Now How to Rock A Nice Nape
You've heard this before, but it'll never get old—there's more to the world than meets the eye.
At first, a flea will dodge detection until its host (i.e. a cat or dog) starts showing signs. That little beast will bite itself like mad in a futile effort to kill the vermin.
Water on iron looks first looks benign, that is until that iron starts to rust. A billionaire might dress like a dock labourer. Some men of note hide in plain sight, which isn't exactly unintelligent.
It's not just what your eyes compute that counts. In some cases, what they're not seeing matters just as much, if not more, than what unfolds before them.
One such case is the hair on your nape or neckline, aka how the back of your neck looks with a fresh haircut. Ever notice how some guys keep a squared, easily traceable hairline, while others have no visible neckline at all (we call this a "fade"). Some fellas even like a nice, rounded hairline back there, which looks classy when done well.
The fact is, a bad neckline finish can ruin a man's haircut, even though it's the part he won't see (not until he's in the loo, that is).
Here are the five main neckline finishes you ought to know.
(Before you start, a caveat: Like we always say, ask your barber before doing anything to your lid.
Barbers know best.)
Squared | Blocked
As no-fuss as it gets, a squared (or "blocked") neckline sports hard lines — both vertical and horizontal — that are etched into the nape with clippers (and hopefully plenty of precision). While no doubt an elegant choice of neckline finish, the only con with this style is the fact that stubble will grow around those lines, naturally sullying what was once precise. But if you're not particularly hairy (or if your hair growth is slow), then this might be for you.
Rounded
Just like it sounds, a rounded neckline finish is the direct counter to a squared finish. Clean and clear corners are eschewed for rounded sides that keep things casual. Preppier styles often call for rounded necklines, like slick-backs and side-parts. Bonus Tip: For fellas with wider necks (like you guys who lift), a rounded neckline will fill your nape nicely, where a blocked one might call attention to it.
Tapered
Subtler than both a squared and rounded finish, a tapered neckline matches a gentleman's natural hairline (when executed well, that is); When his hair starts to grow back out, you won't see any visible lines being relegated to obscurity. Everything will fill out as "naturally" as a man's hairline wants it to come regrowth. A tapered neckline can effectively slim a nape, too, since no clear lines draw no eyes.
Faded
Let's call this tougher iteration of a tapered finish, one in which only the slightest bit of hair is seen once the cut's created—and that goes for the sides of the wearer's head, too, not just the back). Popularized by both the U.S. military and the earliest representatives of North American Hip-Hop culture, the fade's an edgier option than the first three on this list, but it'll look tidy once offset by some length up top.
Skin Fade
Forget the idea of a neckline if you're going for a skin fade—you won't find one, and neither will any of your haircut's admirer's. A skin fade does away with all hair at the nape and sides, and its zenith will either reach the middle of a man's temple or a little higher (aka the "high fade"). If a regular fade looked mean, then this is it's bigger brother.