Burst fade, from Artesia.
The burst is the half-moon of bare skin that curves around the ear and fans out behind it, with the back of the head left fuller. My chair is in Carlsbad, not Artesia: 36 miles down US 285, about 44 minutes door to door by OpenStreetMap routing.
If you're making that drive for this cut, here's what I'd want you to know before you book.
BOOK A BURST FADE| Fact | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Average July high | 97°F | Open-Meteo 2023–25 |
| Days at 100°F or more, per year | 41 | Open-Meteo 2023–25 |
| Minutes to the shop | 44 | OpenStreetMap routing |
Built for the styles Artesia wears.
Artesia has a median age of 30.9, younger than Carlsbad's 37.4 (Census ACS 2023). I mention it because the burst rarely stands alone: it's the fade under curly tops, faux hawks and mullets, cuts that lean young. If that's the direction you're headed, a burst keeps weight at the nape where those shapes need it, and I can match the arc to however much length you're growing in back.
The ear is the clock.
Hair right around the ear is cut the shortest, so that's where the burst starts to blur. The longer hair at the back barely changes between visits. At 44 minutes each way, I'd rather you not guess: tell me how crisp you want the arc, and I'll suggest a gap that fits. Then grab that next slot on Booksy before you pull out of Carlsbad.
One more reason to keep the arc tight through summer: Artesia logs about 41 days a year at 100°F or more (Open-Meteo, 2023–25), and bare skin around the ear is one less place for that heat to sit.
Pick one on Booksy.
Prices and times are pulled from my Booksy menu.
Essential Haircut$50 · 40 min+
Burst, top and back, with the neckline finished by straight razor and the cut styled before you go.
Book this serviceSignature Cut$65 · 45 min+
Adds beard work, a trim or a line-up, and a hot towel. The one for the full look with facial hair.
Book this serviceBurst fade, Artesia edition.
Is the drive from Artesia worth it for a burst fade?+
That's your call. The trip is about 44 minutes each way, and I book by appointment only, so you'll know your exact chair time before you leave.
Can I get a burst fade with a mullet in one visit?+
Yes. The burst fade mullet is one haircut, booked as an Essential or a Signature depending on whether your beard needs work.
Will a burst show on straight hair?+
It does, with a softer outline than on curls. I usually cut some texture into the top so it doesn't lie flat against the arc.
Where are photos of your burst fades?+
On the burst fade page, from the ear and from behind.
From Artesia
Driving down from Artesia: distance, route and how to book the trip.
Burst Fade · Carlsbad
A half-circle fade around the ear, with length left in back.
Burst fade · Roswell
A burst fade for Roswell: the arc behind the ear, the 285 drive and when to come back for it.
Burst fade · Hobbs
A burst fade for Hobbs summers: skin around the ear, curls kept, cut 70 miles west in Carlsbad.
Buzz cut · Artesia
Buzz cuts for Artesia: a cut for hard hats and hot days, booked before the drive down 285.
Curly top fade · Artesia
Curly top fades for Artesia kids and adults: siblings back to back, one trip down 285.
Hard part · Artesia
Hard parts for Artesia: a shaved line that fills in fast, so time the trip to the day you need it.