Levi KeswickKey takeaways:
- The light skin taper fade is a versatile and stylish haircut that suits various hair types and face shapes.
- Achieving the perfect fade requires the right tools, technique, and practice.
- Proper maintenance and finishing touches are crucial to maintaining the clean and fresh look of a light skin taper fade.
Introduction to the Light Skin Taper Fade
The light skin taper fade is an iconic men’s haircut, characterized by short hair at the bottom that gradually gets longer towards the top of the head. The term “light skin” doesn’t denote the suitability of the haircut for a particular skin tone. Instead, it reflects the haircut’s emphasis on a “lighter” or less pronounced transition from short to long hair, making it versatile for different hair types and face shapes.
Getting Started: The Right Tools and Preparations
To master the light skin taper fade, you’ll need to equip yourself with the right tools, including hair clippers, guards of various sizes, a comb, hair clips or elastic bands, and a beard trimmer for clean finishing. The most crucial tool is the hair clippers, as it dictates the precision of the fade.
Before you start cutting, ensure the hair is damp but not soaking wet. This allows you to easily mold and cut the hair, facilitating a smoother taper fade. Parting the hair correctly is also essential as it can influence the overall outcome of the haircut.
Cutting the Hair: Achieving the Perfect Taper Fade
The first step is to section off the top portion of hair by tracing a rectangle above the round of the skull, separating the longer top hair from the shorter sides. You can use a clip or an elastic band to keep this hair out of the way.
Next, decide on the guard size for the fade line. A lower guard size means a shorter cut. Pick a higher guard number to start, such as a #3. You’ll switch to shorter guards as you move down, thereby creating the taper fade.
When cutting, hold the clippers vertically and move them in an upward motion from the sideburns towards the head. Do not cut the sectioned-off hair on top of the head. Move your clippers in an upward motion, moving out with an arc with each movement. For the fade line, keep the clippers vertical but move them sideways across the line.
Mastering the Fade: Achieving an Even Transition
The key to a successful light skin taper fade is to ensure an even transition from the shorter sides to the longer top. Once you’ve got the base cut around the sides and back of the head, it’s time to switch to your next guard, such as a #2. Repeat the same shaving technique as before, starting at the bottom and moving up, but don’t go all the way to the top. This creates your next fade line.
You may have to switch guards again and repeat the process, shaving the lower portion of the head with a #1, depending on how pronounced you want the fade to be. Be patient and move in small sections to maintain an even cut.
Finishing the Fade: Creating a Smooth Transition
A crucial step in achieving a perfect light skin taper fade is cleaning up the fade line using the clippers-over-comb method. This involves angling the comb at a 45-degree angle to the fade line and combing upward towards the top of the head, only moving the comb an inch or two into the hair. Running the clippers upward over the comb, from the fade line, cuts the hair that’s above the teeth. Repeat this process around the fade line(s) for a smooth transition.
Making the Final Touches
The last steps include shaving the bottom of the hair with a beard trimmer or unguarded clippers for a distinct ending point at the base of the head, cleaning up any remnants of the visible line using your clippers, and cutting the top of the hair to the desired style. The finishing touch includes cleaning up the base of the neck and styling the top with a pomade or gel for a finished look.
Conclusion: Perfecting the Light Skin Taper Fade
Mastering the light skin taper fade haircut requires precision, patience, and practice. But with the right tools, technique, and finishing touches, you can create this stylish and timeless look with ease. Whether you’re cutting your hair or offering this service to others, the light skin taper fade is an excellent haircut to have in your grooming repertoire.
