My old way of blending a fade left a line every time

For years, I would start with a #1 guard and work up, but I'd always see a faint line at the transition. Last week, a barber in Charlotte showed me his method: start with the open #2, then go back over the area with the closed #1 guard to soften the blend. It completely changed the finish. How do you all handle that blend from a #1 to a #2?

2 comments

2 Comments

davis.dakota29d ago

Man, I used to be so sure you had to start with the lower guard. That Charlotte barber's trick with the open two first is a total game changer. It really does soften everything up before you even try to blend. @walker.michael is onto something with that flicking method too, using just the corner. Combining those ideas makes the line just disappear. You get a much smoother fade without any of that obvious banding.

walker.michael29d ago

Saw a video where a guy uses the corner of his clipper blade, not the whole thing, to work that line out. He called it flicking the wrist, just little quick motions at an angle. Makes sense because you're not hitting the same spot with full pressure.