Skin fades and tapers in Glen Alpine, near Campbelltown

A skin fade (also called a bald fade) takes the shortest section right down to skin, so the blend runs from bare skin to the length above. A taper fade shortens the hair gradually around the ears and the nape but keeps a little length at the bottom, which reads softer and grows out more gently. Both are on the menu at the same $40 price.

Whichever height you choose, a good fade comes down to a few things you can check in the mirror:

• No visible lines or patches where one length meets the next.
• Crisp edges at the hairline, temples and neck.
• Both sides matching in height and blend.
• A shape that works with the direction your hair grows.

The anatomy of a fade goes through each of these in detail.

1. Choose the Men's Fade on the booking page, up to 30 days ahead and at least 2 hours before the time.
2. Before the cut, it helps to say what height you want, how short to go at the bottom and what stays on top.
3. The fade is cut in a timed appointment of around 40 to 45 minutes, one client at a time, with no queue behind you.

Because the shortest section of a skin fade is so short, regrowth shows there before anywhere else. How often to come back depends on how crisp you like it; the guides on maintaining a fade and haircut frequency help you decide.