I finally gave a client exactly what he asked for with a skin fade

He came in with a picture of a tight fade that started way up high, almost a bald fade. I did it exactly like the photo, step by step, no adjustments. When I turned him around, he looked in the mirror and his face just dropped. He said, 'Man, that's way too high for me.' I learned that sometimes clients don't know what they're actually asking for until they see it on their own head. How do you guys handle a request that you know might not suit the client's face shape?

3 comments

3 Comments

ray_campbell4620h ago

Ever read that thing about how people see a haircut on a model and not on their own head? I heard a barber say he always asks where they usually wear their hairline or part before he even picks up the clippers. If someone brings a picture, I point at the fade line in the photo and ask if they're sure they want it that high up. Sometimes you gotta be the one to say, "That's a great look, but on you, starting it a finger width lower might work better." It saves the whole sad mirror moment.

taylor1219h ago

Wait, you point at the fade line in the photo? That's so smart! I never even thought about that specific spot being the problem. I just picture someone holding up a phone with a picture of some actor and the barber is just tapping the screen like "right here, my guy, you see where this shaved part starts? That's going to be on your forehead." It must stop so many bad haircuts before they even happen.

grace_campbell15h ago

Ever tried showing them a bad haircut pic instead?