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Unpopular opinion: I think the 'fade first, then top' rule is overrated
I was at a shop in Austin last month and watched a barber start with the bulk of the top before even touching the sides. Everyone says you have to fade first to set the shape, but his way let him match the side length to the weight he left on top perfectly. The cut looked sharp, and he saved time not having to go back and blend the top into an already-finished fade. Has anyone else tried flipping the usual order on certain cuts?
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rayking14d ago
Hold up, you saw this in Austin? I was just there and every shop I walked past was doing fades first, same as always. That barber must be crazy confident to go against the grain like that. I can't imagine trying to match the sides after the top is already set, that seems like a recipe for a lopsided mess.
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the_blake14d ago
Yeah that lopsided mess is exactly why I always start with the sides.
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charles72014d ago
Remember my buddy tried that top-first method once. He ended up with a weird step on the side, just like @rayking said could happen. It takes a real pro to pull it off without a guide.
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