Keeping a Skin Fade Sharp Between Appointments
A skin fade looks its best for about two weeks. With a little care you can stretch it to three, and grow it out without an awkward stage.
The skin fade is the most precise cut we do, and the one that shows wear fastest. Hair grows around a centimetre a month, so the smoothest part of the blend, right down at the skin, is the first to soften. Here's how to keep it looking deliberate for longer.
Book the next one before you leave
For a sharp fade, two to three weeks between appointments is the sweet spot. Book before you walk out and you'll get the slot you want, especially for Thursday evenings and Saturdays, which fill first.
Leave the line-up to us
It's tempting to tidy the hairline with a home trimmer. Please don't. Pushing the line back even a couple of millimetres is permanent until it grows, and it's the most common reason a fade ends up looking unnatural. If the neckline gets fuzzy, you can carefully tidy below the natural hairline only.
Look after the skin
- Exfoliate the back and sides gently once or twice a week to prevent ingrown hairs.
- Moisturise the faded area. Freshly exposed skin dries out quickly, especially in winter.
- Wear SPF on the sides in summer; a faded scalp burns faster than you'd expect.
Style the top, not the sides
A matte clay or paste on the top keeps the contrast with the fade crisp. Avoid heavy, shiny products that weigh hair down onto the sides and make the blend look darker than it is.
