Fade
High Fade with Low-Cut Waves and Squared Line-Up
- Difficulty
- INTERMEDIATE
- Hair Type
- 4A coily, low cut with waves
What it is
Everything is kept very short here: a low-cut top with a fine wave pattern brushed through it, running into a high fade that keeps a soft grey-brown gradient rather than dropping to bald. The fade line sits high above the ear and the blend is long, so there is no visible band anywhere. A squared line-up cuts across the front with a clean step at the temple and a tidy tapered nape. The whole cut is about smoothness rather than contrast.
Who it suits
Best on 4A to 4C hair worn very short with a consistent wave pattern and even coverage. Flatters oval, square and heart-shaped faces, and works well on a smaller head where a bald fade would look severe. Needs a strong hairline. Anyone with density gaps at the crown will find the short length shows them plainly.
How to ask for it
Ask for a low cut on top, around a half guard, with a high fade above the ear blended long and left short rather than taken to skin. Say you want the waves brushed in, a squared line-up at the front, a step at the temple, and the nape tapered rather than blocked off.
Upkeep
Ten to fourteen days, as the short length means growth shows fast. Brush daily to hold the wave, use a light moisturiser, and cover at night.
