Fade
High Drop Fade with Loose Curl Top
- Difficulty
- ADVANCED
- Hair Type
- 3A to 3C curly, medium density
What it is
The fade sits high but drops as it travels back, arcing down behind the ear rather than running level, which follows the curve of the skull and keeps weight off the back corner. Below the drop it goes to skin. The top carries loose, open curls left around two inches, heaviest through the crown and falling forward slightly at the front. A stepped line-up is cut at the temple, with the fade meeting it cleanly.
Who it suits
Works with 3A to 3C curls that have body but not tight spring. Best for oval, square and heart-shaped faces; the dropped back softens a flat occipital bone. Medium to high density is needed to keep the curls from separating. Very tight coils will read differently and are better suited to a level high fade.
How to ask for it
Ask for a high drop fade, bald at the bottom, with the fade line dropping down behind the ear instead of running straight across. Say to leave about two inches of curl on top with no thinning, and cut a stepped line-up at the front corner and temple.
Upkeep
Three weeks; the drop stays readable a little longer than a level fade. Curls need conditioner twice a week and a leave-in on damp hair to stop frizz at the crown.
