BARBERS ANSWER YOUR QUESTIONS
EXPERT BARBERS ANSWER YOUR GROOMING QUESTIONS
HOW LONG DOES A SKIN FADE LAST?
A skin fade will last for two to three weeks before needing a touch-up. The key to the look is incredibly short hair, so it’s essential to maintain it with regular trips to the barber.
HOW DO YOU ASK FOR A SKIN FADE?
When asking your barber for a skin fade, you’ll want to know some extra details such as height and what you want on top. Skin fades can be high, mid, and low, or you can get a temple, drop or burst fade as well. Then, because it’s referring to just the length on the sides and back, you’ll need to know what style and length you want on top.
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A temple fade is simply one where the shortest length of the sides and back starts to transition into longer lengths at the temples.
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A drop fade is where the fade lowers, or “drops”, as it passes behind the ear. This results in a U-shape at the back.
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The burst fade tapers the line of hair behind the ear, leaving hair longer at the neck. While the most popular version of the style is the classic burst fade mohawk, gentlemen can incorporate the burst haircut into the quiff, faux hawk, comb over, side part, flat top, crew cut, or even a mullet hairstyle.
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Try to take long some reference pictures of styles you like, which will help articulate exactly what look you want. Check out our blog on skin fade styles.
IS A SKIN FADE A ZERO?
A zero haircut trims the length of the hairs to less than 1.5mm, which is standard when asking for a skin fade. This leaves the area looking hairless but with a bit of shadow, and it will still feel slightly stubbly. If you want to take it further, you can use a razor or cut throat, so there’s no stubble at all.
HOW DO I START GROOMING MY BEARD?
There are a few key steps to a well-groomed beard. First, you need to keep it clean, washing it regularly. Then when it's dry, use a brush or comb to detangle it and get out any knots. Ideally, you should trim your beard every couple of weeks, depending on the length. If you’re new to beard grooming, it’s best to head to a trusted barber the first few times to see how a professional does it. Finally, finish with beard oil for moisture or balm for hold.
DO BEARD SOFTENERS WORK?
Beard softeners, like oils and balms, do work by adding moisture to both the hair and skin on your face. Nourishing ingredients such as argan oil, vitamin E, lanolin, and shea butter hydrate the hair shaft, as well as your face, which in turn helps reduce itchiness and irritation. You just need to remember to use them daily for the best results.
HOW DO I CHOOSE MY BEARD STYLE?
Your choice of beard style is going to depend on two main factors – your face shape and growth pattern. The first step is to work out what shape face you have. The seven main types are rectangle, oval, square, heart, diamond, round, and triangle. Once you have that, you also need to have a look at how your facial hair grows. There's no point in aiming for a full beard if you have no hair growing along your jawline. A goatee style might be a better choice. Keep in mind, your beard growth will likely change with age, so just because you couldn't rock a full beard in your 20s doesn't mean you won't be able to in your 30s.
Check out our blog for more in-depth information. If you have a question about male grooming that wasn’t included or addressed in the information provided, we encourage you to write in.