If you’ve recently gotten a faded haircut and realized that you hate it, you know the feeling of disappointment and regret. Now you are looking for a way to fix your bad fade haircut.
There is! Here is a guide to fade haircuts, how to tell if yours is bad, and how to fix a bad fade haircut.
What Is a Bad Fade Haircut?
A fade haircut is one where the hair is blended through several lengths. Usually, fades are extremely short at the bottom of the head, and the hair gradually gets longer.
A bad fade haircut will look choppy, buzzed, or not fade well. Although there are several styles of fades, all of them should have a smooth, faded effect so that the hair gradually gets longer. If your haircut doesn’t do this, it’s likely a bad fade.
Examples of Bad Fade Haircuts
1. Angled Fade
The fade on this angled haircut isn’t tapered at all, so there’s no gradual lengthening of the hair. Instead, we see a basic buzz cut. To fix it and emphasize the cool spiked texture, the buzzed areas should be cut at different lengths. Best fix: go for a different cut. The long, spiky top is already most of the way to a faux hawk, so leaning into that shape hides the harsh shaved line.
2. Badly Done Fade with Design
While the shaved line designs seen in this men’s haircut are edgy and intricate, this is a bad fade because the fade appears backward. The shaved designs should come first, leading the way to shorter and eventually bare skin. Best fix: get a patterned cut. The sides already carry an etched design, so cleaning it up into a proper patterned undercut turns the mistake into the feature.
3. Fully Faded Sides and Back
Skin fades are a popular men’s haircut. We admire how a hard part was incorporated into the cut, it could’ve been done better if the back of the head wasn’t faded so high. Instead, the fade should be kept lower, building up gradually from the nape toward the occipital bone rather than jumping straight up the back. Best fix: get a buzz. Almost everything is already down to the skin, so taking the front patch to the same short length leaves you with a clean, even buzz instead of a patchy fade.
4. Round Top with Fade
This bad fade haircut features an interesting rounded cut halfway down the head. This blunt cut would be better emphasized if the hair below it wasn’t simply buzzed short. The blunt edges should’ve been tapered for a more flattering look. Best fix: have it re-blended. There is plenty of length on top, so a barber can soften that blunt, rounded edge into the fade and lose the mushroom line.
5. Poorly Done Fade
A low fade is stylishly subtle. However, what makes this one bad is that the area above the ear is pretty much shaved bare. Since the hair near the temples is so thin, the fade could’ve been taken up a bit higher for a better graduation. Best fix: take the fade a little higher. A higher, softer graduation blends better and is kinder to thinner hair around the temples.
6. Mullet with Fade
For an edgy haircut, go with a mullet fade. Prevent it from looking bad by making sure the width is the same from top to bottom. The weird shape of the faded sides seen here aren’t nice to look at and distract from the style. Best fix: have the fade re-blended. Ask your barber to even the shape so it matches on both sides and sits level all the way around.
7. Awful Shape
Shaping up the sides of your haircut is a great idea when you want a fresh, sharp look, but it’s a bad idea to combine it with a fade when the two aren’t blended seamlessly. In this case, we’d nix the shape up altogether. Best fix: grow the shape-up out. Let that hard front line soften, then have it lined up again more gently so it works with the fade instead of fighting it.
What Are the Mistakes You Should Avoid While Getting a Fade?
If you are getting a fade, make sure your barber knows what they are doing. We usually recommend going to a professional, but it’s crucial with a technique like this. Bring pictures in so the barber knows what they need to do. Here are some mistakes to avoid:
- Don’t get a haircut that doesn’t match the shape of your head.
- Don’t get a higher fade than you should.
- If it’s your first fade, start subtly.
- Don’t be afraid to tell your barber if you dislike how it looks.
How To Fix a Bad Fade Haircut
When you get your faded haircut, you should love the result. If you don’t, there are a few ways to fix it. However, it depends on how bad the fade is and what it looks like.
Here are seven potential ways to fix a bad fade haircut. Before trying anything at home, it is worth going back to the barber who cut it. Many shops will tidy up a recent cut, though policies vary, so it is best to call and ask. Of course, the best option is to get a good cut in the first place, so always start with a skilled professional.
Quick Bad-Fade Troubleshooting
| Problem | Likely cause | What helps |
| Harsh line in the blend | A guard jump that was never blended | Re-blend with an intermediate guard or clipper-over-comb |
| Patchy or bald spot | Faded too short or too high | Take the whole fade shorter, or wait for regrowth |
| Neckline taken too high | Over-shaved nape | Usually cannot be lowered, so let it grow back |
| Crooked or uneven lineup | Rushed edge work | A clean re-shape, only if there is length to spare |
Get a Higher Fade
The best option to fix a fade with bad lines is to have a pro re-blend it, which sometimes means taking the fade slightly higher, but only when there is enough length left above the mistake to blend into. It might seem counterintuitive, but a good barber can even out uneven lines, blend the hair better, and give a bad haircut an overall smoother appearance. Unless your fade is exceptionally high and short, you should be able to fix it with a small (professional) trim.
Get a Buzz
If the fade is already high and there is no fixing by redoing the lines, you might need to buzz your hair off and start again. This can be frustrating, but hair grows about half an inch a month. So, you’ll have some of it long enough to trim within a few months, and you’ll be able to get a good fade sooner than you think.
Get a Patterned Cut
If you are trying to avoid buzzing your hair, you could use the bad section of the fade and get a patterned undercut.
A patterned buzz is becoming more popular and can add some unique designs to your hair (at least until it grows out). You’ll at least distract from the bad cut until it’s long enough to fix!
Go for a Different Cut
If the fade is too high to fix the regular way, you could commit to the style and try something new. Whether short or long, a mohawk could work with a lousy fade. All you need to do is buzz the sides and keep the top long.
You could also try a high-and-tight hairstyle until your hair grows more.
Use Products
Although faded haircuts seem permanent, you would be surprised what the suitable types of products can do. Use pomades and gels for styling your hair while you’re waiting for your hair to grow. You can go for the messy look (hiding a foul fade line) or add a pomade to extend a hairline.
Wear Hats
You can wear hats until your bad fade grows out. This won’t fix the fade but it will hide the bad haircut from the eyes of those around you. Try something new and wear hats while waiting for your hair to grow.
Grow It Out
Of course, if the fade is bad enough, you might need some patience. Fades are short haircuts that can be extremely obvious when done poorly. However, they also grow out quickly, often within a few weeks. If you wait a bit, you’ll be able to get a new haircut.
Good Fade Vs. Bad Fade: The Key Difference
The difference between a good and bad fade haircut may seem subtle, but it can become undeniable when you look at it. A good fade should blend the hair smoothly and ideally from the bottom of the hairline to the top, making it look smooth and effortless. Any intentional lineup, part, or design should be clean and symmetrical, but the fade itself should not show harsh horizontal lines or weight lines.
However, a lousy fade often has crooked lines and uneven or choppy-looking fading. This is the most common mistake. Another mistake of a bad fade is when the barber brings the neckline of the haircut too high up, making it look strange and unnatural.
With a bad fade haircut, it can seem like there isn’t anything to do except wait it out. However, you can try a few options to make your hair more attractive and help you get through until it grows out again. Don’t give up hope on your fade, and consider a different barber if it keeps happening.