Barber Answers
How to Grow Out a Fade Without the Awkward Stage Taking Over
Short answer: To grow out a fade, stop clipping the sides short and switch to a taper that only cleans up the neckline and sideburns, while letting the top grow untouched. Visit your barber every five to six weeks to balance the sides against the top rather than cut them down. Expect the sides to catch up in roughly two to four months, depending on how high and tight the fade was.
What growing out a fade really involves
A fade is short at the bottom and longer toward the top, so growing it out means waiting for the shortest hair to catch up with the rest. With average growth of about a centimetre a month, a skin fade needs two to three months before the sides reach a length that can be shaped with scissors.
The top keeps growing at the same pace, so the gap between top and sides never closes on its own. The job of the grow-out visits is to manage that gap so it always looks like a style.
How high your fade started also matters. A low fade only has a narrow band above the ear and around the nape to recover, while a high skin fade leaves most of the side of the head to regrow, which is why it takes the longest and needs the most careful visits along the way.
The grow-out stages, week by week
Timelines vary with growth speed and how high the fade started, but most clients coming from a mid skin fade go through a pattern like this.
| Weeks since last fade | What it looks like | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| 1 to 3 | Fade softens into a short, even taper | Nothing yet; let it grow |
| 4 to 6 | Sides fuzzy, ears start to disappear, neck looks messy | First barber visit: tidy neckline and around ears only |
| 7 to 10 | Sides puff out, top may look heavy | Second visit: balance weight, keep a clean taper at the nape |
| 11 to 16 | Sides at 3 to 4 cm, can be scissor cut | Shape into a scissor cut or a longer taper |
Switch to a taper instead of cutting it off
A taper is the bridge between a fade and a full scissor cut. Rather than blending the whole side down, the barber only shortens the sideburns and the bottom of the neckline, so the head still looks finished while everything else grows.
Book it as a taper, not a fade, and say you are growing out. Our taper fades service is designed for exactly this kind of cleanup. For the difference between the two, see fade vs taper.
Keep the neckline tidy the whole way through
The neckline is the difference between growing it out and looking like you forgot to book. Even at week eight, a clean nape and trimmed hair over the ears make the rest look deliberate.
A quick tidy between visits is fine at home as long as you stay below the old fade line. Anything more should wait for a barber so the grow-out stays even.
When to see the barber during a grow-out
Plan on a visit roughly every five to six weeks, which is less often than a maintained fade but not never. Each visit has a specific goal:
- First visit: clean the neckline and sideburns, leave the sides and top alone.
- Second visit: remove bulk where the sides puff out, so they sit flat against the head.
- Third visit: start shaping the sides with scissors to match the new style you are growing toward.
- From then on: maintain the new cut at a normal interval for longer hair.
Styling through the in-between weeks
Weeks five to ten are the hardest, when the sides are too long to be sharp and too short to style. A matte product worked through the sides and pushed back or down keeps them from sticking out.
Letting the top become a textured crop or a medium-length style gives the grow-out a destination, which makes the middle stages easier to live with.
How to grow out a fade: common questions
How long does it take to grow out a skin fade completely?
Typically two to three months for the sides to reach a scissor-cut length, and longer if you want the sides to match a longer top. A low fade grows out faster than a high one.
Should I stop going to the barber while growing out a fade?
No. Visits become less frequent but they keep the grow-out tidy. Skipping them entirely is what makes the awkward stage look awkward.
Can I keep my beard lined up while growing out my fade?
Yes. A beard lineup does not affect the grow-out on your head, and a sharp beard helps the whole look stay polished.
What should I say to my barber?
Something like: "I'm growing out my fade. Please just clean up the neckline and around the ears and leave the length on the sides and top."
Will my hair look patchy while the fade grows in?
Not usually. Hair on the sides grows back evenly, though cowlicks and a double crown can make certain spots stick out for a few weeks until the length is enough to lie down.
