Why does nobody talk about how you hold the clipper for a bald fade?

I was doing a skin fade on a regular client, Mike, yesterday. He always gets the same cut. I was halfway up with my usual grip, thumb on the side, when my wrist just gave out. A sharp pain. I had to stop for a second. That's when I saw my reflection in the mirror. My whole arm was tense, elbow locked. I was basically pushing the clipper with my shoulder. For years. I watched a video from a barber in Miami last night and saw he cradles the clipper in his palm, fingers relaxed, using his wrist to pivot. Tried it on a practice block this morning. It's smoother. Way less strain. My fades look cleaner already because my hand isn't shaking from being so tight. How did I go this long without someone pointing this out? What other basic grip things do people mess up without knowing?

2 comments

2 Comments

miaa414d agoMost Upvoted

Wait, you had your elbow locked the whole time?! That sounds so painful, no wonder your wrist gave out. I can't believe you powered through that for years, my shoulders ache just thinking about it.

parker5434d ago

Man, I felt that in my own joints just reading it. It's crazy what we can get used to when we're just trying to get the work done. I did something similar with my posture at an old job and paid for it later. Really makes you realize how important those little adjustments are.