How to Cut a Fade On Your Own Hair

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Expert insights on the best ways to fade your own hair
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The fade cut has seen a major resurgence in popularity thanks to its clean transitions and versatility, so it’s only right that you’re looking to try it at home. Although it may seem tricky at first, you can easily achieve a fade at home by following the steps in this article. We explain the whole process of cutting a fade, from prepping the clippers to cleaning up the layer lines, with the help of insight from professional hair stylists. Read on to get your sides clean and crispy!

How do you fade hair?

  1. Wash your hair and detangle it with a comb.
  2. Look in a mirror.
  3. Set a pair of adjustable electric clippers to a low guard
  4. Cut the low sides and back of your hair short.
  5. Switch to the next guard and cut above that.
  6. Hold the clippers horizontally and gently cut over any lines.
  7. Repeat this with higher lengths until the fade is complete.
Part 1
Part 1 of 3:

Preparing for the Fade

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  1. Styling tends to be easier when your hair is full and pliable. Go ahead and clean it with shampoo and conditioner , then comb your hair to remove tangles. If your hair dries and you find it tough to cut, you can dampen it again by spritzing it with a spray bottle.
  2. When cutting your hair at home, celebrity hair stylist Noël Reid-Killings suggests having a second person around so you’re not doing it completely alone. [3] But if help isn't available, use a mirror as you work towards the back of your head. It'll help you see what you're doing. Plus, after the cut, you can use the mirror to inspect the cuts you made and find any areas that need to be corrected.
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  3. Adjustable electric clippers are your best tool for achieving a fade. Professional hair stylist Arthur Sebastian says to get ones that come with several guards because you'll need to change the guards to your clippers when you want to cut hair at different lengths. [4]
    • These different lengths are what will help you achieve that gradual length transition that the fade is known for.
    • Some clippers may also have a bracket setting. When you flip off the setting, the blades cut off about an extra â…› inch (3.2 mm).
  4. The key to a good-looking fade is balance. A fade that starts too high on your head doesn't work well with longer hair on top. It can resemble an undercut, or make your face look longer. Before you begin, determine how long you'll leave the hair up top. Don't cut the hair at the tops of the sides of your head short unless you are going for a short fade. [5]
    • Trimming the top of your head first may help you figure out your balance. Remember, it's better to cut your hair longer at first because you can always go back and cut it shorter, but you can't make short hair grow back quickly.
    • Depending on the fade, you may want to leave the hair shorter or longer. Some fades, like the low taper fade , work well with all lengths. Others, like the blowout taper , work best on long hair.
  5. The fade is a short hairstyle, so if you currently have long hair, you'll want to remove the bulk of it before getting started on your fade. Pull hair back into a low ponytail and secure it with an elastic or clip. Cut the ponytail below the elastic or clip. Then, hold out sections of hair and cut them to the desired starting length.
    • Base this length on your balance. If you've decided to make the top of your hair 2.5 inches (6.4 cm) high, then make sure that you don't cut your long hair any shorter than that length.
  6. Start with the hair on the crown (top center) of your head. Hold your comb flat and sweep it over your head to pick up hair. Use scissors to cut the hair to the desired length. Continue working until you get to the rounded portion of your head. Don't cut the hair below it. [6]
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Part 2
Part 2 of 3:

Creating the Fade

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  1. Sebastian says electric clippers come with adjustable guards. The lowest-numbered guard cuts hair shortest. [7] Use a low guard, such as a #2, to achieve a short, clean look. Hold the clippers vertically and gently sweep them up and off the sides and back of your head. Move slowly and gently from the bottom of your head to avoid taking off too much hair. [8]
    • The #2 guard will leave hair 1/4th an inch (6 mm) long.
    • Another way to achieve a fade is to start with higher-numbered guards and create layers from the top down. This may help you if you keep cutting your hair too short.
    • When sweeping the clippers, use a scooping motion—as if you were scooping ice cream.
    • When you start, experiment on one side first to figure out the right cutting motion and length you need to make the hair to correct rough spots.
  2. The next highest-numbered guard will leave your hair a little longer. Try moving up a size or two. Alternatively, keep the same guard and flip on the bracket setting if your clippers have the option. The brackets add about â…› an inch (3 mm) to the length of each guard. [9]
    • A #4, for instance, will leave your hair ½ an inch (12 mm) long.
  3. Place your clippers right above your last cut. Cut your hair the same way you did before, using the scooping motion to make short, precise cuts. Do this all the way around your head and to the other side. You'll see the beginning layers of the fade. [10]
  4. Look into a mirror and check for lines distinguishing your two cuts. To make the fade appear smooth, you have to blend the two cuts wherever you see a line. If your clippers come with a bracket setting, now is a perfect time to use it. Hold the clippers horizontally, start at one end of your head, and gently cut over the line. [11]
  5. Switch up another guard size or change the bracket setting. Cut right above the last cut to form another layer. According to Sebastian, you may have to switch the guards and bracket setting on your clippers multiple times until you reach the top of your head. [12]
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Part 3
Part 3 of 3:

Finishing the Fade

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  1. Hold up a mirror and examine all sides of your head. Look for lines left over from layering. Also, check to see if the hair length on the top of your head is balanced with the length of the fade. Go back over with the clippers to make adjustments, then finish by using trimmers or a razor to reach areas such as your neckline or near your ears.
    • As you're learning, the haircut may not come out very well at first. Try to correct it or cut your hair short and wait for it to grow back so you can try again.
  2. Once you believe you are finished clipping, you can style the hair on the top of your head using gel or another product. This is, of course, optional and not needed if you chose a short fade.
  3. Because a fade involves short cuts, hair growth will be noticeable. You'll see the layers start to disappear as the hair gets longer and messier. Go back and fade your hair again or have a barber trim it. [13]
    • A friend can not only tell you when it's time for a haircut, but can tell you where you need to make corrections after you cut your hair.
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Expert Q&A

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  • Question
    What's the lowest clipper size you should use for a fade?
    Arthur Sebastian
    Professional Hair Stylist
    Arthur Sebastian is a Professional Hair Stylist based in San Francisco, California. He is the Owner of Arthur Sebastian Hair Salon, a studio offering Hair Styling, Color & Brazilian Blowout services. Arthur has 30 years of experience styling hair. His career began with apprenticeships at Wayne’s Beauty College in Santa Cruz, California Miss Marty’s School of Beauty in San Francisco, California. After receiving his Cosmetology License in 1998, he rented his first station at Wack Shack Hair Salon in San Francisco, going on to hold positions at Posh Hair Salon, Acabello Hair Salon, and Red Union Salon before opening his own studio. With over 500 online customer reviews, Arthur Sebastian Hair Salon has a 5 star average rating on Yelp and 4.9 average review on Google.
    Arthur Sebastian
    Professional Hair Stylist
    Expert Answer
    In most cases, you're going to use the #0 attachment when you get to the base of your fade. The #0 is basically shaving down to the skin and you would use that at the bottom of the fade. So near the top of your hairline, you might use a #2 or #3 and then work your way progressively down with smaller clipper attachments.
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      References

      1. ↑ Patrick Evan. Professional Hair Stylist. Expert Interview. 17 January 2019.
      2. ↑ Patrick Evan. Professional Hair Stylist. Expert Interview. 17 January 2019.
      3. ↑ Noël Reid-Killings. Celebrity Hair Stylist. Expert Interview. 25 November 2020.
      4. ↑ Arthur Sebastian. Professional Hair Stylist. Expert Interview. 29 April 2019.
      5. ↑ http://www.gq.com/story/fade-haircut-mistakes-how-to-fix-rio-olympics
      6. ↑ https://youtu.be/uCEI1PggQig?si=yDHo6CXxY3IyRp5X&t=79
      7. ↑ Arthur Sebastian. Professional Hair Stylist. Expert Interview. 29 April 2019.
      8. ↑ https://youtu.be/HTjXVJ_XU5s?si=VMbSD9YSlUDj6ArB&t=38
      9. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0XFvG1xg6Wc&feature=youtu.be&t=132
      1. ↑ http://coolmenshair.com/2012/03/give-yourself-a-high-and-tight-haircut.html
      2. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UwhriUJvD8E&feature=youtu.be&t=175
      3. ↑ Arthur Sebastian. Professional Hair Stylist. Expert Interview. 29 April 2019.
      4. ↑ http://www.fashionbeans.com/2016/the-complete-guide-to-mens-fade-haircuts/

      About This Article

      Article Summary X

      To give yourself a fade, start with a low-numbered guard on your electric clippers, like a #2, and cut a row of hair all the way around your head. Move slowly from the bottom of your head, sweeping the clippers upward as if you were scooping ice cream. Then, start just above that cut and go around again using a guard that’s up a size or two, which will leave the hair a little longer. Continue cutting with higher-numbered guards until you reach the top of your head. Finally, gently cut over the lines between layers with the bracket setting of your clippers to smooth out your fade. For tips from our Cosmetology reviewer on how to trim the top of your hair to balance your fade and flatter your face, keep reading!

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      • Tony S.

        Aug 27, 2024

        "By reading and following the instructions provided, I was able to achieve the fade haircut I wanted. The ..." more
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