Alright, so I got this idea in my head a while back to switch up my look. You know how it is, sometimes you just get bored staring at the same face, same hair, day in and day out. I saw this particular style, real sharp, faded on the sides and back, longer and styled on top. Thought to myself, “Yeah, maybe I could pull that off.” Felt like a change was needed.
Finding the Right Person
First step, obviously, was finding someone who could actually do it. My regular barber, bless him, is great for a simple trim, but this felt a bit more… specific. I didn’t want to walk out looking like I’d had a fight with the clippers and lost. So, I started asking around, browsed some pictures online just to be super clear what I was aiming for.
- Collected a few photos on my phone. Different angles, you know.
- Checked out a couple of barbershops nearby that looked a bit more modern.
- Finally settled on one downtown that had good reviews, specifically mentioning fades and more styled cuts.
Went in there, felt a bit like I was interviewing them for the job, you know? Showed the guy the pictures. He nodded, seemed confident. Said something like, “Yeah, man, the undercut slick back. No problem.” That was reassuring. At least he knew the lingo, even if I didn’t.
The Actual Process
So, I sat in the chair. Here we go. He started with the clippers on the sides. That buzzing sound, real close to the scalp. Took it right down, super short. That’s the key part, apparently, getting that fade super clean. He spent a good while just on the sides and back, making sure it blended properly. Felt weird seeing my ears so exposed all of a sudden.
Then came the top part. He used scissors mostly, getting the length right so it could be swept back. Asked me how much length I wanted to keep. We decided on enough to style but not so much it looked floppy. He was meticulous, I’ll give him that. Snipping here, checking there. Took way longer than my usual ten-minute chop.
Styling and The Aftermath
Once the cutting was done, he showed me how to style it. Grabbed some waxy stuff, rubbed it in his hands, and worked it through the top, pushing it back and slightly to the side. He made it look easy. Handed me the mirror. Okay, yeah, pretty close to the pictures. Felt… different. Sharper, maybe?
Getting used to styling it myself was another story. The first few mornings were a bit of a disaster. Used too much product, looked greasy. Didn’t use enough, it wouldn’t stay put. Took some trial and error, figuring out the right amount of gunk and how to actually shape it without looking like a confused hedgehog. Found this matte paste stuff that worked better than the shiny gel.
Living With It
The reaction? Mixed, haha. My kids thought it was cool. The wife took a minute to get used to it. Said I looked younger, which I guess isn’t a bad thing. Some mates at work noticed straight away, couple of jokes about me joining a fight club or something.
It definitely needs more upkeep than my old style. The sides grow out fast, so it looks messy quicker. Means more trips to the barber, more money spent. And the daily styling takes a few extra minutes I didn’t need before. But hey, it was fun to try something new. Feels good to step out of the comfort zone sometimes, even if it’s just with your hair. Not sure if I’ll keep it forever, the maintenance is a bit much, but it was an experience.
