What a skin fade is, the difference between a high, mid and low fade, and how we cut one so it still looks sharp three weeks later.
A skin fade takes the hair right down to the skin at the sides and back, then blends up into whatever length you're keeping on top. It's the tightest, cleanest fade there is: no visible line where the clipper stops, just a smooth gradient from bare skin to full length. It works on straight hair, curls, coils, and everything between, because the fade is doing the shaping, not the texture on top.
A taper fade is the softer version: the sides come down short, but the clippers never touch bare skin. Read our taper fade guide, or see the two head to head in our taper fade vs skin fade comparison.
The fade's starting point changes the whole look. This is what each one does.
Starts near the crown, so most of the side of your head is bare skin. Sharpest contrast, most maintenance, best on thicker hair on top that needs the contrast to stand out.
Starts around temple height. The most requested version at Crew, because it's sharp without being loud, and it grows out without looking patchy.
Starts just above the ear. Subtler, works well for office jobs or anyone who doesn't want to be back in the chair every two weeks.
Every skin fade starts the same way: a quick look at your last cut and a question about what you want to change, then clippers on a zero guard taken down close, working up through the guards until the top length starts. A straight razor or foil shaver finishes the lowest part of the fade to true skin, then we finish with a razor line and a head massage. It's £20 at every shop, the same price whether you're at Isleworth or Teddington, and it comes with the same hot-towel neck finish as every other cut on the board.
£20, at every one of our four West London shops. Under-12s get a Little Gents fade for £15.
A high skin fade needs a refresh every two to three weeks to stay sharp. Low and mid fades hold their shape closer to four weeks.
Yes. The fade shapes the sides and back regardless of texture on top, so it works with straight, wavy, curly or coily hair.
A skin fade takes the sides down to bare skin. A taper fade keeps a short length of hair there instead — shorter than the top, but never shaved. See our taper fade vs skin fade comparison for the full breakdown.
Walk-ins are welcome at every Crew shop, seven days a week. Book ahead on Booksy if you want a specific barber or time.
£20 at every Crew shop. Walk in any day, or pick your barber on Booksy.
Book direct: Isleworth Brentford Whitton Teddington
