Skin Fade and Beard: Heavy Fringe and Length at the Back

What the photo shows

This is a right profile. The hair is long, straight and dark, and the top falls forward into a heavy, choppy fringe that reaches down toward the eyebrows. The ends are broken up so the fringe looks piecey rather than blunt.

The skin fade sits in front of and around the ear, climbing into the temple under the fringe. Behind the ear, the hair is not faded: it is left long and hangs down over the nape toward the collar.

How the beard is shaped

The beard is full and dense along the jaw and chin, with a moustache connected to it. At the sideburn, it starts at skin right where the fade is, then builds in length down the cheek, so there is no visible break between hair and beard.

The edges are the sharpest part of the look. The cheek line is cut clean, and the back edge of the beard along the jaw has a crisp outline. Fade-into-beard blends are one of Mark's leanings, and this is a clear example of one.

What to call this cut

The fade shape here, skin around the ear with length left at the back, is what most barbers call a burst fade. Combined with the long back and heavy fringe, it sits close to a modern mullet, just softer.

If you want to understand the shape before you ask for it, read our burst fade guide and modern mullet guide.

How a result like this is built

Long hair over a skin fade is cut in two layers of thinking: the fade underneath is precise, and the length above is shaped loosely.

• Curve a guideline around the ear and take the area inside it to skin.
• Blend the fade out into the long hair so the edge disappears under the fringe.
• Point-cut the fringe and top for a choppy, piecey finish.
• Leave the back long, only cleaning up the sides of the nape.
• Fade the beard up the sideburn and cut the cheek line and jaw edge.

Who it suits and how often to return

It suits thick, straight hair that grows downward, and full beards that connect at the sideburn. A heavy fringe can soften a strong brow or a high forehead.

The skin at the temple and around the ear needs tidying every 2 to 3 weeks, and the beard edges on the same schedule. The fringe will reach your eyes in about 4 to 6 weeks. Our beard fade page for Mississauga explains how that appointment is booked.