Fading with a 0 guard is overused and lazy most of the time

I see guys in here raving about 0 guard fades on every client like it's the only way to do a clean cut. But I've been cutting hair in my shop for 11 years now and half the time a 0.5 or even a 1 guard gives a way more natural blend that actually suits the person's head shape. Why are we all jumping on the same fade every time when a scissor over comb finish can look sharper on most guys over 35?

3 comments

3 Comments

jakejones1mo ago

I'm gonna push back on that a little. A 0 guard fade is popular because it actually works for a ton of head shapes, especially guys with rounder faces or thinner hair where a longer blend can look boxy and messy. The whole "natural blend" argument makes sense for some people, but for a lot of younger guys who want a modern, sharp look that lasts two weeks instead of a week, the 0 guard clean straight to skin is the way to go. If you're doing a 0.5 or a 1 on a guy with a sharp jawline and dense hair, it can blur the lines too much and just look like an awkward grown out haircut. And scissor over comb on guys over 35? That's a good look on maybe 1 out of 10 dudes over 35 who actually have the hair density and the right face shape for it. Most of them just end up looking like they got a haircut from a barber in the 90s, not something clean and modern. So yeah, 0 guard fades aren't lazy, they're just the best option for a specific look that a lot of clients are asking for.

grantp141mo ago

Oh man, here we go again. I mean next thing you're gonna tell me is that a 0 guard is the secret to world peace or something. I've seen guys in here act like a 0.5 fade is basically a war crime against modern barbering. It's like we forgot that some people actually want to look like they have hair left on their head by the end of the month. But hey, if a 0 guard fade is what gets you through the day and your clients keep coming back, more power to you. Just don't look at me weird when I'm doing a scissor over comb on a 50 year old accountant and he tips me 30 bucks because he actually looks human again.

lilya761mo ago

@jakejones sounds like he's got a 0 guard tattooed on his heart (and probably his clients' heads too).