Trying to fix a stubborn fade line took me a solid hour yesterday

A regular came in wanting a skin fade, but his hair growth pattern on the left side was totally different. I started with my usual method, but this one line just WOULD NOT blend. I switched from my Andis to my Wahl clippers, tried different guards, even went back over it with the grain. Finally, after like 55 minutes of just working that one spot, I used a technique I saw on YouTube where you flick the lever while moving up. Has anyone else had a client with hair that just fights you like that? What's your go-to move?

3 comments

3 Comments

emmar751mo ago

That "flick the lever while moving up" trick is a total last resort for me. I see it as a fix for a problem that shouldn't exist if the initial setup is right. On a tough growth pattern, I spend way more time mapping it out with my fingers before I even pick up a clipper. If a line is fighting me for an hour, it usually means I missed a cowlick or didn't adjust my starting point for how the hair actually lays down.

reeseanderson1mo ago

My barber in Philly swears by that flick trick for curly hair.

blaker755d ago

Wait, hold on. Are you telling me your barber actually does that flick trick on purpose? Like, as a regular move? That's wild to me. I always figured that flick was just a way to save face when you're trying to blend out a mistake you already made. I've never seen anyone do it as a planned part of the haircut. It just seems like you're asking for uneven lines and choppy spots down the road. If my barber pulled that out on me, I'd probably be checking the mirror way too much for the next week. It's one thing to use it in a pinch, but swearing by it? That's a whole other level.