How to Give Fades to Kids

The short, easy to style fade is perfect for young boys.

Short and clippered, the fade is a favorite among young boys. Since clippers create most of the style, parents find it easier to execute this style at home than other styles. The sides and back, cut close by the clippers, gradually get longer. The top of the hair, measuring 1/2 inch to 3 inches, can be worn in a variety of ways including curly, spiked, faux hawked, straight down, parted or messy. The versatility of the cut makes it a great alternative for all boys, regardless of style preference or ethnicity.

Things You'll Need

• Comb
• Clippers
• Clipper guards
• Scissors
• Trimmers

Instructions

1. Choose a clipper guard for the back and sides of the cut. Clipper guard sizes range from 1/8 inch to 1 inch. Choose a shorter guard for a closer cut and a longer guard for a longer cut.

2. Attach the clipper guard to the clippers and cut the hair by running the clippers up the back and sides of the head. Use narrow, long strokes -- overlapping sections as you go -- to cut the hair. Cut to the apex of the head -- the part of the skull that curves toward the top of the head.

3. Comb the hair on top of the head straight up from the scalp in small, 1/2-inch horizontal or vertical sections. Cut all the hair to the length of your choosing. Keep all the cuts even and of the same length. Comb the hair and hold it up in every direction to check for long hairs.

4. Comb the hair forward. Blend the shorter hair on the sides with the longer hair on top with the clippers. Attach a guard one size larger than the one used on the back and sides to the clippers. Blend the hair using short strokes along the apex of the head.

5. Clean up the hairline and above the ears with trimmers. The clippers cut the hair short, but boy's and men's cuts are edged up, meaning all the hair over the ears and in the neckline is cut to the natural hairline --- the place where hair stops growing. Cut off any hair that grows or hangs below the natural hairline, including the neck hair down to the collar of the shirt. Square up the hair at the nape of the neck, removing any hair that grows lower than the majority of the nape hair.

Tips & Warnings

• Use a cape and put something -- a towel or neck strip -- under the cape, against the skin of the neck. Getting a haircut can get itchy, especially for young boys. By creating a barrier to keep the hair out, you help your little man stay comfortable.

• Boys wiggle, jump and move a lot. One move can result in a bald or short spot. Stay alert and ready to move the clippers away from the head in an instant to avoid messing up the cut.

References

• "Milady's Standard Textbook of Cosmetology"; Milady, et al.; 2008