Men · October 26, 2026
A good fade starts with a clear request. Here are the words, guard numbers, and details to give your barber so you leave with the cut you pictured.
Give your barber three things: how high the fade starts (low, mid, or high), how short it goes at the bottom (a guard number or skin), and how much length to keep on top. For example: “Mid fade from a zero up to a #3, leave about two inches on top.” A photo helps even more.
The height of the fade is the first thing to tell your barber. A low fade starts just above the ears and keeps most of the sides. A mid fade starts around the temples. A high fade starts near the top of the head for a sharper contrast.
If you are not sure, a mid fade is the safest first try. It is easy to take higher next time.
Barbers use clipper guard numbers. On most standard guard sets, a #1 is 1/8 inch, a #2 is 1/4 inch, a #3 is 3/8 inch, and a #4 is 1/2 inch, going up by 1/8 inch per number (Wahl guard size guide). A #0 is the bare clipper blade, about 1/16 inch. A skin fade, also called a bald fade, goes down to skin with a foil shaver or razor.
Try saying: “Mid fade, starting at a zero, blended up to a #3.” That one sentence tells your barber the height, the shortest length, and where the blend ends.
A taper shortens gradually only at the sideburns and the neckline, and keeps more length on the sides. A fade blends shorter over a larger area. Ask for a taper if you want a cleaner, more conservative look or if your workplace is formal.
Tell your barber how much length to leave on top in inches, or say “just clean it up” to keep it. Mention how you style it, like brushed back, textured crop, curls, or a side part, so the top is cut to suit.
Also mention the neckline: blocked (squared), rounded, or tapered. Ask for a line-up if you want a crisp edge at the forehead and temples.
A clear photo of the back and side is worth more than any description. Pick one where the hair type is close to yours, since a fade on straight hair looks different on curly or thick hair.
Plan to come back every two to three weeks to keep a fade sharp. In a Middle Tennessee summer, a shorter fade also stays cooler and neater in the heat.
Cute Cuts at 569 S Lowry St offers men’s haircuts, fades, and beard trims in Smyrna from $35. It is an easy stop for men and boys from Smyrna, La Vergne, and Murfreesboro, and the salon is open Sunday afternoons from 12 to 3 for a fresh cut before the work or school week.
Questions clients ask
Name three things: the height (low, mid, or high), the shortest length (a guard number or skin), and how much to leave on top. For example, “Mid fade from a zero to a #3, leave two inches on top.” Show a photo of the back and side if you have one.
A taper shortens only at the sideburns and neckline and keeps more length on the sides, so it looks cleaner and more conservative. A fade blends shorter over more of the sides and back, often down to skin, for stronger contrast. Both can pair with any length on top.
A skin fade has no guard number. It starts below a #0, which is the bare clipper blade at about 1/16 inch, and is finished down to skin with a foil shaver or razor. It then blends up through longer guards, such as a #1 and #2, toward the top.
Every two to three weeks keeps a fade sharp, because short hair on the sides shows growth quickly. A skin or high fade needs the most frequent visits. A low fade or taper grows out more gently and can usually go three to four weeks between cuts.