Tried a new blade angle on my clippers today and got a way cleaner fade

I've been fading for about 5 years now and usually keep my clippers at a 45 degree angle. For some reason today I dropped it to about 30 degrees on a tricky crown area on this guy Mike. The blend came out super smooth with less back and forth passes. Has anyone else messed with different blade angles for specific head shapes?

4 comments

4 Comments

sage_moore371mo ago

Gotta disagree a bit here. Dropping the blade angle that low can actually make some fades look too flat if you're not careful with the weight distribution. I've seen guys try to fix a crown by going too shallow and end up with a weird shelf they have to blend out later. It works for some head shapes for sure but I wouldn't call it a universal fix, definitely depends on how much bulk you're working with up top. My main issue is that lower angles force you to make more passes which can irritate the skin faster, especially if your client has sensitive skin like a lot of dudes do.

kimfisher1mo ago

Had a buddy who tried that lower angle trick on a client with a super sensitive neck and the guy was all red and blotchy by the time he finished the third pass. He ended up having to switch to a higher guard and just work slower to keep the blend clean without tearing up the skin. Said he learned the hard way that sometimes you gotta listen to the skin more than the theory.

ben_lewis1mo ago

Tbh my buddy tried the same thing on a client with a weird cowlick and it saved his whole cut.

the_sam1mo ago

Cowlicks are no joke, they can completely ruin a fade if you don't work with them early. Did your buddy use a different clipper direction or switch up his comb technique to get it to cooperate? Curious what specific trick made the biggest difference for him.