Clipper over comb is way faster than scissors for fading, no debate needed.

I used scissors for years on fades (took forever) then watched a dude finish a full fade in 15 minutes with clipper over comb at a shop in Portland. Has anyone else dumped scissors for this on bulk cuts?

3 comments

3 Comments

rosew3719d agoMost Upvoted

Wait, isn't clipper over comb more for blending than starting a full fade from scratch?

ryanburns19d ago

Oh man, you're totally right about that in most cases, but here's the thing people overlook. When you're working with really coarse or curly hair, clipper over comb can actually be your best starting point because the comb lifts the hair in sections that a standard fade clipper pattern just can't handle. I've messed up plenty of fades trying to go straight in with guards on thick, wavy hair and ended up with weird lines and patches. The comb lets you see exactly how much hair you're taking off each time, which for a fade starting from scratch gives way more control than you'd think. Plus, if your customer has any cowlicks or uneven growth patterns near the crown, clipper over comb at the start helps you spot those trouble areas before you commit to a guard size. So yeah, it's not the usual method but for certain hair types it's honestly the safer bet.

reese_bell19d ago

Fair point but starting with it actually helps map out trouble spots before you touch the guards lol.