Found a trick for fading that actually saves time

I've been cutting hair for about 8 years now, and fading has always been something I had to take my time with. Last month, I was in a rush before a wedding appointment and decided to try something different. Instead of starting with the lowest guard and working up, I went straight to the open lever on a #2 guard and faded down into the closed position. It was a total accident at first, but somehow the blend came out smoother than usual and I finished 10 minutes early. The trick is keeping the clipper moving steady and not stopping in one spot too long. Has anyone else tried fading from the top down like that? I'm curious if it works for other barbers or if I just got lucky that day.

3 comments

3 Comments

sandragrant9d ago

Oh that's clever, working from the top down makes total sense for speed!

jennybailey9d ago

Funny you mention that, because the whole top-down thing kind of reminds me of how people approach housecleaning or even cooking. Start at the top with the big stuff, dust the ceiling fans first, then work down so the dirt falls onto floors you clean last. Same with chopping veggies for a soup - you do the harder stuff first like carrots and potatoes, then add softer stuff later so nothing gets mushy. The speed comes from not having to backtrack or redo sections. But like Julia said, hair's not a house and cowlicks are basically stubborn little rebels that don't follow any rules. Real talk though, for straight hair that lays flat, top-down is a game changer if you're on a timer.

sanchez.julia9d ago

Hmm, I gotta disagree a bit here. Going top down works for some but in my experience you lose a lot of control over the blend, especially if the hair is thicker or has any cowlicks. Might save a few minutes but I've seen more than one fade get messed up that way, your mileage may vary.