Shadow Fade Haircut Tutorial

With Gary Woo.

Duration 2 hour 23 minutes
Skill level Intermediate
Certificate Men’s Tapered and Faded Haircuts Collection
  • Overview
  • Meet Our Trainers
  • Glossary

Overview

The shadow fade is a popular fade haircut, especially for, but not limited to, afro hair. While there are many variations of the shadow fade haircut, the defining feature is within the gradient of the short fade up to the longer top hair. Some fades feature a very pronounced short section, or even skin-tight section, with a very gradual fade from long to short. Other haircuts have a smooth gradient from long to short, while others still have a definite line between the long and short sections. The shadow fade generally will consist of very short, to a slightly longer mid-section around the temple, then blending into the longer top section. This mid-section density resembles a shadow around the top of the fade, hence the name.

Gary Woo teaches an example of a shadow fade in his haircut tutorial in the MHDPro Men’s Tapered and Faded Haircuts Collection. This collection features five tutorials demonstrating a variety of fades and tapered neckline haircuts from expert international barbers and educators, including Amsterdam’s New York Barbershop, Shanghai’s Gary Woo and London’s Stelios Chondros. This collection is perfect for introducing you to fades, which you can adapt to suit the requirements and suitability of your clientele.

Learn how to cut and style in the Men’s Tapered and Faded Haircut Collection on MHDPro today. Our online courses are perfect for in-salon training, independent barbering training or tutor’s CPD. Every course is endorsed by VTCT and iTEC, the world’s largest awarding body and on successful completion of the course, you can download an exclusive CPD Certificate of Recognition.

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Meet Our Trainers

Gary Woo

Gary Woo

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Glossary

Clipper-Over-Comb

A technique for cutting hair. Clippers are used to cut hair following the movement over top of a comb.

Fade/Fading

Going from a shorter length to a longer length gradually with no appearance of lines or steps.

Graduated Line (Cutting)

Graduation is the build-up of weight, within a shape or on an external line, through the use of over-direction.

Scissors Over Comb

This is a technique where the comb is used as a cutting guide for the scissors.

Tapered Necklines

A neckline that has soft outlines that follow the natural hairline shape. The outline appears to fade out with no harsh lines visible.

Course Lesson Plan

Gentleman's Cut
Lesson 1

In lesson one, Ivan Rodrigues of the New York Barbershop demonstrates a gentleman’s haircut featuring pointers on low graduation, round layering, thinning shears, razor thinning and disconnection. The result is a tapered haircut with a low fade that perfectly chimes with the times.

Gentleman's Cut
Razor Parting Haircut
Lesson 2

Ivan continues in lesson two as he teaches a razor parting haircut featuring pointers on clippers-over-comb techniques, guards, blending, thinning and placement of a line. This builds on the skills earned in lesson one, with a tapered haircut and a mid fade complimented with a pronounced razor parting.

Razor Parting Haircut
Flat Graduation with Disconnection
Lesson 3

Lesson three, with Gary Woo, is a flat graduated haircut with disconnection. In this lesson Gary delivers an asymmetric internal shape with advice on masculine head shapes, finger angle, over-comb techniques and tapered outlines. The result is a high fade haircut with multiple styling options to suit any occasion, such as slicked and smart or a high Brooklyn blowout.

Flat Graduation with Disconnection
Square Graduation with Disconnected Parting
Lesson 4

In lesson four Stelios Chondros demonstrates how to create a short and stylish variation of the Brooklyn fade using square graduation with a disconnected parting. The final result is a square, polished, masculine shape with a regency fringe for maximum length and versatility.

Square Graduation with Disconnected Parting
Razor Fade Haircut
Lesson 5

And finally in lesson five Jason Verhaeghe of the New York Barbershop teaches a conventional razor fade. The tutorial features advice on clipper type and size, guidelines, dexterity and scissor-over-comb techniques. The result is a modern update of traditional men’s haircuts with the option for slick business styling or a Brooklyn blowout fade.

Razor Fade Haircut

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