If your fade looked perfect when you walked out and patchy seven days later, the barber probably did their job. The issue is your growth pattern.
Hair grows at different rates across the head
The crown grows faster than the temples. The nape grows faster than the sides. A fade is a clean line at day zero — by day seven, every section has moved a different amount.
Cowlicks and density changes
Most heads have at least one cowlick and several density variations. A fresh fade hides them. A week of growth exposes them.
Skin fades exaggerate the issue
Because a skin fade goes to zero, any new growth shows up immediately. Tapers hide it longer. If you've never been happy with how your fade ages, switching to a taper fixes it for most clients.
What to do
Either come in more often (every 2-3 weeks for a tight skin fade), or ask your barber for a taper that ages cleanly. There's no third option — biology wins.
—SIR Management