Chat with a retiree at 7am completely shifted my fade approach

I was setting up my station last Tuesday before my first client, and this older guy named Frank who comes in every week just to hang out was telling me about his 40 years cutting hair. He said 'you're rushing the blend because you're scared to take it higher' and honestly it hit different coming from a guy who's been doing this since clippers had cords that weighed 5 pounds. I tried his method on my afternoon client and the fade came out way smoother with less back and forth. Has anyone else gotten a tip from an old timer that made you rethink your whole routine?

3 comments

3 Comments

jamie_adams1d ago

Totally agree with Fiona, that advice about going higher fixes so many fades.

fiona_kim1d ago

Actually I gotta push back a little on Gavin's comment cause those old clippers weren't really 5 pounds. My dad was a barber in the 80s and the Oster 76s weighed like 2.5 pounds tops with the cord. Still heavy compared to today's stuff for sure but not 5 pounds. You gotta remember people back then had a different idea of what "heavy" meant when they talked about it years later. Like when Frank says 5 pounds he's probably exaggerating for effect cause it FELT that heavy after a whole day of cuts. But yeah the real point he's making about taking the fade higher is actually super solid advice. I see so many young barbers today scared to go up past the temple line and it messes up the whole blend.

gavin2281d ago

Bruh wait, five pound clippers?? That's wild. Can't even imagine trying to do a fade with that kinda weight dragging your arm down.