Skin fade or half fade.What's the difference.

A skin fade goes all the way down to bare skin at the bottom. A half fade fades shorter than the top but stops before bare skin. Both are $62 at Wally's in Daisy Hill. Both take 30 to 45 minutes in the chair. The choice is about the look you want and how often you want to come back.

What does a skin fade actually look like#

Skin fade means the hair tapers down to nothing at the lowest point. Around the ear, the back of the neck, the temple. The skin is visible at the bottom of the taper.

The contrast is loud. Long on top, bald at the bottom. The line where the hair stops is a hard graphic line. Photographs well. Reads as a sharp cut even from across the room.

It's the cut people see and ask about.

What does a half fade look like#

Half fade still tapers down the sides. Longer on top, shorter as it drops. The difference is the bottom. Instead of going to bare skin, it stops at a short clipper grade. A 0.5, a 1, sometimes a 2 depending on what suits you and the head shape.

The contrast is softer. Still neat. Still a fade. But less of a graphic statement and more of a clean finish. Closer to what most blokes have walked around with for years.

A half fade grows out gentler. That matters if you can't get back to the chair every fortnight.

Which one suits me#

Quick rule:

• Want it loud, sharp at the bottom, and you don't mind the upkeep. Skin fade.
• Want it neat, easier to grow out, and a softer line at the bottom. Half fade.

Other things the chair will look at:

• Head shape. Very pronounced bone structure can look severe with a full skin fade. A half fade softens that.
• Hair type. Thick, dark hair gives the most contrast on a skin fade. Lighter or finer hair sometimes reads better with a half fade because the bare skin is less defined anyway.
• What you wear most days. Tradie hat on at 6am. Suit on Tuesday. Both are fine for either cut. The cut doesn't care.
• Skin sensitivity. Skin fades use the trimmer right against the skin. If you flare up easily, mention it when you sit down.

If you're not sure, ask the barber. Show a photo. We'll tell you straight which one will sit right.

How often will I need to come back#

This is the real difference between the two.

A skin fade looks its sharpest for about 7 to 10 days. After two weeks the skin section has filled in and the hard line is gone. Most skin-fade regulars come back every 2 to 3 weeks.

A half fade holds its shape longer. Three to four weeks is common. Some blokes stretch it to five if the top is still sitting right.

So the maths over a year:

• Skin fade every 2 weeks. Around 26 cuts. About $1,612 a year on cuts.
• Half fade every 4 weeks. Around 13 cuts. About $806 a year on cuts.

Same price per cut. Different total spend because of how often you're back. Worth thinking about before you commit to the look.

What do I ask for at the chair#

Sit down. Tell the barber:

1. Skin fade or half fade.
2. How long you want the top. A number in finger-lengths is fine. Or a photo.
3. Where you want the fade to start. Low (above the ear), mid (around the temple), high (up near the parting). If you don't know, the barber will pick what suits.
4. How you wear it. Side part, swept back, messy, flat.

That's it. The hot towel, styling, and aftershave are part of the cut. You don't need to ask for them.

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Walk in any day we're open. Shop 10, 3/5 Cupania Street, Daisy Hill QLD. The chair will pick the right fade for your hair and your week. See the homepage for hours.