Ask for: “a low taper fade on the sides and back with a smooth blend, no harsh lines, and enough length on top to preserve my curl pattern.”
Decide: whether you want conservative contrast (typical for curls) or a higher-contrast look, and clarify how much length you want to keep on top.
Style after: moisturize, apply leave-in plus a curl cream or gel, then dry gently for defined clumps without flattening the curls.