How to Slick Your Hair Back: 3 Quick & Easy Tutorials (2024)

Co-authored byMartin Neptonand Aly Rusciano

Last Updated: May 4, 2024Fact Checked

How to Do Slick-Back Hair

Download Article

1. 1

   Start with damp, towel-dried hair. The slicked-back look stays in place best when you start with damp hair. The hair will finish drying in a slicked position, helping it stay in place all day long. Shampoo your hair and towel it dry to begin.

2. 2

   Coat your hair with pomade. Use your fingers to apply a liberal amount of strong-hold pomade to your hair, focusing on the top and sides. Pomade is the classic product used to create this sleek and shiny look, and it’ll help keep your hair slicked back until you wash it out.^[1]

   • Pomade was classically oil-based. Oil-based pomade creates the classic sheen and holds that made the slicked look popular.^[2] However, oil is difficult to wash out, so you may want to look for a strong-hold pomade that does not list oil as a main ingredient.
   • Gel is a good alternative if your hair isn't too thick. Gel typically results in a dryer hold and may take on a slightly crunchy texture. This works best with finer, lighter hair types since it may not be strong enough to hold heavier hair in place.

   Advertisem*nt

3. 3

   Run a comb from your forehead to your crown. Use a fine-toothed barber comb and comb your hair straight back from your forehead to the crown of your head. The classic slick does not include a part, so just run the comb straight back. Do this several times so the top of your hair lies flat from front to back.^[3]

4. 4

   Comb back the sides. Place the comb at your right temple and run it to the back of your head. Then, do the same on the left side. The hair on the sides of your head should flow in a slicked pattern from front to back behind your ears.

5. 5

   Continue to comb your hair back to create the shape you want. In most cases, 6 or 7 comb-throughs (or “slicks”) should be enough to create this quick style. Aim to style your hair in as few slicks as possible to evenly distribute the pomade. If you handle it too much, it may begin to look messy.

   

   Rogelio Samson, Men Hair Expert

   Slicking your hair back with a high shine pomade is a great way to create a polished, retro look. Apply a nickel-sized amount evenly throughout dry hair, then use a comb to smoothly brush hair straight back. Focus the pomade application on the top and sides while leaving the ends natural for a textured finish.

Advertisem*nt

Download Article

1. 1

   Towel-dry your hair until it’s damp. Shampoo your hair, blot it with a towel, and let it air dry until it’s damp. This style looks best on hair that is slightly damp. Your hair will dry in the modern slicked position, helping it stay in place throughout the day.

2. 2

   Coat your hair with pomade. Use your fingers to run pomade through your hair, focusing on the top and sides.^[4] For this style, you can use either maximum hold pomade or a medium hold product. Keep in mind that a medium hold will allow your hair to move more, creating a “messy” look.^[5] For a neater look, use maximum hold.

3. 3

   See Also

   De Slick Back hairstyle in 5 stappenHow to Slick Back Hair | Complete Step-by-Step GuideHow to Do Slick Back Hair: Step-by-Step Guide

   Part your hair if desired. Some prefer their slicked-back hair to have a part, while others don’t—do what you prefer! If you want to try a part, use a comb to part your hair.

4. 4

   Comb your hair back from your forehead to your crown. Use a fine-toothed comb to brush your hair back from your forehead to the crown of your head. Just comb each section once. For this style, you want the roots to maintain some volume rather than lying completely flat.

   • With the modern slick, you can choose not to slick back the sides. This works particularly well if you have a faded haircut, with much shorter hair on the sides than on top.
   • If you have long hair on the sides, slick it from your temples to the back of your head.
5. 5

   Use your fingers to add volume. Hair stylist Martin Nepton recommends using your fingers to add volume and height to your hair, especially if you’re going for a modern, tousled look. After initially combing your hair back, put the comb down and use your fingers to achieve the look you want. Run your fingers through your hair and gently lift it at the roots so it doesn't lie flat.

   • Use a hair dryer set to low to help add volume while finger combing. Point the blow dryer away from your forehead toward your crown so your hair dries in a slicked-back position.^[6]
   • Use more pomade as necessary to create the look you want. Then, finish with a little hairspray to help your hair keep its shape.
   • If you prefer a traditional slick back that’s flat against your head, no problem! Just skip this step.

Advertisem*nt

Download Article

1. 1

   Start with damp hair. If your hair is long, use a hair dryer to rough dry your hair until it’s about 70 percent dry. Alternatively, towel dry your hair to get it ready for styling.

2. 2

   Comb out your hair before applying product. Use a wide-toothed comb to comb your hair and remove tangles. This will help keep the final look neat.

3. 3

   Coat the top and sides of your hair with pomade. Use your fingers to apply pomade to the top and sides of your hair (or the areas you want to slick back). Nepton suggests avoiding adding product to the ends of your hair, as it could weigh it down or make it look greasy.

   • Consider using a wide-toothed comb to help diffuse the product over the length of your hair. This will keep you from having a defined product line by creating a slow transition between the parts with product and those without.
4. 4

   Comb back the top and sides of your hair. Use a fine-toothed comb to brush back your hair from your forehead and temples to the back of your head. Finger-comb your hair to add volume and achieve the look you want.^[7]

   • The more “slicking” you do with the comb, the neater the look will be.
   • The more you tousle your hair with your fingers, the messier the look will be.
5. 5

   Consider putting your hair in a ponytail or bun. Putting your hair into a ponytail or bun can help your hair stay in place and create a neater appearance. You could also do a half-ponytail or even a long braid—the choice is up to you!^[8]

Advertisem*nt

Expert Q&A

Ask a Question

Video

Tips

Thanks for submitting a tip for review!

How helpful is this?