neither is better, it is simply what suits your hair and how often you come in. Finally, mention how you wear it day to day. If you are up at six and out of the door, say so. The barber can shape the cut around the time you realistically spend on it each morning.
Bring a photo and be honest about your hair
A picture saves a great deal of explaining. Save two or three on your phone and point out what you like about each, because the same photo can mean different things to different people. Be honest about your hair as well. The shape of your hairline, any cowlicks and how thick the hair is all change what a fade can do. Ask the barber to talk you through the plan before the clippers come out, and say if you would rather they stopped partway. It is your head, and it is much easier to take a little more off than to put it back.
Getting booked in
Every appointment at Parlour is booked into a chair at our Cotton Lane flagship, where the time is held for you. Walk-ins are welcome at Lark Grove in Aigburth and at Oxton Village on the Wirral, first come first served. If you are unsure what will suit you, a Restyle consultation gives you fifteen minutes to talk it through before anything is cut, and it is priced from £10. Regulars usually book every three to four weeks, which keeps a fade looking sharp without a long catch-up each time.
- Decide the length on top first, in numbers.
- Say where the fade should start: low, mid or high.
- Say how sharp you want the neckline and edges.
- Show a photo and point out what you like about it.
- Mention how much time you spend styling each morning.
- Book at Cotton Lane, or walk in at Lark Grove or Oxton.
