Haircut numbers: clipper guard sizes in millimeters and inches
Haircut numbers in mm and inches, checked against Wahl, Andis and Oster specs, plus why #0 isn’t always no guard and what to tell your barber.
Barber brief and upkeep
The practical side: the words to use at the chair, the guard numbers behind them, and what happens to the cut in the weeks after.
Most of a taper is decided before the clippers start. These guides cover that conversation, the guard sizes that make it precise, and how to keep the result looking intended until the next appointment.
Start here
How to ask for a taper fade: a five-part barber brief
A taper fade request works best when it covers five decisions the name leaves open: where the taper may reach, how short the base finishes, how much side weight stays, what happens on top and at the edges, and which photos show it. Here is how to ask for a taper fade, and what to check before cutting.
More barber brief and upkeep
3 guides
How to maintain a taper fade between haircuts
How to maintain a taper fade between haircuts: what is safe at home, where to stop before the blend, and when to book a cleanup or a full cut.
How long does a taper fade last? Fresh, tidy and grown-out stages
How long does a taper fade last? Sharpest for 1 to 2 weeks, tidy for about 2 to 4. See what changes each week and when a touch-up beats a full cut.
Other categories
All 38 guidesTaper fade basics
What a taper fade is, where it came from, and the styles that sit on top of one at any height. Read these before you pick a placement.
6 guides
Low taper fades
A low taper keeps the short work at the sideburns and nape, so most of the side panel stays full. These guides cover it on different hair types and under different tops.
14 guides
Mid taper fades
A mid taper sits between low and high: it takes more off the sides than a low taper, while the side panel keeps more hair than a full mid fade.
6 guides
High taper fades
A high taper starts its blend at the temple corner but keeps the short work to a narrow band, so the sides and back stay fuller than on a full high fade.
8 guides
Burst fades
A burst fade curves the short work around the ear instead of running it level around the head. These guides cover where it sits and how to ask for it.
3 guides
Taper and fade comparisons
Two cuts with similar names, compared on the same criteria: where the short work sits, how much side hair stays, the finish and how each grows out.
5 guides