The Skin Fade Guide: Zero, Low, Mid, High — What's Actually Right for You?

Every man's been here. You sit in the chair, the barber asks "how high do you want the fade?", and you nod and say "uh, like, normal?" — and then you walk out either disappointed or terrified of your own reflection.

Here's the honest version, written by someone who cuts roughly twenty fades a day.

Zero fade The hair goes all the way to skin at the bottom. Sharpest contrast, biggest commitment. If you've got a perfectly shaped head and you're prepared to come in every two weeks, brilliant. If you're growing out a previous cut or you've got any kind of scalp issue, give it a miss.

Low fade Starts the taper just above the ears. Subtle. Doesn't scream "I just got a haircut" — which, depending on your job, may be exactly the point. Best all-rounder. If you don't know what you want, this is what you want.

Mid fade The taper starts at temple height. Classic shape. Works on everyone. Eighty percent of the fades we cut at TGR are mid fades because they're flattering, low-maintenance, and look as sharp at four weeks as they do on day one.

High fade Taper starts near the top of the head. Bold. Looks great on men with strong jawlines and short hair on top. Less forgiving — if your head shape isn't right for it, it'll show. Ask your barber honestly.

The right fade isn't a personality test. It's a conversation. Walk in, tell us what you do, what you don't want to do every morning, and we'll tell you what'll work.