Burst Fade in Mississauga: Book the Curve, Keep the Back

A quick check before you book a burst

Look at a photo of the back of the style you want, not only the side. If the nape in that photo is long, you want a burst. If it is short and curved, you want a drop fade, and you should book that instead through our drop fade page.

The full explanation of what a burst is and which tops it supports lives in our burst fade guide. Here we cover what booking one at Markcutit looks like.

Planning two curves that match

The hard part of a burst is symmetry, because ears rarely sit at the same height and you only ever see one curve at a time. We mark the centre of each semicircle from the ear, check them against each other from the front, and adjust the radius on the higher side so the two look equal when you face a mirror.

Marcel Shabo leans toward detailing, which is most of the work on a burst. Mark Yousif leans toward skin finishes and razor lineups, so book him if you want the curve on bare skin with a hard outline. Either barber can do both; this is simply where each one's habits show.

Bringing your top: mohawk, mullet or curls

A burst is built for the style above it, so tell us in the consultation what that style is and how long you want it. The three we see most at Heartland:

• A mohawk or faux hawk, where the burst clears the sides and the strip stays full. See our mohawk page.
• A modern mullet, where the back length is the whole point and the burst only tidies around the ear.
• A curly top with a loose back, where the burst keeps the sides from puffing out in humid weather.

Your visit plan while the back grows

If you are starting from a short cut, a burst takes a few visits to reach its final shape, and each one has a different job. Booking them as a plan keeps the awkward stage short.

1. First visit: set the two semicircles and leave everything behind them alone, even if it looks short.
2. Two to three weeks later: refresh the curves and tidy only the neckline edge so the back grows evenly.
3. Around week six: shape the back for the first time, usually with scissors, once there is length to work with.
4. From then on: a Haircut Only every two to three weeks keeps the curve sharp while the back is trimmed to length.

Booking details and what comes with it

There is no special burst item on the Markcutit menu; Haircut Only covers it. Write "burst, back left long" in the Booksy notes so the barber sees it before you arrive. Every visit includes a hot towel, a wash and a head massage.

Studio photos of curves and textured tops are in our portfolio. We are open 9:30 AM to 9 PM seven days, and same-day openings show up in Booksy often enough that it is worth checking before you plan around the weekend.