Can we talk about fading from a 2 to a 1 versus just using a 1 guard?

I've been cutting hair for about 6 years now, mostly at a shop in Denver. Lately I've been paying attention to how my fades look after a week versus right after the cut. When I do a fade from a 2 open down to a 1 closed, it looks clean day one but by day five or six the blend starts looking muddy. But when I skip the 2 entirely and just use the 1 guard open to closed with some lever play, the fade holds way better and the grow-out is way smoother. I've had a couple clients notice the difference and ask what I changed. Other barbers I've talked to are split on this. Some say the 2 gives you more room to blend, others say it's unnecessary. What's your take on this? Do you stick with a 2 or go straight to the 1 guard for your fades?

3 comments

3 Comments

alicesingh21d ago

the_john, I've tried that exact method and ended up looking like a confused poodle when the 2 line refused to blend. My fades are already a gamble on most days, so skipping the extra step saves me from myself.

the_john21d ago

Have you tried using the 2 open just to set your weight line then dropping to a 1? That way you get the blend without fighting the fade later.

lee7221d ago

Respectfully gotta disagree with you on this one. I've found the 2 open tends to take off way more than I want when I'm just trying to set a weight line, especially on finer hair (like mine). If I drop to a 1 after that, I end up chasing a line I didn't even need in the first place, and the blend gets patchy near the bottom. What works better for me is going straight in with the 1 and using a little flicking motion at the fade line to soften it, then cleaning up the weight with the 2 half-closed if I need it. Feels like less guesswork and more control, you know?