Fades & Tapers, Blended Right
A fade lives or dies in the blend, that stretch where short becomes long with no line, no steps, no shadow bands. It cannot be rushed. At Friendly Barber we build fades guard by guard, check the blend in two mirrors and under two lights, and send you out with a transition so smooth it looks grown that way.
$5 off a haircut for seniors 65+, active duty military and children 12 and under. Every price is a starting price; the final price is set in the chair by the work.
Skin, low, mid or high
A skin fade takes the sides to bare skin before climbing. A low fade keeps the shortest work near the ear and neck; a mid fade rises to the temples; a high fade moves the transition up near the parietal ridge for maximum contrast. A taper is the quieter cousin, just the neckline and sideburns shortened gradually, the rest left full. If you are not sure which suits you, that is what the first two minutes in the chair are for.
How a clean blend is actually made
The secret is not a secret: it is patience and guard discipline. We set the baseline, work up through the guards (see our fade guide for what the numbers mean), flick out the weight line between each pass, and cross-check the blend from both sides. The last ten percent of a fade takes half the time, that is the part most shops skip and the part we will not.
Keeping it fresh
A fade is a two-to-three-week haircut; after that the contrast softens and the shape blurs. Most of our fade clients book their next visit from the chair. The online book makes that painless.
Common questions
What number should I ask for on the sides?
Guard numbers run from a half (one-sixteenth of an inch) to an eight (a full inch) per the clipper maker's own chart. Most fades start between a half and a two on the sides. Our fade guide page lays the numbers out, or just describe what you want and we will translate.
What is the difference between a fade and a taper?
A taper shortens gradually only at the neckline and sideburns and keeps the rest of the side full. A fade carries that transition up the whole side of the head. A taper reads conservative; a fade reads sharper and needs more upkeep.
Can you fix a fade from another shop?
Usually, yes, if there is enough length left to work with. Worst case, we tighten everything to the shortest workable point and set you up to grow into the right shape. Come in and we will look at it honestly.
The fade guide: what the numbers mean · Men's haircuts · Head shaves