Nov 17, 2025 | Fade Haircuts
In need of a new-cut trend that is at once timeless and fresh? Our barbershop in Scottsdale has seen a spate of clients clamoring for a popular new trend in cuts – and it happens to be that fade cuts are at the forefront. Looking for inspiration for fade haircut styles? We have plenty to show you.
Whether you’re a novice at fades or just looking to mix it up from your current look, we’re here at First & Mane to take you through everything you need to know about this popular haircut, including how to choose the different type of fade haircuts that will suit you best.
What is a Fade Haircut?
A fade cut is a type of haircut that progressively changes from longer hair to shorter hair from top to sides and back. Note that a fade is a progression or a transition in this context. Unlike a normal taper cut, a fade cut uses a smooth transition that begins at different points around your head.
Common Variants of Fade Haircuts
Low Fade
This is a low fade that starts above the ear region and goes around back. This is a subtle, professional cut that is specifically designed for those guys that want a clean look without making too bold of a statement.
Mid Fade
This type of fade starts an inch above the ear, creating a higher contrast than a low fade, though it is quite flexible. This is our most popular cut because it is a balance of both traditional and modern designs.
High Fade
A high fade is a haircut that begins at the top of your head with a significant contrast between your top and sides, as your top is longer than your sides. This is one of the best styles for those with thick hair or those looking to make a statement.
Skin Fade
This is also known as a bald fade. In a bald fade, hair is cut all the way down to the skin at its shortest part. A striking effect is created because of a transition from skin to long hair and is one of the different types of fades you might try.
Choosing the Right Fade for Your Hairstyle
When our clients come to our chair, we take a few important points in consideration before performing a fade cut. Your face shape is an important factor. For instance, round-faced guys will look great in a higher fade, while longer guys will easily rock a lower fade.
Your lifestyle is also a factor. When you have a conservative job setting, a low or mid fade is perhaps your best option. Others with more freedom in their work environment could go for a high fade or a skin fade.
Texture of hair also impacts which fade will work well. Curly or coarse hair is naturally full of volume and works well with a high fade, while straight hair allows a harmonious mix of a fade of any type.
Maintaining Your Fade
This is how it is with fades, though: you have to maintain them. Most fades will look grown out after a couple of weeks. That’s why we usually see our clients with a fade about every two weeks.
In between your visits, you need to keep your hair clean and well-moisturized. You will use a good shampoo and conditioner based on your type of hair. If you have a skin fade, you will apply a light lotion to your faded spots to prevent irritation.
Ready for Your Next Cut?
Fade haircuts are popular because they offer a mix of traditional barber-cutting skills and current fashion trends. Whether it is a low and tidy fade or a radical skin fade, you will get a well-crafted haircut that has been developed through years of barbering experience.
Come visit our shop in Scottsdale, and we will work together to identify a fade that suits you based on your look, facial features, and lifestyle. If you have more questions, feel free to contact our barbers at First & Mane – you’re welcome to come with some inspiration in terms of pictures!
Dru Meskan is the owner and master barber at First & Mane in Scottsdale, Arizona. With 19 years of haircutting experience, including 11 years as a professional barber, Dru is known for precision cuts, modern grooming techniques, and personalized service that keeps clients looking and feeling their best.
Nov 10, 2025 | Hairstyles by Face Shape, Men’s Haircuts
Get a good haircut, and you’ll see an overall improvement in your appearance, but this is only possible if you know your face type. We have been helping a lot of guys with heart-shaped faces at our barber shop in Scottsdale, AZ.
All in all, hearts are a pretty prevalent face shape, and if you have the right cut, you can highlight your defined jawline and also accent a broad forehead. There are different types of haircuts for heart shaped face men that are designed to create balance and enhance your look.
Your natural face shape is an inherent part of your beauty. Therefore, when choosing a hairstyle, you should take your face shape into consideration so that your features do not work against your beauty, but in harmony!
What Constitutes a Heart-Shaped Face?
We commonly observe haircuts for guys with a heart shaped face in our chair, and it is easy to spot one. In a heart-shaped face, we have a broad forehead and temples, high cheekbones, and a slim, pointed chin. Just observe guys such as Ryan Gosling or Leo DiCaprio.
In terms of haircuts, it is a matter of balance in all of your cuts because in your particular shape, you need volume around your jawline and to prevent your forehead from being too broad in width.
Hairstyle Choices for a Heart-Shaped Face
Side Part Hairstyles
We often advise our heart-shaped clients to go for side part hairstyles because they are excellent at hiding a broad forehead. A side part hairstyle with a slightly longer top is also a good option because it creates an asymmetric effect that diverts one’s attention from a broad forehead.
Textured Crops
A short, texturized crop is also an excellent option when you have a heart-shaped face. We usually leave it a bit longer in front and keep it shorter at the sides so that it appears more modish and doesn’t engulf your face. If you’re considering a haircut for a heart shaped face as a male, a textured crop could be a perfect fit.
Medium-Length Layered Cuts
For clients who are open to a slightly longer style, we also recommend cuts that accent around the ear area. This type of cut will accentuate width around your sides to balance your narrower chin.
Beard-Friendly
When it comes to cutting hair for people with a heart-shaped face, we always take facial hair into consideration. A groomed beard will make your jawline appear broader, so we prefer shorter hairstyles that do not compete with beards. Choosing the right men’s haircut for a heart shaped face along with a well-groomed beard brings everything together.
Styles We Don’t Recommend
Buzz Cuts and Very Short Hairstyles
Generally, we deter our clients with heart-shaped face types from buzz cuts or cuts that are too short. This is because buzz cuts accentuate your forehead width without adding anything to your narrow chin.
Slicked Back
Also, pompadour or slicked back hairstyles make your brow appear even wider. We prefer such hairstyles for people with oval or square-shaped faces because balance is not an issue in such cases.
Center Parts
Center hair parts accentuate the symmetry of a heart-shaped face in a not-so-flattering manner. We find off-center hair partings that form more attractive lines desirable.
Making Your Cut Work
Regular trimming at an interval of 3 to 4 weeks will maintain your hairstyle fresh and keep your proportions well-balanced as your hair grows.
You will always get your best look by working with your face shape, as opposed to against it. By wearing styles that work well with your inherent features, you will look more confident and put together!
Dru Meskan is the owner and master barber at First & Mane in Scottsdale, Arizona. With 19 years of haircutting experience, including 11 years as a professional barber, Dru is known for precision cuts, modern grooming techniques, and personalized service that keeps clients looking and feeling their best.
Nov 3, 2025 | Men’s Haircuts, Style Guides
We have seen an increasing trend of short haircuts in our older clients in Scottsdale, and it is easy to see why. In fact, if you’re looking for a haircut in Scottsdale, you’ll notice how these cuts present a subtle yet impeccable fusion of elegance and functionality that is suitable for a modern man’s busy schedule. Whether you want a new look or an easy-to-maintain one, short haircuts present you with a wonderful opportunity.
We have also seen that a lot of guys feel hesitant about a shorter cut after 50, thinking that this might take away their distinguished look. But short haircut styles for older men are actually likely to accentuate your best features while making you look polished and confident.
Why Short Haircuts Are So Effective for Older Men
There are several attractive reasons why haircut styles for older men are highly suitable when they’re kept short. First and foremost is easy styling, in that you will spend less time in front of the mirror in the morning, as well as less time in salons for hair cuts. This is one factor that some clients greatly appreciate.
In addition to being convenient, short styles also have a youthful effect because they accentuate your facial features as opposed to any thinning or balding hair. We have seen numerous clients leave our shop at First & Mane looking several years younger after we have done a well-cut short haircut on them.
Classic Designs that Remain in Vogue through the Years
The Crew Cut
This military-inspired cut is one of our most sought-after options when it comes to men’s haircut styles for older men, and it’s easy to see why. We usually keep about an inch of hair on top while simultaneously shortening the sides and back. This crew cut is also a great option for men with a receding hairline because it offers a clean-cut look that appears as though it’s meant to be that way.
Side Part
Perceived as a highly sophisticated businesslike look, a side part is an excellent combination of longer hair at the top and cropped sides. Typically, we section out a clear part with a comb and set it in place with a light pomade. This particular cut is generally considered universal as it will work well regardless of face or hair type.
The Buzz Cut
For those that prefer a low-maintenance cut, a buzz cut is a powerful statement with less effort. We usually buzz a #3 or #4 guard for a well-proportioned cut that is neither too harsh nor too long. This cut is most flattering to a man that has robust facial features or one that is undergoing substantial thinning of his hair.
Modern Fashion Trends for a Modern Gentleman
The Textured Crop
This is a more contemporary take that uses subtle layers to add texture and motion. We cut it shorter around the sides while longer at the top and use texturizing techniques by point-cutting. Then we use a matte paste to give it a natural, undone look.
The Fade
Among our older demographic, fades have become incredibly popular as they provide a clean, fresh look. We start by seamlessly blending the hair from longer around the top to shorter around the sides and back. This is accomplished by ensuring that we get the right height of the fade, usually a mid-fade for an age-appropriate look.
The Modern Quiff
A more refined version of a pompadour is a quiff. This hairstyle has shorter sides with longer hair brushed back. It also needs less styling. You only have to run your hand through your damp hair with a small amount of styling cream in it.
Finding Your Perfect Short Hairstyle
Short haircuts are a great chance for older guys to give their look a new twist, while also making it simpler to maintain. It’s all about choosing a style that suits you; after all, the best short haircuts for older men are those that complement your face type, hair type, and preferences as well. We always recommend trying out different cuts until you feel satisfied with your look.
Keep in mind that nothing beats a haircut that makes you feel confident and at ease in your own skin. So go ahead and bring up your worries and preferences with your barber at First & Mane – your stylist is waiting to assist you in creating a look that complements your natural beauty and integrates smoothly with your lifestyle!
Dru Meskan is the owner and master barber at First & Mane in Scottsdale, Arizona. With 19 years of haircutting experience, including 11 years as a professional barber, Dru is known for precision cuts, modern grooming techniques, and personalized service that keeps clients looking and feeling their best.
Sep 30, 2025 | Men’s Grooming Tips
Whether you are making a bold color change or just fixing up your roots, booking in your hair color and haircut appointments can make all the difference in your final result. This age-old dilemma haunts women just as much as men when attempting a balance between a new color and a sharp cut. Should I dye my hair before or after a haircut? This is one of the most common questions clients ask their stylists.
The order you choose depends on several factors, including your desired outcome, hair condition, and the type of transformation you’re seeking. Understanding the pros and cons of each approach will help you make the best decision for your hair goals. Here are some essential barber shop tips to assist in making an informed choice – contact First & Mane if you have any questions or need help!
Understanding the Hair Coloring Process
Hair dyeing involves chemical processes that can temporarily alter your hair’s texture and manageability. Professional colorists use various techniques, from single-process colors to complex highlighting methods, each affecting how your hair behaves during and after the service.
The coloring process opens up your hair cuticles so color molecules can enter into the hair shaft. That chemical alteration can cause newly colored hair to feel a different texture when you cut it, so timing is key when scheduling a haircut. Many clients wonder about whether to dye hair before or after a haircut for optimal results.
Dyeing Your Hair Before a Haircut
Advantages for Both Women and Men
Getting your hair colored initially allows your stylist a full canvas upon which to create. Your stylist is able to gauge how color works with the direction of hair’s natural movement and make strategic cutting decisions based upon those insights. This is a particularly effective plan when you are transitioning dramatically in color because your stylist can ensure an arrangement works in concert with a totally different hue.
For women with lengthy hair thinking about drastic cuts, pre-coloring allows you to experience your new color at its full length before shorter styles are a last decision. Exact cuts are an option for men when color makes a dramatic effect on their hair’s inherent texture.
Possible Drawbacks
New color makes hair slippery and more difficult to cut accurately. Newly colored hair is sometimes found by stylists not to fall so naturally, making it difficult for stylists to gauge what it is going to look like once it falls. Cutting fresh color hair can also result in minimal color bleed issues, especially when cutting brightly or semi-permanently colored hair. Some stylists weigh the risks of whether they should dye hair before or after a cutting when considering vibrant color transformations.
Dyeing Your Hair After a Haircut
Advantages for Women and Men
Some professional stylists would rather cut first prior to coloring because it is easier for them to manipulate your hair’s texture and fall. This is also a more accurate method for cutting hair for detailed styles such as women’s layered haircuts or men’s fade haircuts.
Cutting first also implies you’re only cutting hair you’re going to retain, which may prove cheaper for full hair color treatments. On maintenance visits, this just makes more fiscal sense since you’re revising color as well as cut. In fact, many experts discuss the option to cut hair before or after coloring when aiming to minimize color waste and cost.
Things to Keep in Mind
The main disadvantage is that your stylist must visualize how the final color will look with the cut. This requires more experience and expertise, particularly for complex color combinations. If you’re uncertain about your color choice, seeing it on your full head of hair before cutting might provide more confidence in your decision.
Choosing the Correct Option for Your Hair
Timing is best in your individual circumstance. When you’re making a dramatic color change or a first-time use for a shade, pre-dyeing with a cut allows you full effect before making a shorter-length commitment. When you’re doing a routine upkeep or dealing with a seasoned colorist familiar with your likes, cutting first could produce more accurate results.
You may want to bring it up with your stylist, as they understand what hair you have and can recommend what you should do for a specific effect. Stylists generally have preferences based on their experience and what service you are requesting.
Remember, both techniques can yield wonderful results when performed by trained professionals knowledgeable in how combinations of color and cutting techniques best make you appear. Book an appointment at First & Mane to discuss your hairstyling plans today!
Dru Meskan is the owner and master barber at First & Mane in Scottsdale, Arizona. With 19 years of haircutting experience, including 11 years as a professional barber, Dru is known for precision cuts, modern grooming techniques, and personalized service that keeps clients looking and feeling their best.
Sep 16, 2025 | Fade Haircuts
The fade haircut has gained a most desirable status in barbershops throughout the world. From corporate boardrooms to basketball arenas, its crisp, clean cut blends hair lengths in a harmonious merge for nearly any occasion. But where did the fade haircut originate? This signature style has an intriguing backstory that brings together tradition, culture, and modern innovation.
Tracing its story uncovers the history of the fade haircut, revealing how practicality for the US Military, waves in cultural popularity, and innovation came together to create a haircut we see all the time at First and Mane. Whether you consider attempting a fade for the first time or wondering about its origins, you’ll be surprised at how much you find its story compelling.
Ancient Origins
While our contemporary fade is a modern creation, there were comparable methods thousands of years ago. Men had their hair tapered during ancient Egyptian and Roman times, though using considerably less advanced methods than those used today. Egyptian paintings show men whose hair had been buzzed closely and tapered shorter towards the neckline, while Roman soldiers had clean tapered looks for both practicality and consistency.
These early styles didn’t use the term “fades,” but they established the general premise: gradually cutting hair shorter from longer creates a clean-defined appearance. Understanding how the fade haircut originated offers insight into its enduring influence.
1940s Military Style
As a style, our version of the fade haircut started in World War II. US Army standards at the time mandated soldiers wear short, tidy haircuts which would not obstruct helmets or equipment. Barbers in the armed forces created effective styles by cutting hair quickly, within regulation, while still cutting a sharp image.
The military’s “high and tight” look had very short sides which tapered gradually up into shorter hair on top. As a practical haircut style, it prioritized speed and uniformity but also set the standard for what would one day become today’s fade. Military personnel returning from combat brought their haircut styles with them upon their arrival at home, consequently introducing civilian barbers to armed forces cutting styles and helping spark the ongoing evolution of fades.
1980s Hip-Hop Culture
The fade enjoyed its highest moment in cultural significance in the 1980s hip-hop explosion. Big Daddy Kane, Grace Jones, and members of pioneering hip-hop groups brought several forms of fades into mass popularity when a military cut became a strong form of self-identification.
Hip-hop culture elevated the fade from a simple practical cut to an art form. Barbers in urban communities began experimenting with different fade heights, creating high fades, mid fades, and low fades. The precision required for these cuts turned barbering into a respected craft, with skilled barbers gaining recognition for their ability to create perfect blends.
This is also when creative variations such as the “Gumby” fade and other sculpture styles were introduced in an effort to experiment further with conventional barbering. Who invented the fade haircut? Its roots span many communities and cultures, shaped by collective influence rather than a single innovator.
1990s and Beyond
The 1990s brought the fade into mainstream popularity across all demographics. Professional athletes, actors, and musicians adopted various fade styles, making the cut acceptable in corporate environments and formal settings.
Technological advancements in clipper construction at this time made it possible for barbers to produce even more exacting fades. Several guard lengths and better blades made possible the even transitions found in quality fades today. The look continued to develop with such trends as the skin fade, in which hair fades gradually into complete bareness at the skin, and in the burst fade, which traces the curve of the ear.
Social media and barbering communities have further accelerated the fade’s evolution, with new variations appearing regularly and spreading globally within days.
The Fade’s Durable Legacy
The fade haircut’s journey from military necessity to cultural phenomenon demonstrates how functional design can become timeless style. Its popularity stems from versatility – the fade works with virtually any hair type and complements both casual and formal looks.
Whether you are attracted to its fresh look, minimal upkeep, or strong cultural heritage, the fade embodies more than a haircut. It is a haircut that crosses boundaries between generations, cultures, and settings, while retaining its essential essence: a sublime combination between practicality and elegance.
For anyone inspired to experience this iconic style firsthand, be sure to visit our shop in Old Town Scottsdale, AZ, for a professional fade and a taste of authentic barbering tradition.
Dru Meskan is the owner and master barber at First & Mane in Scottsdale, Arizona. With 19 years of haircutting experience, including 11 years as a professional barber, Dru is known for precision cuts, modern grooming techniques, and personalized service that keeps clients looking and feeling their best.
