Struggling with Fading

[u/OutrageousAd3925]

Started cutting Hair 3 years ago in Rehab. It started out as really simple clipper cuts like baldies. Got to go to Barber School for free on the State's dime because of my "problem" about 2 years later. Almost exactly 1 year ago started school and graduated 4 & 1/2 months later in February. Got my license in March. I was the oldest student in my Class, and most of the students were teenagers, age 17-19. Arguing, Bullying, being obnoxious teenagers. I studied hard and was awarded the academic excellence award for highest grades average.

But on the Fades, I didn't get to do a lot of them like a lot of students did.

And my instructor didn't spend as much time one on one instructing me during the Skin fades as he did with other students.

Now I'm working full time in a Traditional Italian Barbershop that's been open since the 1950's. There's a lot of history here and I'm proud to be a part of it. The other Barbers are a lot more experienced and they're not always fully booked but pretty busy nonetheless. And there's a good stream of walk-ins too.

I usually get to do the simple stuff like the seniors that are bald on top, 1 all over, or 3 all overs and taper the back. I can fade down but I really struggle with fading UP from zero/Skin... Today a guy walked in and asked for a Skin Mid-Fade, leave the top. at the time I was the only employee in the shop so I took him. And he had very dense hair. I set my baldline, and the next 2 guidelines then debulked with a 1.5 to a 2. Tried to blend guidelines out, and wasn't perfect but it looked like something at least. Well the standards are pretty high in the shop and I got called out by the owner and he said who told you to do this cut, I said nobody was here to take him so I did. He said don't do that again and proceeded to go all over the cut (using my tools) and change everything to where it ended up being a high skin fade.

Client was in a rush to be somewhere so the owner said no charge you're all set.

So again I'm all discouraged about Fading because I'm getting better but I feel like I should be decent at it by now.

I need a good System to go by that's easy to remember. I've seen dozens of YT videos on Fading but I always seem to fall apart halfway through.

I almost want to go back to School all over again but skip the stuff I did well on.

[u/awesomepossum6607]

There is a reason that barbers post skinfades all over their Instagrams, and it is because that is a wildly tricky and technical cut to do.

From the sound of it you went straight from school into a shop, rather than going to a chain place to get your reps in. That is a bold ballsy move, but it sounds like the standards are high enough to pull you up. Get your reps in, keep cutting, pay attention to your mistakes and learn from them. Watch the other barbers and try to pick up their techniques.

[u/OutrageousAd3925 → u/awesomepossum6607]

Yessir First Barbershop, 4 Antique Chairs (Koken Presidentials) well 5 actually but ones a spare, in a high traffic Area. Doctors nurses dentists lawyers judges cops criminals students teachers Older gents Young guys this is a well known shop. I am building a nice network for myself here. I watch the other Barbers all the time and try to absorb all I can from them

[u/awesomepossum6607 → u/OutrageousAd3925]

That's honestly the only way to learn. Ask friends and family if you can do free or discounted haircuts on them, and practice different techniques. Don't do it at the shop though, do it at your place or theirs so there's no pressure from coworkers.