Switched to a 0.5 guard for my initial pass on a skin fade yesterday and the blend was way smoother than my usual 1.

I always thought starting higher gave me more room to work, but a guy in my shop in Austin said he goes super low first and after trying it on a client with thick hair, I got a cleaner transition with less work, so has anyone else found a better starting point for certain hair types?

2 comments

2 Comments

faith_schmidt2mo ago

Totally agree, that lower guard start is a game changer for thick hair. My old habit was to use a 2 guard first, but it left a harsh line I had to fight to blend out. Now I go in with a 0.5 or even no guard open on my first pass for those really dense cuts. It creates a softer foundation to build on, so the higher sections just melt into it. Saves me so much time trying to fix a bulky weight line later. Feels like cheating, honestly.

richard_roberts802mo ago

Switched to a 0 guard open last month and it's a total cheat code. That harsh line from a 2 guard was the worst.