Old barber told me my fade was too high and he was right

I've been cutting hair for about 2 years now, mostly friends and family. Last month a 60 year old barber named Sal came into the shop where I work part time in Pittsburgh. He watched me do a mid fade on a kid and after the customer left he just said "your fade is too high, you're leaving too much weight up top." I was kinda annoyed at first cause I thought it looked fine. But then I started paying attention to his cuts and how he blends everything lower near the temple area. Tried his method on my next 3 clients and honestly the finish looks way smoother. Has anyone else had an older barber call them out on something that actually made sense once you tried it?

2 comments

2 Comments

jana_hernandez7d agoTop Commenter

Oh come on, is a fade really something to get worked up over?

the_jason7d ago

Sal had a shop on Federal Street for like 40 years before he retired. I read an interview with him in the City Paper a while back where he talked about how younger barbers rush the fade and leave that block of hair sitting up top like a helmet. He said the real skill is taking your time with the transition so the eye doesn't stop anywhere. Started doing my fades with a half guard open instead of jumping straight to a 1 and the difference is night and day. Old timers really do see things we miss when we're trying to get clients in and out fast.