
How to Cut your Hair to have a Fade Cut
Tapered, tight and never out of style, the Fade Cut is an easy haircut to do and easier to maintain. That's why it has never faded from popularity.
What you will need:
- Wahl clipper
- Wahl trimmer
- #2 (1/4") guide comb attachment
- #4 (1/2") guide comb attachment
How to Do a Fade Haircut Step-by-Step
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1
Dampen your hair with the spray bottle. Comb your hair down so it is lying straight.
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2
Using your Wahl clipper, attach the #2 guide comb (1/4"). Then begin around the ears, moving towards the back of the head using an upward rocking motion. To get a tighter taper around the ears, pull the skin taut while cutting.
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3
Once you’ve taken care of the sides and back of the head, put on the #4 guide comb (1/2"). Focus on the top of the head using a front-to-back, rocking motion as you move the clipper across the top of the head.
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4
Detailing makes all the difference with the Fade haircut. Use the rocking motion or inverted clipper technique to get your hair fade just right. And when it comes to the cowlick, make sure you cut in the opposite direction of the growth.
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5
The Fade haircut is a polished look but some still like to add styling product at the end to finish it off.
Find more tips for how to cut a fade from Men’s Health Fashion Editor Dan Michel.
What to use
Need help deciding what you need?
Having the right tool for the job can make all the difference when it comes to at-home haircutting.
Product SelectorsAdditional Tips for Self Haircuts
Choosing the Right Guide Comb

Guide combs attach to the clipper and are designed to cut hair at a certain length. The smaller the number, the shorter the cut. The larger the number, the longer the hair will be. Remember, you can always cut off more hair, but you can’t add hair, so start off with a larger guide comb if you’re unsure.
Make Sure to Blend Your Hair

The Upward Rocking Motion helps you blend different lengths of hair in different sections of the head to achieve a finished look. To do this, carefully pull the clipper away from the scalp in fluid strokes as you cut upward to blend the hair from one length to the next. Fine hair requires more blending as it tends to show different cut lengths more easily.
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