Illustrative only—not a preview of your result. This image has not been barber reviewed, and one angle cannot show the full transition, neckline, or growth pattern.
Cut notes
How the low burst fade is built
Side
Back
Original TaperMode diagram, not a photo. The orange line marks where the blend starts; dark to light shows longer hair getting shorter.
Same curved shape around the ear, kept smaller and lower.
A standard burst fade arcs well above the ear, so the curve is obvious from the front.
A low burst keeps the arc tight around the ear, so it reads as a clean, rounded edge rather than a statement shape, and more of the side keeps its length.
Ask for it exactly
1“Low burst fade: a tight arc around the ear, no higher than the top of the ear.”
2“Skin right next to the ear, blending out to a #2 or #3 at the edge of the arc.”
3“Keep the nape natural; don't fade straight across the back.”
4“Leave the top natural,” and say how much length to keep.
A small arc keeps the side volume that frames curls; check the arc dry, as curls shrink.
Wavy hair
Works well with a natural, slightly messy top; the low arc stops the sides puffing out.
Straight hair
Shows the arc clearly; ask for the curve to be checked for symmetry on both sides.
How it grows out
Week 1
The arc is clean; stubble shows next to the ear after a few days.
Weeks 2–3
Because the arc is small, it fills in quickly and starts to look like a plain taper.
Weeks 3–4
Clean up the ear area to bring the curve back; the top usually doesn't need cutting yet.
Longer
The low arc grows out more gently than a high burst, so stretching a cut is less obvious.
Based on average growth of about 1 to 1.25 cm a month. Yours may be faster or slower.
Three-question conversation check
Will this work for me?
Compare your routine with the catalogue tags, then carry the useful context into your private barber brief. This is a starting point—not a suitability score or result prediction.
0 of 3 answered
Answer all three questions to see the catalogue signals and the exact adaptations worth discussing.
Plain-language starting points
What you could discuss
These are editable prompts, not exact instructions or a substitute for an in-person consultation.
1
Use Low Burst Fade as the starting reference.
2
Keep the burst low around the ear with a soft curve into the neckline.
3
Leave the top natural and avoid cutting high into the side shape.
4
Please adjust the finish after checking my current length, density, and growth pattern.
Add current length, routine, and keep/avoid outcomes in the full builder.
Generated illustration
