RaDona in the salon — the actual haircut from this tutorial

Short fade cut on a young man preparing for a mission trip

Left: RaDona mid-cut. Right: the finished result — a short, faded men's style from her Utah salon.

Watch: RaDona's Men's Haircut Tutorials

About This Haircut

The young man in this video is heading on a mission to the Philippines — and before he goes, he needs a clean, short hairstyle that's easy to maintain for 18 months with minimal tools and no salon access. RaDona's solution is a close-faded sides cut with a clean short top: low-maintenance by design, always looking intentional, and growing out cleanly without becoming unkempt.

This is a useful haircut to understand regardless of the occasion. The fade technique RaDona uses, the #2 clipper on the sides and back, and the scissor blending that prevents harsh lines are exactly the same skills behind every barbershop fade — whether it's a skin fade, low fade, or taper. Once you understand how blending works, every men's haircut becomes easier to execute and to communicate to a barber.

Tools You Need

Clipper Guard Number Guide

The guard number controls how much hair is left after the clipper passes. This is the single most important thing to understand before cutting a men's fade. Every guard number equals 1/8 of an inch of hair length.

Step-by-Step: How RaDona Cuts This Style

1. 1
   Prep the hair — damp, detangled, and sectioned

   Spray the hair lightly with water — not soaking wet, just damp enough that the hair lies flat and responds to the comb. Comb through thoroughly to remove any tangles. The sides and back will be clipped first, so no sectioning is needed at this stage — just ensure the hair is uniform and manageable.
2. 2
   Attach the #2 guard and clip the sides and back

   Starting at the base of the neck on one side, move the clippers upward against the direction of hair growth in smooth, consistent passes. Work from the neckline upward to where the sides naturally start to curve toward the top of the head — this is called the "occipital bone" area and it's the natural stopping point for the close-clipped section. Work around both sides and the back with the #2 guard. Move steadily — hesitant passes create uneven results.
3. 3
   Create the fade using the #3 guard — the critical step

   Switch to a #3 guard. In the transition zone — the area between the close-clipped section below and the longer top — work the #3 guard with a flicking motion rather than a full pass. Angle the clippers outward (away from the head) as you reach the top of the clipped section, flicking the clippers out so the very tips of the guard barely graze the hair. This blending motion is what creates the gradual fade rather than a harsh line. Work slowly around the entire head. Watch the video above — this step is significantly clearer when seen in motion.
4. 4
   Scissor-blend the transition zone

   Even after the clipper blending, there is usually a visible line where the clippering ended and the top begins. RaDona uses scissors here — specifically, she combs small sections upward with the fine-tooth comb, holds them between two fingers, and point-cuts across the transition zone to remove any remaining harsh line. Point cutting (angling the scissors into the hair at 45°) blends the lengths without removing too much. This scissor-over-comb technique is what separates a home haircut from a barbershop finish.
5. 5
   Cut the top with scissors — comb-and-cut method

   Section the top hair into manageable sections (front to back works well). Lift each section straight up with the comb, hold firmly between two fingers, and cut across — whatever extends above your fingers is removed. Move systematically from front to back, keeping each section consistent in both the amount lifted and the length cut. For this style, the top is left slightly longer than the sides — enough to show texture and dimension without being dramatically long.
6. 6
   Check for symmetry and clean up the neckline

   Move slowly around the entire head checking that both sides are even. Use a hand mirror on the back. Remove the guard from the clippers entirely (or use a #0) and carefully clean the neckline — removing any hair that has grown below the natural hairline. Follow the natural hairline growth pattern rather than drawing an artificial straight line higher up the neck. A clean neckline makes the entire cut look professionally finished.
7. 7
   Dry and style — check the true finished shape

   Blow-dry the hair in the direction it will be worn, using a brush or fingers. The cut looks different wet vs. dry — dry is the true finished state. Check symmetry, blending, and overall shape dry, and make any final adjustments with scissors. Dust off loose hair from the neck and shoulders. Apply a small amount of product for the desired finish — see the product guide below.

Understanding the Different Fade Types

Choosing the Right Style for Your Face Shape

Common Mistakes — and How to Avoid Them

How to Style the Finished Cut

The product you use and how you apply it determines whether the final look is polished or casual. For this short, faded style, the options are clear.

For a mission or low-maintenance lifestyle (like the client in this video): no product at all. A properly cut short fade that's kept clean looks sharp without any styling. The cut does the work.

Maintenance Schedule

Tools & Products from RaDona's Amazon Store