Frequency by style
- Skin or bald fade: every one to two weeks. Highest maintenance style there is.
- High or mid fade: every two to three weeks.
- Low fade: every three to four weeks.
- Taper: every three to four weeks, and it stays presentable at five.
- Longer scissor cut or textured crop: every six to eight weeks.
- Buzz cut: every two to three weeks, or do it yourself between shop visits.
The maintenance trap
A skin fade looks incredible for about six days. If you cut every four weeks, that means roughly a fifth of your month looks the way you wanted and the rest is the fade growing out unevenly.
A taper cut on the same four week cycle looks close to intended for nearly the whole period. Unless you are genuinely getting cut every two weeks, the softer style produces a better-looking month.
The cheaper middle option
A $25 Beard Line Up between full haircuts covers the neckline and edges, which is where a cut visibly ages first. Many clients run a $37 haircut monthly with a $25 line up at the two week mark.
That is $62 a month for something that reads as sharp the entire time, versus $74 for two full cuts. It is the most underused booking on the menu.
Signs it is time
- The neckline has gone fuzzy or the hair is touching your collar.
- The sides have started growing outward instead of down.
- You need product to make it behave when you did not before.
- The fade line has blurred and the contrast has gone.
- It has been more than four weeks and you are asking the question.